Business Mentorship Network – Prairie Sweetheart Honey

Young Agrarians is celebrating the thirteenth year of the Business Mentorship Network (BMN) program in BC and the fifth year of the BMN in the Prairies! The BMN offers a year-long farm business mentorship to a diverse array of new and young farmers. Through one-on-one mentorship, peer networks, and online workshops, new farmers develop the skills necessary to operate ecologically sustainable and financially viable farm businesses.

Applications for Mentees across Canada are closed for the 2026 cohort. Click below to be notified when applications open for 2027. 

Meet a mentee from the current cohort and learn about their farm and their experience of mentorship in the BMN. Want more? Head over to our BMN Blog for more mentorship stories.

Keeping Momentum: One Foot in Front of the Other

Meet a Mentee: Prairie Sweetheart Honey

Hi, I’m Rebecca Krowelski, the beekeeper behind Prairie Sweetheart Honey, a small-scale urban apiary located in the Charleswood area of Winnipeg on Treaty 1 territory. I produce small-batch craft honey and hive products, with a focus on education through presentations for schools, senior centres, community groups and businesses.

At the heart of my work is a desire to help children, seniors and others in our community build a meaningful connection with bees, better understand the role they play in our food systems and learn how we, as humans, can work better together by looking to the bees.

Accomplishments and Successes

I joined the Young Agrarians Business Mentorship Program with the long-term goal of transitioning Prairie Sweetheart Honey from a side project into my primary source of income. With support and guidance from my mentor, Phil “The Beeman” Veldhuis of Phil’s Honey, I focused on strengthening the foundation of my business so future growth is thoughtful, realistic and sustainable.

Over the course of the mentorship, I made meaningful progress in clarifying what that future could look like. I researched potential revenue streams and identified my ideal customer, which helped me better understand where my time and energy are most effective. Through conversations with Phil, it became clear that education and community presentations are good opportunities for areas of growth

I explored supply and demand for presentations across Manitoba, including schools, personal care homes and community groups. This research allowed me to set appropriate rates and build an annual presentation calendar that could realistically support my income goals. Phil’s guidance around ideal customers, supply and demand, and building a clear funnel helped me view my business more strategically.

The Reality Behind the Goals

Alongside this business development work, I continued to focus on what matters most in the apiary: keeping my colonies healthy and strong. Managing hive health while balancing honey production, disease monitoring and treatment, and winter preparation is time-consuming and a responsibility I don’t take lightly.

The season was a strong reminder that I can’t do everything on my own. I balance beekeeping with a very demanding full-time job and raising two teenage children as a single parent. They are, and always will be, my top priority.

At times, the pace became unsustainable. I wasn’t able to keep up with everything I had set out to accomplish within the program, and in life in general. The reality is that I burnt out. There’s a lot of pressure in farming and small business to constantly push, grow and prove ourselves. Admitting that I hit a limit was uncomfortable—but necessary.

Unexpected Lessons

Rather than seeing this as a failure, I’ve come to understand it as part of the learning process: recognizing limits, adjusting expectations and continuing forward with intention.

One of the most valuable things Phil offered throughout the mentorship was perspective. Just as important as his beekeeping and business advice was the steady reminder to keep moving forward, even if progress comes in smaller steps than planned.

This season taught me lessons I didn’t plan for, but needed:

• I can’t do it all
• Asking for help is not failure
• Saying no is sometimes the most responsible choice

One step counts. Trying counts. Learning from what didn’t work counts.

Working Together and Building Community

If there’s one thing I hope other farmers take from this, it’s that sometimes we bite off more than we can chew. That doesn’t mean we’ve failed—it means we’re human. What matters is getting back up and continuing on.

When I realized I couldn’t do everything myself, I asked for help, and the beekeeping community stepped up. I hired people to support me through the heaviest work days and then was able to make it through the season. It was a lightbulb moment for me.

The encouragement and feedback I received from presentation audiences also kept me moving forward. Unsolicited comments and praise reminded me that I’m on the right path:

“Oh my gosh, you outdid yourself. That was so beautiful. Thank you for everything—you are a phenomenal woman. We can’t wait to see you again.”
— Rose, Riverview Health Centre

“Thank you for coming! They loved it! The parents know about ‘the Bee Lady’ and they ask if you’re coming back every year.”
— Nicole, École Central

“The kids loved it. They were so engaged.”
— Melanie, John M. King School

“We learned so much today, teachers included. What an amazing presentation.”
— Tracy, Living Prairie Childcare

“Your presentation was wonderful. You are so lovely and everyone wants you to come back already.”
— Caroline, Riverview Health Centre

These moments lifted me and reaffirmed that this work matters. My presentations build community and light up my corner of the world. When I leave a presentation, I feel energized for days because I know this is my life’s work. It may sound corny—but it’s true.

Gratitude and Looking Ahead

I’m incredibly proud of what I did accomplish this season — and I’m equally grateful to Young Agrarians for understanding that sometimes progress doesn’t look linear. 

This winter, I’m looking forward to recharging, reflecting and finding inspiration again. In the coming year, Phil and I will continue working on a comprehensive business plan, refining revenue streams, analyzing supply and demand, and exploring grants and funding opportunities to support long-term growth.

Looking ahead, my vision remains strong. I want Prairie Sweetheart Honey to grow into a thriving, education-based apiary that inspires curiosity, connection and care for bees.

You can follow my journey and learn more on my Prairie Sweetheart Honey website. You can also sign up for my e-newsletter and connect on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

Feeling inspired and ready to dig into your business with a mentor? Click below to get notified when applications open for the 2027 cohort.