North American Honey Bee Expo 2025 NAHBE vendor interviews

[@hodgeshomestead9639]

It was a fantastic experience! First time going to NAHBE and I can’t wait until 2026! Thank you Fred for all the content, interviews, and education! 🐝

[@FrederickDunn]

Yes! Kamon is already preparing and planning the 2026 Expo. It's taking up a huge amount of time for Kamon and his family. Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[@zakadslusarskikatarzynapie5635]

Congratulations, participation in such an event.Greetings from Poland and thank you 😍

[@FrederickDunn]

Thank you VERY MUCH! :)

[@thehiveandthehoneybee9547]

thank you uncle fred!!!! you and your beautiful wife are just the best kind of people!!!!!! i could not get to you to say hello so saying it now!!!! never laughed so hard as when you were on that stage!!!!! spider!

[@FrederickDunn]

Thank you for the kind words! It was a wonderful conference. It took me a moment to figure out what was going on during my talk. Thank you for being a long time viewer and frequent commenter :)

[@rickwarner516]

Thank you Fred so much better than beeing in the cold thanks for sharing

[@FrederickDunn]

You're very welcome, Rick! Thanks for watching and taking a moment to comment :)

[@vincentsabol2267]

I just wanted to thank you for your videos on the expo. You are the only youtuber that shows all the products and new stuff that's what we want to see so THANK YOU

[@FrederickDunn]

Thank you so much, I'm glad you found what you're looking for :)

[@morrishomesteadgirls]

Thanks Fred for this video. For those of us that could not make it to NAHBE . Have a great day

[@FrederickDunn]

Thank you very much for watching, and for taking a moment to comment. Sorry you couldn't make it.

[@boredbeingbored676]

some really interesting new products this year. thanks fred and everyone there!

[@FrederickDunn]

Definitely, and many more that I missed out on. Thanks for watching.

[@srae1503]

Enjoyed the video and appreciate that you feature a variety of vendors that are not the same ones we see over and over again on social media.

[@FrederickDunn]

Thank you :) I always try to look for significant updates, or new items :)

[@apiverte]

Thank you for the great overview of NAHBE2025 and interview of our new product Atria! It was pleasure giving you a demo!

[@FrederickDunn]

I was VERY impressed, and will be reaching out to you soon :) It aligns very well with something I'd like to do here. Thank you.

[@marobroski2286]

Dziękujemy.

[@FrederickDunn]

You are always too generous :)

[@stevenaamos]

So good to see you and your lovely wife again. You are a part of making the Bee Expo a very special place. Have an outstanding year! or maybe that should be above average. 😊😊😊

[@FrederickDunn]

Above average is my target zone :)

[@mcorne8134]

Thank You!!! I have searched high and low over multiple years for an unvented clear inner cover for winter observation of activity and emergency feed status. Only found vented from Betterbee that I had to modify to seal the vent slots on both ends…UNTIL your interview with HoneyHaven…ordered 10 immediately… thank you, thank you, thank you!

[@FrederickDunn]

So glad that helped you out. Yes, those slots come in most inner covers, I cut wood segments and glue them in.

[@missionbeelieve3479]

It was fun sharing ghost stories. I hope you had an amazing expo.

[@FrederickDunn]

I enjoyed it too! The Expo was great!

[@walkinginwatercolourswithmicah]

Natalee!!! I really love her interview. Thnx Fred!

[@FrederickDunn]

She was a pure joy to talk to, and she's got some wonderful comebacks to my questions. Thank you :)

[@Steele_Wings]

Thanks for sharing and safe return. Weather is getting nasty.

[@FrederickDunn]

Thank you, we made it home in fine shape. Some were still waiting for flights as recent as today! Not Fun for many.

[@WildwoodsBeekeeping]

Looks like y’all had a good time!! Thanks for sharing Fred!! Gonna make sure to watch the whole thing 😁

[@FrederickDunn]

Hi Grayson! I was looking around for you, I hope all is well and that 2025 is a great beekeeping year for you :)

[@WildwoodsBeekeeping]

@ Wasn’t able to make it those year but hope to make a trip up in the near future:) Same to you Fred!

[@oneshoo]

I was not able to attend NAHBE this year and I was waiting for your video! Thank you for editing and getting it out so fast! Soo looking forward to watching it! Thanks again! 👍👍

[@FrederickDunn]

I'm so glad you liked this. I simply ran out of time to see all the vendors I wanted to. I hope to catch up next year for sure. Bearsville Bees had a Long Langstroth hive they wanted me to see, and they were just loaded with customers every time I walked by. Just too much to see in too little time :)

[@rickwarner516]

Nice ending with the three.❤️❤️❤️❤️👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@FrederickDunn]

:)

[@guiart4728]

Natalee is AWESOME!!! She just tells it like it is!!! Speaking of awesome….You crush it doing interviews!!!

[@FrederickDunn]

Thank you so much! :) I've enjoyed watching Natalee grow as a beekeeper through the years. She has definitely arrived. :)

[@spider2914]

Thanks Fred for the video! I couldn't attend so it's great to see NAHBE thru your video.

[@FrederickDunn]

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@michaelshelnutt3534]

I’ve been waiting for your video to drop. Always great on the new gadgets and tech.

[@FrederickDunn]

I'm so glad you like it, Michael :) I actually ran out of time before I had the chance to visit with everyone I wanted to! There was something interesting around every corner :)

[@LuckyCrownHoney]

Just finished watching, thank you for these interviews. I found the interview with Natalie actually refreshing and candid. Very honest and I appreciated that. Also, I wish I had seen that queen marking system. I liked how the plunger didn’t seem to fall on its own when turned upside down.

[@FrederickDunn]

Someone actually walked up to me and suggested that I go see the queen marking jig. I'm glad I did! People often to lose their queens when attempting to mark them, or when transferring into a smaller cage etc... I was impressed. :)

[@oneeyehives]

Thank you for doing the walk around again this year. Some interesting products. The solar hive heater was interesting not that it would work in my Layen’s set up but I did wonder about the placement since we are conditioned to face the hives south east and that needs to face south wouldn’t that mean you have reorient all your hive entrances? Maybe that isn’t that big of a deal since you’re adding more heat to the hive with the heater? As always enjoy your videos and appreciate the time and effort.

[@FrederickDunn]

I actually think it would work well for a Long Langstroth or Layens... instead of the shim, just face mount it and have an opening at the far end from the entrance on the same side of the hive as the entrance. It's designed for a Langstroth verticle hive, but the principle applies... warm air in, pushing cold air out through the entrance. Horizontal hives do produce lots of moisture at the end opposite the entrance. I would try it.

[@oneeyehives]

@ Excellent point. I’ll have to think about that in the future as it will require a lid redesign.

[@duanearmitage-pv5cu]

Fantastic job on the smoker that you dontated for hives for heros! Raised $1000 for them. Awesome!

[@FrederickDunn]

I was so glad that there was so much support for Hives for Heroes! I could not believe the bidding went so high. It's now the most expensive smoker I've ever seen :)

[@iowalayensbeekeeping]

I wondered how the hive heater worked. Interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[@FrederickDunn]

That was a very last-minute interview, and I'm so glad I was able to meet with them and learn about their unit. I'll be testing that out for sure in the coming year. :) Once you see it, the thermal principle is obvious and I can see how that would benefit bees in winter as they try to access their stored resources.

[@markbara9198]

thank you for sharing

[@FrederickDunn]

Thank you for taking the time to watch :)

[@gigihenderson8567]

It was nice meeting you for a moment, (just so you can put a face to the name, lol). I learned a lot this past weekend.

[@FrederickDunn]

Hi GiGi! :) I'm so glad! I think we all learned a lot during that convention :)

[@jasonseaward8506]

Looks like a wonderful time was had, thank you for sharing. I'm not sure if titebond3 is sold in Canada, i went to home Depot looking for it, but they had no clue what i was talking about so they sent me to their glue aisle. I grabbed that gorilla glue and so far, so good, although this is its 1st winter but i liked that it was waterproof. Actually it was really good to find out that it doesn't matter if it freezes BC its out in the shop right now lol. There was some amazing ideas there, i like the idea of that hive heater if your hives have afternoon sun, it would probably work great. I also like the idea of the overflow alarm, it hasnt happened to me yet since i havent had a harvest yet, but ive hears a lot of stories from oldtymers lol thank you for sharing your experience and the wonderful atmosphere.

[@FrederickDunn]

Thank you so much. I've always been a fan of Titebond III as it wins in overall strength of bond testing. BUT, I've lost a lot of it through the years just because my shop is not heated. I think they won me back to Gorilla Glue with that single interview. Oh, the wheels are turning after talking with the inventor of that Hive-Heater... no electricity, natural convection from warm to cold surfaces. The genius, and simplicity of that solar panel housed in glass is obvious once you've seen it. I'm glad you liked that. The honey bucket full alarm, if anyone has had to handle a bucket that's full to the top, or started to run over, it's worth its weight in gold. My overflow alarm used to be my dog licking honey off the floor (';')...

[@thegr8stm8]

Gr8 to virtually be there, Fred! Many thanks… stay warm 🍻 Johno How did Flow Hives go? I thought you might ask Keeper Hive people what they thought about adding one😊😉😉

[@FrederickDunn]

I didn't ask George (the Keepers Hive) about a flow-super, I simply told him that's what I plan to do. We'll prove that out in the coming year :) It was a fantastic show, and I am sad that many of the vendors I promised to interview just didn't get in there. Too many vendors, too little time. I really wanted to talk with the BearsVille Bee Folks... but they were always busy when I walked by.

[@davedulansey6207]

Thanks Fred! I’m about halfway through. I really want to buy some of Neranza’s encaustic artwork!!

[@FrederickDunn]

I love that you are going to support traditional arts. She was a pure pleasure to talk with. :)

[@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog]

“I’m being creative guys!?!” 😂😂😂

[@FrederickDunn]

:) It takes concentration :)

[@brianbennett4374]

Thanks for sharing Fred looking forward to going next year 🎉. I went last year. How much bigger has it grown 😊. Also I would like to Thank you for taking the time at the show to do all the video you did 😊.

[@FrederickDunn]

Hi Brian! Well, it was much larger, and somehow lower paced. I really enjoyed it. Having plenty of space around the vendor exhibits is a big bonus. I've been to conventions where you couldn't walk past each other in the aisles. I think they have it dialed in perfectly. At the back, hand-trucks were continuously rolling out with products on them. Products were moving out of that conference by the truckload. It's on a scale that's difficult to explain. Kamon and his team have really figured a lot out, and it showed. :)

[@LuckyCrownHoney]

It was wonderful meeting you in person Fred! Sorry if I sounded like a babbling fool, I was nervous and excited. Thank you for being so friendly! I just learned that you are or were a photographer, and hey! Me too! My main work is maternity and newborn. I think you’d maybe like my work, it looks similar to some of your work. Thank you again for all your videos! You’re one of my favorite KZbin bee educator.

[@FrederickDunn]

It was so nice to see you there! We can chat about photography anytime you'd like to :) and yes, I'm still a photographer :) Thank you for such a nice compliment :)

[@LuckyCrownHoney]

@ Would love that! My photography business is Kelly Dear Photography, I recently started hosting Luxury Maternity sessions in my studio, and that’s been a fun and creative learning experience. I shoot macro and landscape for fun though. You’re interview with Jose Madrigal and his bee photography inspired me to spend a pretty penny on an AK diffuser. Not much bugs and bees outside during the winter to practice, but I did do a nature walk the other day where I got to practice on some mushrooms. Through KZbin university, I’m learning focus bracketing and stacking. I’m pretty proficient in photoshop, so it hasn’t been too difficult, I just don’t have a ton of subjects at the moment due to the cold. I did try it on some bees at the water station (bird bath), but it was definitely a challenge. Bees hardly ever stay still, the antenna are always moving. 😅

[@FrederickDunn]

@@LuckyCrownHoney I will check out your work! I've done underwater maternity sessions :) Not much for studio work these days, I like to get out in the weather. One maternity shot ended up on a wine label last year... "The Unexpected by Arrowhead Winery" I'm so glad you are making it as a photographer! There is more work than talent out there :)

[@LuckyCrownHoney]

@@FrederickDunn Just looked it up, and wow!! You actually can’t tell it was for a maternity shoot, but it looks so ALIVE! Was it windy? Because I love the movement in her hair and gown. 😍

[@rodneymiddleton9624]

Hope you're not snowed in at home. Thanks Fred!

[@FrederickDunn]

3 feet deep, with more on the way. But, now that I'm here, I don't mind :)

[@wrad8292]

Thanks for this. Ref. the Apis gloves? I went to feed my bees during a warm up, just lifting the lid and placing hive alive inside the feeders, wearing no protection but had simple, black cloth gloves on. My Italians stung my hand almost instantly. No black gloves for me. 🤣

[@FrederickDunn]

I think it's the combination of color and texture. Furry gloves that are also dark will definitely get them going. We have some tests planned for the upcoming bee season. :) BUT, we do know that light colored gloves don't upset the bees. :)

[@jimwaldele9084]

TY for the ride along,,,,,QUESTION, on the keepers hive how does or will that glass work in 0* temps winter moisture will tipping the box be enough to keep water from dripping down,,,, thanks again jim,,,,

[@FrederickDunn]

No problems with that glass as that flip-open cover accomodates insulation that prevents that. No problem so far, I have the single brood box version at the moment and will be adding the double-queen system in spring.

[@jimwaldele9084]

@@FrederickDunn ty

[@beefitbeekeeping]

So did you figure out where you’re putting the diorama?!

[@FrederickDunn]

Hey! Well, for now it's on the kitchen table. I'm thinking about photo-shopping myself into the chair :) It was fantastic to visit with you at the conference :)

[@boredbeingbored676]

acorn plastic frames are simply the best.

[@FrederickDunn]

I can't find any issues with them, and have been using them ever since he departed from Pierco. Heavy waxed, durable frames. A winning combination. Thanks :)

[@lynnerousseau9676]

Fred- I’ve been waiting fir this🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@FrederickDunn]

Hi Lynne, I hope you enjoy it :)

[@mocarp1]

Fred, I would have loved to have seen Kamon donate a booth for you to set up a unmanned table w/ a single piece of art featuring the chicken drawing (at the original size & on the same medium) to be on display for all to admire. It would have to be a reproduction of the original since it is kept in the safe deposit box at the bank vault.

[@FrederickDunn]

Ok, THAT would be funny, but what was even better, I was walking with my wife and a guy walked by with her rendering on his shirt! :) That was just plain awesome! But yes, a dark booth with heavy tapestry and the original work with a spotlight on it, and two guards present at all times with a velvet rope across the front (Feel it without touching it).... :)

[@mocarp1]

@@FrederickDunn What you described is exactly what I envisioned but I did not think of the spotlight. The idea popped in my head as you were panning through the encaustic artwork before her interview & I was expecting the chicken art to come into frame. If she doesn't read the comments.... there is always next year! Now if only Kamon would gift you a booth with high visibility. Perhaps one right as you enter the exhibit space. Keith / STL, MO

[@seanrichardson881]

My first time grafting I did try grafting an egg. Because I didn't know any better. Fyi, you need a puddle of jelly in order to get underneath it. I couldn't scoop an egg with no royal jelly. So that's one good reason we don't graft eggs.

[@FrederickDunn]

You can dip your grafter in royal jelly to prime the cup, but you're right, a freshly hatched larva is best and easiest :)

[@thomasplummer2673]

Hey Fred, I was wondering, just how dark is the inside of a bee hive. I saw that Acorn frames come in different colors. Do bees see any color . I use to have a dark room for film printing with an enlarge, it had to be dark. For bees hives the opening of the hive let's in a lot of light, I would imagine in the brooder box there is a lot of light. Your thoughts😊. How far up in the hive does light reach? Just a thought.

[@FrederickDunn]

Honey bees have terrible low-light vision. I don't think the color will have much bearing on their selection of a foundation to draw from or not draw from. The amount of wax used to prime the foundation definitely has a heavy influence, the color of the plastic not so much. It's really beekeeper preference. Think of honey supers, those are very dark, and only the outer edges would have light if the hive boxes weren't well fitted.

[@thomasplummer2673]

@FrederickDunn Thanks Fred, almost every time I listen to you I learn something new and it makes me think. I always look forward to any of your videos, you have a way of stering the mind and bring a new view. Thanks

[@glennsnaturalhoney4571]

Fred, I didn't understand how the hot wet air escaped with the hive heater. Did you?

[@iowalayensbeekeeping]

If the air warmed by the sun is warmer than the inside of the box it will create passive convection circulating the air pushing stale air out the entrance.

[@FrederickDunn]

Yes! It's simple convection... the outside air is brought in through the bottom of the solar capture chamber. That heated air travels into the hive through the top screen/shim. This puts positive pressure into the top box and cold air travels out (only when warm air travels in) through the hive entrance on the landing board. If the outside thermal box is cold, then there is no transfer of air occuring at all. It's timple genius at work! After It was demonstrated to me, it all seemed so obvious. No electricity, no fans, no heater, it's completely on automatic during the winter months. I will definitely be testing some out in my apiary next fall. I also have some other ideas that I want to talk with the inventor about.

[@glennsnaturalhoney4571]

@FrederickDunn Hope you made it home safely through the winter storm. Aren't we being told that bees need moisture in the Hive during the winter, aka the condensing hive concept? Gis completely drying the hive out seems to run counter to that idea.

[@srae1503]

Do you have another vidoe coming out featuring more vedors like Technically Beekeeping?

[@FrederickDunn]

I never made it to Technically Beekeeping.... I think that was a vape-smoker? I just ran out of time. There were several others that I intended to visit, but just lost the day. Bearsville Bees was high on my list, but they were always busy with customers.

[@seanrichardson881]

I would be interested in a different color foundation simply so that I know at first glance if the frame is an old one or one of my new ones. If I were cycling in a lot of new frames that would be very helpful

[@FrederickDunn]

There are no foundation manufacturers who currently do many colors, BUT, how interesting it would be if the foundation was on a 5-year cycle that matches queen colors. :)

[@seanrichardson881]

​​@@FrederickDunnGood idea. Personally I prefer wood frames because I scrape bits of plastic into my wax with the completely plastic frames. So I just date the top bar with a marker.

[@sonofthunder.]

Maybe when a egg becomes larva,a pheremone triggers royal jelly feeding,..my guess is it scent that gets nurse bees to overfeed grafted larva,sad I missed natalee at the show,she did well in your interview

[@FrederickDunn]

I have to say that I loved her face when I asked that question :) She's a fine example of what our young beekeepers should strive to be. I've teased her for many years, and she's always had hillarious come-backs. This is the first year she agreed to be interviewed and she did an excellent job :)

[@tina_mg]

I really wish BeeSmart would sell replacement black caps for their lids. Drives me crazy that they don’t. Have you come up with anything to use as replacements by chance?

[@FrederickDunn]

Cork! I am with you on that frustration! I somehow manage to misplace those even though there is room inside the shim! Muth Jar Corks work for me. :)

[@tina_mg]

@@FrederickDunn Oooo that's a great idea!

[@feliciaromanu5666]

❤❤❤

[@davedulansey6207]

Bob Binnie at 2:05!!!

[@FrederickDunn]

Bob is a great guy, we had a short conversation at the Hotel :)

[@anthonyc9911]

Sorry Cliff, your inner cover foam sucks. Yes, you have seen it as i sent you pictures for you to replaced it, ants and bees chew through it......they haven't done so on my polystyrene hives. You need to fix that foam insert before i ever buy another

[@FrederickDunn]

I wanted him to talk about that issue. I put a thin layer of aluminum foil over the hole in the center riser, and wherever ants or bees can access it. I also had my bees chew right through the BeeMax outer cover and made a new opening. Aluminum tape, or foil will work for the insulation or poly materials you have. Thanks for sharing.

[@rosswagner9083]

Acorn not knowing their source for wax was disappointing and surprising.

[@FrederickDunn]

They just say "it's bees wax" and that's the answer I received from other producers of waxed foundation as well. Dr. Leo claims to have the cleanest wax, but it's shipped in from Spain. Since it's the foundation wax just to start the comb building, it's probably not that big of a deal. If the bees avoid it, I'd be concerned.

[@DonnaLeRowKy]

One word. Spider😂

[@FrederickDunn]

Ok, THAT was challenging :)