Speakers
Future Speakers
March Speaker for the Ashe County Beekeepers Association
Bryan Fisher
Bryan Fisher is a 4th generation beekeeper based in Cabarrus County NC. Born an raised right where he keeps his bees locally. Although keeping bees is his passion he is only a part time beekeepers. He is an Arborist by trade and specializes in historic tree preservation. Bryan is a NC Master Beekeeper that has been keeping bees for 20 years. After starting out as just a hobby a couple decades ago he currently runs a semi commercial beekeeping business in his spare time. Untamed Apiaries specializes in raising queen bees, nucs (starter bee hives), products of the hive including honey, bees wax, lotions, creamed honey, candles and pollination services. Currently running over 250 colonies and that number will double in spring and summer with nucs and mating boxes.
Jason Smith
April 2025 Speaker
Jason has been employed by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) for 18 years. His current position with the NCWRC is District 7 Wildlife Biologist. The primary purposes of his job are to plan, organize, direct, and participate in the management of wildlife resources within eleven counties, located in Northwestern North Carolina. Jason also coordinates multiple programs with the general public, private sector professionals, and government agencies. During the meeting he will be focusing on NCWRC Bearwise program which is part of Bearwise used by most other states in the US to reduce bear conflicts.
Richard Dunnigan
May 2025 Speaker
Of all his interest and passions, Richard has pursued beekeeping with a vengeance. Early in his career, he began to design and build architecturally styled copper hive roofs. Over the years he has built nearly twenty themed roofs, including a steep pitched hip roof complete with corner towers for a queen castle. He designed a custom four function base and has published articles sharing designs for simple hive stands and solar wax melters.
As the owner of Boutique Beekeeping, he offers a wide array of services. He has performed over 100 bee removals from all types of structures throughout central and eastern NC and led workshops on the topic. Detailed posts of his work have made him a well-known figure in turnkey removal services.
While a member of 8 clubs, Richard calls Person Co. home, where he served as VP for 2 years. He is in his second year as Recording Secretary for the NCSBA and travels around the state speaking to chapters on various topics.
Richard has had eight articles published in state and national magazines and has achieved the level of Journeyman Beekeeper.