5-year-old beekeeper creating buzz in Orange County

CEDAR GROVE, N.C. (WTVD) -- A 5-year-old boy is creating quite a buzz in Orange County thanks to his no-fear attitude toward bees.

Akeem Bell is a beekeeper at Sankofa Farms in Cedar Grove.

Akeem's dad, Kamal Bell, who is the farm's CEO, says his son has loved bees his entire life and had never been afraid of them.

"They're nice, and they're friendly," Akeem said.

Bell said Akeem was always a very active child, so he looked for something fast-paced, hands-on and they could do together. He landed on beekeeping.

"This is a practical application, and learning a skill is empowering," Bell said.

Sankofa Farms seeks to create a sustainable food source for minorities in both rural and urban areas of Durham and Orange County. Akeem and his bees are part of that legacy.

"A lot of kids see Akeem and they get inspired, especially Black youth, and (they) say, 'You know what? I can play sports, but I can also learn a skill,'" Bell said.