Our Team
At Pope Canyon Queens, we are a resilient, passionate, and adaptive company that work with beekeepers from all around the world who are dedicated to providing the highest quality queen bees to our customers. We are committed to staying at the forefront of the industry by continuously improving our practices and products to meet the evolving needs of beekeepers with the best livestock possible.
caroline yelle
queen bee
Caroline grew up in rural Montreal in Quebec, Canada. After completing four years of law school at the University of Montreal, Caroline was on track for a successful career in law. But being behind a desk all day wasn’t fulfilling and big city life was not as exciting as it was said to be. So, Caroline left behind the monotony of office life and set out on an adventure that would change her life forever. She left her home country, learned a new language, and devoted herself to learning the ways of the bees from Anicet Desrochers (Miels D’AniceT) and Rick Schubert (Bee Happy Apiaries) in the little town of Winters, California. Four years later, she was given the opportunity to purchase the business that had changed her life. In 2017, Caroline purchased Pope Canyon Queens and has not looked back.
Jason Harris
Office Manager
Jason, Husband of Caroline, brings with him a wealth of knowledge and skills; ensuring our business runs smoothly.
One of Jason's most notable strengths is his ability to handle a wide range of tasks. He is a jack of all trades, who is not afraid to get his hands dirty and tackle any challenge that comes his way. Whether it's managing our finance, moving bees, repairing equipment or establishing strong relationships with our clients. Jason is always ready and willing to do what needs to be done. He stays liquid and fills gaps as they arise.
He is always seeking new and innovative ways to improve our operations and ensure that our business continues to thrive. His expertise is an invaluable asset to our company.
Angie Kast
Team manager
Meet Angie, our dedicated and passionate team member with an unwavering enthusiasm for bees! As a full time employee, Angie brings a wealth of hands-on experience and a genuine love for these essential pollinators.
What sets Angie apart is not just her profound knowledge of bees but also her exceptional management skills. With a keen eye for detail and a natural ability to inspire and guide others, Angie is taking on the exciting role of leading our team of beekeepers. Her managerial prowess ensures that our apiary operations run seamlessly, fostering a collaborative and efficient work environment.
Join us in celebrating Angie, a leader in the field, as she contributes not only to the well-being of our bee colonies but also to the growth and success of our entire team and company.
Rodrigo Andres
beekeeper
Hailing from Chile, Rodrigo comes to us loyally each year to work the bees with Pope Canyon Queens. He is also the owner of his own apiary in Chile and is known for his expertise in beekeeping and apiary management. Rodrigo serves as an esteemed apiary consultant to the Minister of Agriculture of the Chilean government, sharing his knowledge and experience to advance the apiculture industry in his home country. Rodrigo has been a dedicated and valuable member of the Pope Canyon Queens team for 6 years+, and we are grateful for his contributions. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Rodrigo for many more years to come! Rod is absolutely the best.
Brittany Dye
independent beekeeper
Brittany, a highly skilled and motivated beekeeper, operates her own successful company, Brittany’s Bees, nestled in the picturesque landscape of Oregon. Every season, she eagerly journeys to North California, bringing her expertise and passion for beekeeping to the opening and pouring phase of queen bee production, contributing as an invaluable asset to Pope Canyon Queens. we fully support her in her own business.
Christian Barerra Gomez
beekeeper
When Covid-19 hit Chile, demand for engineers dropped, and christian decided radically to switch careers and started beekeeping, finding it to be the right fit. Now, he's joining Pope Canyon Queens for a second season, working in California while it's winter in Chile. Christian's strong work ethic, deep understanding of the bees and eagerness to learn make him a valuable addition to our team. If there's a problem, Chris will find a solution!
Rick Schubert
Consultant
Rick Schubert is a mentor to Caroline and our go-to consultant here at Pope Valley Queens. Rick has been working bees in Northern California for over 45 years and was a pioneer in the movement to bring pollinators to almond orchards. His company, Bee Happy Apiaries, has been vital in expanding the production of almonds in Northern California and as a direct result of his strategic hive placements, Northern California is currently the largest almond producer in the world. Rick founded Pope Canyon Queens with Anicet Desrochers (Miels d’Anicet) in 2013. Four years later, they sold Pope Canyon Queens to their lead beekeeper, Caroline Yelle.