Betty's Bees & Her Mustard Business | What If | Nebraska Public Media

(upbeat music) [Mike] At an age when most folks retire, Betty Sayers became a beekeeper. There. It could be that I was never a good bridge player and never learned to play golf. So who knows? It calms the bees. You know what you can do? -What's that? -Mister. You can just keep puffing that. Okay. I'm useful. (upbeat music) What were you out here doing today? I was just checking to see how they are coming with their honey production. There's liquid in there when you see this real light wax, they make that, they cover it and they're waiting till the water evaporates out of the honey to get it just the consistency they want. But all these cells are filled. You can see they're glistening. [Mike] Bees are kinda like family to you, aren't they? Yeah, they are. I pay as much attention to 'em. I'm always learning. I'm reading and talking to beekeepers. [Mike] Learning and trying new things. For a few decades she was a teacher and grant writer. She launched an online magazine showcasing rural entrepreneurs and became one influenced by stories she was telling about people creating things. To see the sacrifice that people will make to just do stuff that they want to do was inspiring to me. [Mike] About the same time Betty made a bucket list. [Betty] And as I looked at that, the very top thing was beekeeping. [Mike] You're allergic to bees? I am, I had a terrible experience. [Mike] If I'm making a bucket list of things I want to do, probably the thing at the top is not something that's gonna make me -horribly sick. -This is gonna kill me. Kill me, yeah, that's exactly right. But you did that. Mm hmm. [Mike] In spite of that Betty loves bees. That is pollen that is packed in its legs and it wants... It's looking for someone to unload it. It has to get in the hive to do that. See that? It's so fun. I love to watch them. [Mike] She's intrigued by their society and the role of the queens and appreciates how hard they work to make honey. But what to do with it? I just thought it's not fun giving it away. It's all right. But the bees work so hard to make it and I should be able to come up with something. [Mike] Buzz Savories was the answer. It's honey and candles, but the main product is two kinds of honey mustard Betty worked hard to perfect. The first one, partnering with a local brewery to make a spicy beer mustard. How many different iterations did you go through till you got something that was like -this is good. -Oh, I would say there would've been 50. That? Okay. I asked Betty to show us how you make honey mustard. Then she put me to work. (upbeat country music) I truly love my cart. I wouldn't say that about many things. I truly love it. Alright, what are we doing first? The bucket gets filled with water and you pour it in the skillet. This looks like a lot of work. Well, it is. Betty found something I can handle. (upbeat country music) -And another. -Another? What? Inside here are yellow mustard seeds, brown mustard seeds, old creamery stout, and cider vinegar. This is the salt, turmeric, allspice. -This is mustard powder. -And finally- The very precious and very unique, lovely honey. Made by all those -hardworking bees. -Yes, yes. It's a big mixer. Sloppy stuff, isn't it? It is and it has to be carefully done because if it isn't, the jars explode. I think you're kind of like a machine. I do sometimes feel that way. I wish I were more like a machine. Fun fact about bees. The females who do all the work have little tolerance for drones, the males who don't help out, which had me a little concerned. (upbeat country music) [Betty] I usually make eight gallons at a time, maybe once every three weeks or maybe just once a month. So where'd the name Buzz Savories come from? The Buzz is like the honey part. And then the Savories is the beer and the mustard. [Mike] So what do you like best about having this business? I think it is that it's never finished. It's always the next thing. It's a challenge every day. Where do you get all the energy to do this? You know, it's just getting up and doing. So what do you think? Do I have a job? You do, you can be... You're just like a machine. (machine whirring) So remember, just wait til I point, okay. [Mike] And yeah, Betty's a TikTok star. Betty Sayers here at Buzz Savories. Today we are making a luscious, simple, delicious chicken salad. [Mike] Her marketing includes TikTok videos made with help from her daughter-in-law. Now remember, we start with a local honey. It's very important. This honey flavors the dressing. Okay, now I'm just going to smash, smash, smash, smash, and I'm going to put this glaze on and if only you were here. So she's really natural and she has fun with them and she's got viewers and comments from all over the world coming to her through her TikTok. She is one of the most creative people you will ever meet. She never ceases to amaze me. I hope I can be like her when I'm her age. Chicken salad, the best you'll ever eat. -Good job. -Thank you. [Mike] Some of our "What If..." stories are about entrepreneurs with an idea that will eventually make them rich. This isn't one of them. Betty isn't making millions off her Buzz Savories products, but says she's more than covering her production costs. She sells online and has products on shelves of a bunch of Nebraska stores, and that's just fine. You seem to be enjoying this a lot. Oh, I do, it is fun. It is fun and I'm never without something new to think about. I like Tina Turner's, "What Does Love Have To Do With It?" What does age have to do with it? Either you're living or you're not. And if you're not, then don't hang out with me 'cause I'm living. It's just too much fun. (bees buzzing)