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Get DeepAuthor: Wesley Otto & Aaron Jones
The Get Deep Podcast, where premium spirits meet quality conversations! Join ridiculously good looking co-hosts, Aaron Jones and Wes Otto, as they interview interesting people and dive deep into their stories. Language: en Genres: Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Ep143 Ritchie Schaefer
Episode 143
Tuesday, 23 December, 2025
Ritchie Schaefer: Hive Minds, Bee Drama, and the Rise of B2B HoneyIn this episode of the Get Deep Podcast, we sit down with Ritchie Schaefer—beekeeper, entrepreneur, and founder of B2B Honey. A Mankato native with a love for agriculture, Ritchie takes us deep into the world of bees, hives, and honey with a mix of science, passion, and raw honesty.Ritchie’s path to business ownership was anything but conventional. After studying ag at North Dakota State and spending years in agricultural sales, he was moved to start beekeeping following the sudden passing of a young beekeeper whose hives were kept on his family’s farm. That moment sparked a personal transformation—and a new calling.Now the founder of B2B Honey, Ritchie shares how he built his operation from the ground up, starting at the Mankato Farmers Market and Schell’s Brewery before scaling into a migratory beekeeping business, with hives moving between river valleys in Minnesota and heading south for the winter. Along the way, he’s faced steep learning curves and major setbacks—including losing bees in California and a particularly angry hive incident that required help from the fire department’s water truck (no flames, just a creative rain simulation).We dive into the fascinating social structure of bees—how they pick homes, the ruthless competition to become queen, and what makes hive life tick. Ritchie also treats the hosts to a tasting of his ever-expanding product line, proving that honey is just the beginning.🎙️ Brought to you by our episode sponsors:Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery & Distillery, Community Bank Mankato, South Central Small Business Development Center, and iWealth#GetDeepPodcast #SouthernMinnesota #WesOtto #AaronJones
