The Unlikeliest Bee Keeper

By Melyssa St. Michael

Melyssa St. Michael

Team Chapnick

STORY SUMMARY

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Natalee Summers, 14, has a dream: she’s determined to increase pollinating bees with the support of her family, 5,000 YouTube fans and her 1.6 million honeybees.

In a profession with few women, and even fewer young people, the effervescent Natalee is capturing the hearts of expert apiarists and hobbyists alike as she shares her journey with the world through her YouTube Channel “Beekeeping with Natalee”.

Natalee’s love for beekeeping can be credited to her dad, Chris Summers, 43, who brought her into the bee yard when she was 8. “Once you see the inner workings of the bee hive, you never see nature the same,” says Chris, who has worked tirelessly side-by-side with his daughter, fostering her love of bees and providing unwavering support. Chris’s dedicated investment in Natlaee’s apiary knowledge has paid off - Natalee has been accepted into the University of Florida’s prestigious Master Beekeeping certification program as its youngest participant.

Outside of the bee yard, beekeeping has become a full-fledged family affair, with mom Dawn Summers, 45, sharing bee yard chores and manning the camera. Sisters Emalee, 18, and Gracee, 16, pitch in behind the scenes to help run the family’s Hitch Hive Honey business.

Natalee Summers, 14, waits on her mother, Dawn Summers as she prepares to record a video for Natalee’s YouTube channel, Beekeeping with Natalee in Excelsior Springs, Mo.

Natalee Summers sits on the ground amidst her bee hives as she demonstrates a mite-checking method for her YouTube video.

Natalee Summers, 14, examines stingers she removed from her father’s shoulder as the father-daughter pair practice bee-sting therapy.

Natalee Summers, right, pulls a bee hive frame while looking for the queen bee as her mother angles the camera for a close-up to include in Natalee’s next YouTube video.

Dawn Summers, left, records her daughter, Natalee, as Natalee explains the benefit of Goldenrod in a honeybee ecosystem for her YouTube channel.

Natalee Summers relaxes at home while editing a YouTube video she starred in the prior day.

Chris Summers and daughter Natalee leave home for an afternoon run.

Natalee Summers loads dog shampoo and towels into the back of the Summers’ family SUV, getting ready to take her dog Jude to the dog wash.

Chris Summers bottles batches of honey while his youngest daughter, Natalee grabs a drink before joining him.

Gracee Summers and sister Natalee take a break from studying.

Natalee Summers and her family gathers for her father’s special fire-grilled handmade sourdough crust pizza.

Smoke meant to calm their honeybees wafts through the air as Chris Summers and his daughter Natalee tend to their hives.

Brian Kratzer, Co-Director

Alyssa Schukar, Co-Director

Hany Hawasly, Technical Director

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