When Staff Sergeant Eric Grandon, a 20-year U.S. Army veteran, returned home from multiple combat deployments, he was struggling with the debilitating effects of PTSD. Rather than let the stressors of war consume him, Grandon found solace and purpose in an unexpected place – the gentle hum of honeybees.
In 2014, Grandon founded Sugar Bottom Farm in the small town of Ovapa, West Virginia, starting with just two beehives. Along with his wife Mary and daughter Abigail, Grandon dove headfirst into the world of beekeeping, determined to use this newfound passion as a way to manage his PTSD.
Despite their lack of prior experience, the Grandon family made up for it with unwavering hard work and a deep love for the honey bee and its vital role in our ecosystem. As the farm developed, they added more bees, produce, and layers to their operations, diversifying their product offerings.
However, the journey was not without its setbacks. The farm weathered a devastating 1,000-year flood and a fire, but Grandon, a disabled veteran of six combat tours, refused to give up. Guided by his strong sense of purpose, he continued to grow the farm, expanding into the lucrative honey bee business.
Recognizing the need for quality bees and beekeeping education, Grandon became a certified Beekeeping instructor for the West Virginia Department of Agriculture’s Veterans and Warriors to Agriculture program. As the farm’s honey bee business flourished, Grandon also began teaching hands-on training and hosting educational farm tours.
In 2017, Sugar Bottom Farm transitioned into a full-service honey bee operation, offering honey bees, beekeeping equipment, and supplies. The farm’s exceptional work earned it the Conservation Farm of the Year award for the Elk Conservation District in 2018.
Grandon’s entrepreneurial journey took another exciting turn in 2019 when he expanded Sugar Bottom Farm’s operations to Hawaii’s Big Island, harvesting a variety of premium Hawaiian honeys. The farm’s product line now includes West Virginia Wildflower honey, Georgia Tupelo honey, and several Hawaiian specialty honeys.
Throughout it all, the SBDC and the FASTER WV (Fostering Advantages for Startups and Entrepreneurial Resurgence in WV) program have been invaluable partners, helping Grandon develop his business skills, pivot his operations, and access the financing needed to build a new honey processing, packaging, and storage facility.
Today, Sugar Bottom Farm is a thriving, multi-faceted operation, and Grandon’s passion for beekeeping has become both a lifesaving form of therapy and a successful business. His ultimate goal is to expand the farm’s reach, inviting other trauma survivors to experience the healing powers of working with honeybees.