About Us
We are a family-owned agritourism business located in Northwest Illinois, between Galena and Elizabeth, IL that offers beekeeping tours, educational experiences, honey tastings, honey sales, pollination services, and mentoring for those interested in starting or advancing in their beekeeping journey. We were officially founded in the state of Illinois in 2023 and opened our doors for business in 2024. Our beekeeping tours provide an opportunity to learn about the fascinating world of bees and their role in our ecosystem. Our educational beekeeping experiences are tailored to anyone ages 6 and up and offer a hands-on approach to learning about bees, honey, and beekeeping. Our raw wildflower honey is delicious and locally sourced.
MEET OUR TEAM
Chase Dittmar
Beekeeper, Founder, Co-Owner, Educator, Website and Apiary Manager
Chase began beekeeping at age 13 after being inspired by a presentation from a local beekeeper through his 4-H chapter. He turned that spark into a series of 4-H projects, eventually exhibiting at the state level. In 2021, he launched the Dry Creek Beekeeping YouTube channel to document his journey and help others learn about beekeeping. The channel became part of his FFA Communications project in high school, earning him both the Illinois State Proficiency Award and the National American Degree.
Chase now attends Coe College in Cedar Rapids, where he was awarded the prestigious Williston-Jones Environmental Scholarship in recognition of his work with bees. He’s currently triple majoring in Biology, Environmental Science, and Environmental Studies, continuing to deepen his knowledge of the natural world—starting with the hive.
B'Ann Dittmar
Educator, Co-Owner, Budding Honey Sommelier, Marketing / PR/ Events, and Business Manager
B’Ann has been teaching Business, Management, and Leadership at Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa since 2011, where she also serves as Director of the MBA program. Before entering academia, she spent 17 years in banking, including nine years as Market President for U.S. Bank in Dubuque and Galena. B’Ann is also Chase’s mom and a passionate student of honey. She’s trained with renowned honey expert C. Marina Marchese (author of Honey for Dummies) and is working toward becoming a certified honey judge. Through her educational honey tasting workshops, B’Ann helps people explore the complexities of honey—its aroma, color, and flavor—and guides them beyond simply calling it “sweet.” Her goal is to give people the tools to describe what they’re tasting and to spark curiosity about honey’s unique local characteristics from around the world.
Dan Dittmar
Chief of Maintenance and Cleaning, Solver of all Problems, Supporter Extraordinaire, and Co-Owner
Dan may be our "silent" partner, but he’s the steady hand behind the scenes. As Chase’s dad and B’Ann’s husband, he’s the one who keeps the wheels turning—maintaining the grounds, fixing what needs fixing, and making sure things stay organized. He’s our problem-solver, voice of reason, and biggest cheerleader. Every family business needs someone they can count on. For us, that’s Dan.
