DADEVILLE, AL, November 04, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Kim Ly Rae Patten has been recognized for achievement in beekeeping.

Ms. Patten's professional journey is marked by a diverse blend of success and impact across graphic arts, publishing and most recently beekeeping. She operates under the moniker "The Cruising Beekeeper," through which she inspects and oversees bee colonies, maintains vital beekeeping equipment and supplies, educates children and adults about bees, and learns about honey bees around the world. Sharing her travel experiences through social media as well, she maintains channels across YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, all of which allow her to connect with others worldwide and communicate the fascinating facts behind and significance of bees.

Ms. Patten's longstanding commitment to education is equally evident in her leadership of her local club's second-grade education program — also supported by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System — a role that brings her particular pride. Through this work, she inspires young students just as beekeepers once inspired her, emphasizing the essential role bees play in sustaining crops such as almonds, citrus and cotton. Her outstanding work saw her recognized with a full-length feature titled "Heart Behind the Hive," published by Lake Martin Living in 2026.

Prior to establishing The Cruising Beekeeper, Ms. Patten held the position of managing editor at a local newspaper. Navigating the responsibilities of the complex publishing sector without formal training, she relied on her determination and willingness to learn on the job, which led her to a career as a graphic artist for the Montgomery Advertiser, The Bulletin Board, and, later, as the graphic arts manager at Find a Home Publications Magazine. Through each of these roles, she developed much of the expertise in visual communication and publishing that would later inform her entrepreneurial pursuits at the intersection of traveling and beekeeping.

Alongside her primary roles, Ms. Patten is an active member of industry-related organizations including the Tallapoosa River Beekeepers Association, the Alabama Beekeepers Association and the Alabama Master Beekeepers, underscoring her dedication to advancing both her own knowledge and the broader field of beekeeping.

To augment her knowledge and qualifications, Ms. Patten is certified as an Alabama Master Beekeeper through the Alabama Beekeepers Association, a certification she earned in 2025 after an accelerated study period, supported by her extensive classroom education and practical experience. She completed major competencies as well as public service requirements during this process. Her approach to continuous learning has been characterized by persistence and curiosity; after completing initial training in any new role or discipline she undertakes, she asks key questions about how she can improve and immerses herself fully until she masters each challenge.

Ms. Patten's entry into beekeeping was inspired by a childhood dream. After a professional beekeeper visited her elementary-grade classroom, she rekindled her interest decades later by inviting the then president of Tallapoosa River Beekeepers Association to place hives on her property. This decision led to her active participation in classes and conferences before she acquired her own bees. While pursuing the Master Beekeeper designation, she traveled frequently and built her social media presence by transforming her personal YouTube channel into The Cruising Beekeeper.

Beyond her work with the children's education program for the Tallapoosa River Beekeepers Association, Ms. Patten supports community-centered initiatives like Toys for Tots and has contributed to a local holiday program for children in need. She has also continued her creative pursuits from creating marbles by glassblowing, she was published in Glass Line Magazine for her creations in glass technique, through photography with her first published photograph captured using a small digital camera and subsequent works appearing in various publications, and hopes to one day have her current watercolor paintings released for collection.

On a personal level, Ms. Patten is the honored wife of Theodore Clifford Kennedy Jr. and proud mother of three children and grandmother to six grandchildren. Reflecting on her storied journey to date, she credits the guidance of God, her loving husband, and fortunate timing for much of her success, along with a self-taught approach that emphasizes asking questions and embracing new challenges with resolve.

Determined to further her impact in the coming years, Ms. Patten intends to continue educating children about bees, expand her involvement in adult education at conferences and pursue opportunities to work as a travel advisor creating Cruising Beekeeper Travels — all while maintaining her passions for art, exploration, learning and preservation of honey bees.

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