'I just want the honey' says beekeeper as Sioux Falls buzzes at first Honey Bee Festival
Sioux Falls was abuzz with excitement as local bee enthusiasts swarmed to the city's first-ever Honey Bee Festival on Sunday afternoon. Organizers, driven by their lifelong passion for these vital pollinators, crafted a sweet celebration that transformed Laurel Ridge Barn into a hive of activity, offering a day of education, entertainment, and plenty of golden nectar.
Beekeeping
Organized by Laurel Ridge owners Tyler and Christie Childress, along with their friend and mentor Alison Ecklund, the festival aimed to educate the public about the importance of honey bees and beekeeping. The festival served as both a showcase of apiarian wonders and an educational platform for novices and aficionados alike. The event featured a variety of honey vendors and educational sessions, providing attendees with a comprehensive look into the world of apiculture.
Inspired by a conference-style bee event in Rapid City, Ecklund envisioned a more interactive gathering for eastern South Dakota. While the western event focused on educational talks, Ecklund aimed to create a festival to foster connections and hands-on experiences with bees and honey.
“We wanted to create an event that not only celebrates the honey bee but also educates our community on the importance of beekeeping," Ecklund said.
Drawing from her two decades of beekeeping expertise, Ecklund is a passionate mentor in the apiculture community. For years, she has helped novice beekeepers and shared her knowledge.
"I'm always happy to help someone get started with beekeeping," Ecklund said. "Whether it's answering questions, sharing tips, or helping set up their first hive, I enjoy passing on what I've learned. It's important to me that new beekeepers have the information they need to be successful."
Ecklund's journey into beekeeping began with an article in Mary Jane's Farm magazine that featured Adee Honey Farms. Headquartered in Bruce, South Dakota, the farm has four generations of beekeeping experience and has produced real honey since 1957. It has grown from a small farm to the largest beekeeping operation in the nation.
Captivated by the subject after reading the article, she delved deeper, seeking out experienced beekeepers as mentors and immersing herself in extensive research.
Twelve beehives later, Ecklund has paid it forward by becoming a guiding force for aspiring beekeepers. Ecklund's influence even extends to her own family — she got her sister, Ardie Halversen, involved in beekeeping 14 years ago.
Honey making
Halversen, however, took a different approach to beekeeping.
"Unlike my sister, I wasn't as dedicated to the hobby," Halvorsen said with a laugh. "I actually googled 'lazy beekeeping' when I started."
The honey-making process involves a delicate series of steps. Beekeepers first use a hot knife to carefully cut the wax coating off the comb, exposing the honey within. This honey is then spun out using a specialized extractor machine, which applies centrifugal force to separate the liquid from the comb.
Halversen has embraced a modern innovation in beekeeping technology — the Flow Hive bee frame. Unlike the traditional honey extraction process, the Flow Hive allows her to harvest honey directly from individual frames and into a jar, without the need for laborious processing or blending.
This streamlined approach saves Halversen significant time and effort compared to the conventional methods her sister Ecklund utilizes. The Flow Hive's unique design enables the honey to be tapped straight from the comb, eliminating the steps of cutting the wax, spinning the honey in an extractor, and straining.
The healing of honey
While some beekeepers prize the wax byproduct for its myriad uses, Childress, like Halversen, is solely focused on the honey. For him, the Flow Hive's streamlined approach is a perfect fit, allowing him to efficiently harvest the golden nectar without the added step of processing wax.
"I'm not in it for the wax — I just want the honey," Childress said. "The Flow Hive lets me get to the good stuff faster, and that's all that matters to me."
For Childress, the honey is the primary draw of beekeeping because of its known ability to be a natural remedy for allergies. His son's severe allergies to pollen and other outdoor triggers, prompted him to seek a natural solution, and local, raw honey has been shown to help build up tolerance to allergens.
"Since we started using the honey from my own hives, my son's allergies have improved by 100%," Childress said enthusiastically. "The local, raw honey has been a game-changer in helping him build up his tolerance to the pollen and other outdoor allergens he was struggling with. I'm so grateful to have found this natural solution."
Ecklund emphasized the numerous benefits of honey beyond its sweet taste.
"In World War I, it was used as an antibacterial solution and rubbed on wounds," Eckund said. "The healing properties of honey have been known for centuries."
Challenges in beekeeping
Unfortunately, Tyler Childress' first beehive did not survive its first winter and so he purchased a new hive last year.
Ecklund acknowledged harsh winters can be challenging for bees if they are not properly cared for.
"The cold temperatures and long winters can really take a toll on the hives if they aren't well-insulated and have enough food stores," Ecklund said.
Another major threat to bee colonies, according to Ecklund, is disease.
"Diseases like mite can spread rapidly through a hive and wipe it out if left unchecked," Ecklund said. "It's important for beekeepers to monitor for signs of disease and take action quickly to treat affected colonies."
Ecklund emphasized the importance of preparing hives for winter by ensuring adequate insulation, reducing entrances to conserve heat, and making sure the bees have sufficient honey stores to get them through the cold months.
Getting into beekeeping can also require a substantial financial outlay. Beyond the bees, beekeepers must purchase a hive, frames, a smoker, a bee suit, and other essential equipment.
"It's not cheap to get started," Ecklund said. "You're looking at hundreds of dollars just to set up your first hive."
Of course, the most important investment is the bees themselves. Ecklund recommends that new beekeepers source their colonies from reputable local suppliers. While one can order bees from big box stores like Fleet Farm, many area beekeepers purchase their bees from warmer climates like Texas or California through local bee supplier Marlene Boernsen from Ocheyedan, Iowa.
South Dakota honey
According to the S.D. Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources, there are 185 South Dakotans keeping bees in the state, with around 100 of these maintaining their bees for commercial honey production. South Dakota usually ranks in the top five states in the nation for total number of colonies.
South Dakota honey has a reputation for being exceptional, Ecklund said. Primarily, beekeepers in the state produce clover, wildflower, and alfalfa-sweet clover blend honeys. This is because South Dakota is dominated by fields of these flowers, and the flavor of honey depends on which plants the bees have access to.
“Clover honey is one of the most popular types of honey in the world,” Ecklund said. “It’s popular because of its mild, sweet, and floral flavor.”
Ecklund's advice to others interested in beekeeping is to ask questions and then ask some more.
"Find someone who loves bees and learn all you can from them,” Ecklund said. “I love sharing about the masterpiece of bees. So wondrous are human beings and bee-ings.”
