OUR CREW
Chesapeake Queen Company is based in Frederick County Maryland with additional apiaries in the surrounding counties. Chesapeake Queen Company raises honey bees for the Chesapeake region.
We have experience keeping bees in urban, suburban, and rural settings. We provide queens, supplies, and services for the local beekeeper. Our services include hive consultations, scheduled hive management services, and year-round pollination services.
BRYAN BENDER
Founder, Head Beekeeper
Bryan's interest in beekeeping began after seeing two beekeepers come to remove bees from the wall of a house he was renovating. He then spent the rest of the winter reading all the beekeeping books he could get his hands on.
In 2013 he got his first package of bees and the rest is history. Bryan ran the teaching apiary for 5 years for the Central Maryland Beekeepers Association (CMBA) and was Vice President for one year. He is now a founding member of the Greater Baltimore Beekeepers.
He says “beekeeping has always been a way for me to unplug and relax, even in the hot summer with thousands of grumpy bees buzzing around”. When not beekeeping he also has a full-time job as a farm mechanic, and his other hobbies include woodworking and seeing live music.
KARLY FAE HANSEN BENDER
Photographer etc.
As an avid gardener, Karly was always interested in pollinators and plants. On a whim in 2018, she decided to take a beekeeping course with her sister. Intimidated by the variety of types of equipment and methods of beekeeping, she spent her first-year learning and helping in the CMBA’s teaching apiary (“Nuc Yard”). While in the Nuc Yard she got hooked on bees. 2019 she started her backyard urban apiary with 3 nucs which grew to 9 colonies by the end of the season. Karly was also a former Vice President for CMBA and is currently a member of many bee clubs in MD and PA. When not beekeeping she has a full-time job in the home healthcare field, and her other hobbies include horseback riding, gardening, kayaking, and art.
THINKING ABOUT JOINING OUR CREW?
We are currently not accepting any applications or hiring at the moment.