Dene and Mike Ryan Nominated for West Virginia Beekeeper of the Year
Some people keep bees. Others use beekeeping as a way to build community, teach others, serve their neighbors, and make a difference far beyond their own apiary.
Dene and Mike Ryan are those kinds of beekeepers.
We are incredibly proud to celebrate Dene and Mike on their nomination for West Virginia Beekeeper of the Year, recognition that reflects years of generosity, creativity, leadership, and service to the beekeeping community and the Heroes around them.
As Hives for Heroes State Leaders in West Virginia, Dene and Mike continually give their time, talent, and knowledge to others. Whether they are helping a new beekeeper understand their first hive, working alongside local organizations, supporting fellow mentors and NewBEEs, or representing Hives for Heroes throughout the state, they embody what our mission looks like at the community level.
Their impact extends far beyond the bee yard.
They have helped host bee schools that give people the confidence and education to become better beekeepers. They have developed new merchandise, giveaways, and creative ways to introduce people to the Hives for Heroes mission. And anyone who has attended an event with Dene and Mike knows they have a special talent for making things fun.
From games and raffles to auction items and fundraising ideas, they continually find new ways to bring people together while raising awareness and resources for Hives for Heroes. Those dollars ultimately help us continue serving Veterans and First Responders across the country through connection, purpose, relationships, service, mentorship, and beekeeping.
That combination of serious service and genuine fun is part of what makes them so special.
But their leadership in West Virginia has also demonstrated something even bigger: sometimes serving the beekeeping community means being willing to stand up for it.
As the ongoing South Charleston beekeeping case has reached the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, Dene and Mike have been among those helping lead, support, and elevate the broader effort surrounding responsible beekeeping and the people whose ability to keep bees is affected by decisions made in their communities.
Hives for Heroes has joined that effort by submitting an amicus brief supporting beekeeper and Hives for Heroes Mentor Alex Urban as the case moves through West Virginia's highest court. The organization has worked alongside members of the West Virginia beekeeping community to help ensure that the perspectives of beekeepers, Veterans, mentors, and community members are part of the conversation.
For Dene and Mike, that involvement is simply another extension of the way they serve.
From sitting beside a brand-new beekeeper at a bee school, to raising a few more dollars through a creative raffle, to helping bring attention to an issue that could affect beekeepers across their state, they continue to show what leadership looks like when it is rooted in service.
At Hives for Heroes, we often talk about the importance of showing up for people.
Dene and Mike don't simply talk about it, they live it.
They demonstrate what can happen when experienced beekeepers are willing to share what they know, welcome new people into the community, advocate for their fellow beekeepers, and use their talents for something bigger than themselves.
Their work in West Virginia is also a reminder that national impact is built locally.
Hives for Heroes may serve thousands of Heroes throughout the United States, but the heart of the organization remains people sitting beside one another, working hives together, sharing knowledge, building friendships, and finding opportunities to serve.
Dene and Mike have helped create exactly that kind of community in West Virginia.
We are grateful for every hour they have volunteered, every person they have encouraged, every class they have helped organize, every creative idea they have brought to the table, and every opportunity they have created to tell the Hives for Heroes story.
We look forward to seeing the results of the West Virginia Beekeeper of the Year selection.
But from our perspective, the recognition only confirms something we already know.
No matter what happens with the vote, Dene and Mike Ryan are Beekeepers of the Year to us!
Thank you, Dene and Mike, for representing Hives for Heroes with heart, creativity, professionalism, and an unwavering willingness to serve.
We are proud to have you leading the way in West Virginia.
People First. Bees Always.
Help Us Continue the Mission
Dene and Mike's story is one example of what happens when beekeepers, Veterans, First Responders, families, businesses, and communities come together around a shared mission.
Join Hives for Heroes to become a NewBEE, mentor, volunteer, or supporter.
Support the mission through a donation, Heroes Honey, or Hives for Heroes merchandise.
Share the story and help us introduce more people to the connection, purpose, relationships, and service being created through beekeeping across America.
Together, we're building stronger communities; one Hero, one beekeeper, and one hive at a time.