beekeeping business – A Chatham student turned beekeeping into a tuition plan, scaling a multi-hive operation through local partnerships and sales.
A college student is covering tuition with something most people never consider for a paycheck: beekeeping.
For Anthony Ondo, a senior studying sustainable business at Chatham University, the plan is straightforward.. He runs a 50-hive apiary in western Pennsylvania. harvests honey twice a year. and sells it to help pay for school.. He also uses one small federal loan and scholarships. but the bulk of his tuition is funded through his own business. which he says has been profitable since he began.
This kind of model matters because it shows how niche, real-economy activities can function like practical income streams, not just hobbies.
Ondo’s route into the work started during high school. when he joined a friend’s grandfather to help with harvesting.. He got stung almost immediately, but that early experience didn’t deter him.. Instead, he kept building his own capability, moving from helping out to managing a handful of hives himself.. By 2024, he had officially launched his beekeeping operation, turning passion into an organized business.
Scaling the operation required more than enthusiasm.. As his hive count grew, he needed additional land for his apiary.. Rather than seeking outside capital. Ondo said he approached property owners directly. pitching his idea and asking for permission to place hives on their land.. In many cases, the arrangement included honey provided to the owners as part of the deal.. He also expanded through partnerships. including work with Dillner Family Farms. and sold honey through local cafés and small businesses.
The business angle here is notable: growing a production-and-sales operation often hinges on relationship building as much as on the product itself.
Beyond his personal apiary. Ondo is also connected to Chatham University’s Eden Hall. a 388-acre campus area used for hands-on sustainable learning.. He oversees two additional apiaries there, using the experience to support student training in sustainable practices.. His broader message centers on stewardship. emphasizing that learning how to care for the environment is a responsibility that extends beyond any single generation.
In the end, Misryoum’s takeaway is simple: when students build income around skills they genuinely understand, they can reduce dependence on traditional funding while gaining experience that can carry into future careers.