St. Benny’s Bees, started in 2024 by Hunter and Stephie Van Wagenen, was born out of a love for honey and honeybees.  What started as a backyard hobby with one hive years earlier, quickly flourished into a buzzing micro-apiary producing delicious honey and raising happy, healthy bees.  Hunter and Stephie have a passion to not only share delicious and wholesome products with their community, but all the more to build relationships and enrich their community.  St. Benedict’s values of hospitality, rootedness, and prayer have been a guiding force not only to bring those values into their family and business, but also into the lives of their friends and neighbors.

Stephie is St. Benny's Bees lead beekeeper.  Enthralled with bees and honey for nearly two decades, Stephie is responsible for the regular maintenance of the hives and apiary operations.  Stephie is a University of Florida educated beekeeper and loves spending time with the bees, tasting honey from around the world, and sharing her passion with their friends, family, and neighbors.  Hunter, like any good supportive spouse to a beekeeper, is responsible for most of the heavy lifting, dirty work, and high ladder climbing!