John Benhan has been a beekeeper for 25 years, single handedly managing around 40 colonies annually. He has been a breeder of quality local queens and bees for over 20 years using locally trapped stock. He is an Eastern Apiculture Society Certified Master Beekeeper, Life Member of EAS, 2019 President of HAS and a frequent speaker at their conferences as well as EAS. He has been the President of the Mammoth Cave Ares Beekeepers from 2017 to present, past member President/officer of four local associations since 2004 and a life member and advisor of the Kentucky Queen Bee Breeders Association. He shares his knowledge and love for the bees as a mentor, speaker, instructor, volunteer, and organizer at state, local, regional, and national associations. He writes a monthly column for the Nashville, TN. Area Beekeepers and continuously strives to advance his beekeeping skills and knowledge. He advocates various queen-rearing methods by organizing and teaching at Spring schools in several sates urging beekeepers to promote and establish individual, self-sustaining local apiaries.