Female Beekeeper Spotlight: Rebecca Bills of R&R Acres
Beekeeper. Educator. Honey producer. Building a life around bees, family, and the land.
Some journeys into beekeeping are carefully planned. Others happen through a series of unexpected connections.
For Rebecca Bills of R&R Acres in Jamestown, South Carolina, it started with a trailer full of bees and a willingness to say yes to something new.
From Curiosity to Calling
About 12 years ago, Rebecca moved to South Carolina, looking for something to grow on her land. The climate and environment were completely different from what she was used to, and traditional farming methods didn’t quite fit.
Beekeeping crossed her mind, but at first, it felt overwhelming.
“I looked into it, thought it seemed too hard, and gave up before I even started.”
Then, just weeks later, an opportunity quite literally arrived at her doorstep.
A commercial beekeeping company needed a place to winter their bees and reached out through a chain of connections. They brought a trailer full of hives to her property and, in exchange, offered her hands-on experience and a few bees of her own.
Ten years later, Rebecca is a dedicated beekeeper, educator, and the woman behind R&R Acres.
Beekeeping as a Way of Life
For Rebecca, beekeeping is more than a skill, it’s a constant challenge and a source of purpose.
“Beekeeping pushed me to try something new that I was too stubborn to give up. It keeps me learning and helps promote a more natural way of life.”
Her work today includes direct-to-consumer honey sales, especially her infused creamed honey, as well as educating others about beekeeping.
A typical day?
Loading up the truck with equipment, packing snacks for her kids, and heading out with a plan to work through multiple hives on a timeline.
Because for Rebecca, beekeeping is also a family affair.
The Reality of Being a Woman in Beekeeping
Rebecca’s journey hasn’t been without its challenges.
“In the beginning, everyone assumed I was working for a man… not the person behind the farm.”
From being overlooked at farmers markets to having to advocate for herself in the field, earning recognition as a beekeeper took time.
Balancing motherhood added another layer: homeschool lessons in the truck and days spent in the bee yard with kids alongside her.
But over the years, that persistence paid off.
“People have become more accepting that I am the beekeeper.”
Her advice to other women?
“Go for it. It’s a beautiful science and art. Every hive is a place to get lost in for a little while.”
A Moment She’ll Never Forget
Ask Rebecca about a memorable moment in the apiary, and you’ll quickly realize that beekeeping rarely goes as planned.
One evening, after stopping by a bee yard still dressed from her “real job”… in high heels… she climbed onto a trailer of hives to do a quick inspection.
Everything was going smoothly…until it wasn’t.
Her smoker had ignited the grass beneath the trailer.
What followed was a fast-moving field fire, multiple calls to 911, fire trucks, bulldozers, and flames reaching over 30 feet high.
“I was scared I might have caused damage or harm, but in the end, no one was hurt.”
And somehow, her kids thought the whole thing was hilarious.
Just another day in the life of a beekeeper.
Rebecca’s Experience with Jeometry Beewear™
Rebecca first heard about Jeometry Beewear™ through local and state beekeeping clubs, and it didn’t take long for her to see the difference firsthand.
“I kept walking on the legs of my other bee suits.”
That alone was reason enough to try something new.
What stood out immediately?
A better fit in length
No unnecessary “boob pockets”
Significantly more airflow than traditional vented suits
“It’s much lighter. The single zipper is nice, fewer gaps to fuss with. And the pockets work better for how I actually move and work.”
In the field, those details matter.
She’s also found herself moving more easily, getting caught less on trailers, and navigating her work with more ease.
“It’s a suit you can actually walk around in comfortably.”
Her advice to other women considering it?
“Go for it. Imagine wearing comfortable clothes in the summer heat and being able to work bees more easily.”
Built for Real Life in the Apiary
Rebecca’s story is a powerful reminder that beekeeping isn’t one-size-fits-all, and neither is the gear.
Women in the field bring a different perspective, a different rhythm, and a different set of needs to the work.
“Women can add valuable insight in caring for thousands of little things.”
That’s exactly why suits designed specifically for women matter.
Explore More from Rebecca
You can follow Rebecca’s journey and learn more about her work at R&R Acres here:
Instagram: @randrhoney
Facebook: @randracressc
Website: https://randracres.com/
Watch her review of the Sunny Suit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH1bmrfyzqY
Shop the Suit
Designed for women. Tested in real apiaries. Built for the way you work.
Explore the Sunny Suit by Jeometry Beewear™ and experience the difference for yourself.
The Future of Beekeeping is Female
Our Female Beekeeper Spotlight series is an ongoing monthly feature honoring women shaping the future of beekeeping. Educators, professionals, hobbyists, and visionaries alike.
Because the future of beekeeping isn’t just buzzing.
She’s leading it. 💛
