Four Generations of Beekeeping: Continuing the Legacy

At a 24-acre farm called Meisenbachhof in Germany, Alessandro Heuberger and his wife Katrina grow rye and corn, and take care of a million bees, two pigs, five dogs and seven horses. The beekeeping is part of a family tradition for Heuberger, an apprentice supervisor at the Magna facility in Untergruppenbach, Germany, and a fourth-generation beekeeper.

Heuberger’s first lessons in beekeeping started when he was five. His grandfather Josef, who learned the maintenance of bee colonies from his father, introduced the boy to the sweetness of harvesting honey.

“It’s such a great childhood memory,” said Heuberger. “We were in a meadow surrounded by fruit trees. My grandfather told me, ‘Alessandro, it’s very important to be careful with nature.’ It was amazing to smell and eat the honey. Today, I’m following in the footsteps of my ancestors.”

His approach: combine the tools and best practices of the past with new techniques and technologies to ensure that his bees are healthy. Treasured items in his barn include a vintage honey extractor that his innovative grandfather upgraded with a crank and an engine to handle four honeycombs at a time.

“I have the tools, the frames, and the same hives that my grandfather had,” Heuberger said. “Sometimes I even wear my grandfather’s beekeeping outfit.” Heuberger has adopted the Magna Core Value “think big” at work and at the farm. He started with five hives and now has 13. He’s always looking into new technology, such as a steamer to apply oxalic acid to keep the mites off bees – an invention that would delight his great-grandfather. Finding new ways to solve problems extends to his apprentice training.