What's buzzing about bees, honey

Those attending a program Saturday at the Hot Springs County Museum got a look at a business that has more male workers than any other industry. Of course, when it comes to honeybees, one colony alone can have thousands of these male drones in it.

Dr. Jack States, a native of Wyoming, spoke Friday about the first incidence of beekeeping, and honey collection and sale. Born in Laramie, States was raised in a beekeeping family in Saratoga. His grandfather began keeping bees in the early 1920s, and his father was an assistant apiculturist - those who raise and care for bees - for the USDA bee laboratory at the University of Wyoming in the 1930s.

States received his BA in Biology and History, and a Master's of Science in Botany from the University of Wyoming. He later earned a Doctorate in Botany from the University of Alberta, he taught a Northern Arizona University before retiring in 1995. While in Arizona, he co-founded the Northern Arizona Beekepers Association and taught a popular beekeeping class on the biology and habits of honeybees.

During his presentation, highlighted with a slideshow, States noted the cattlemen and flock masters got an early start in Wyoming because there was plenty of grass, where beekeepers had to wait until forage was provided for the bees.

"I always like to point out," he said, "that the flock masters and cattlemen couldn't always agree on what part of grass those animals ought to eat . . . but beekeepers have always been able to get along."

Farmers began in Wyoming as early as 1868, when several people were attracted by the prospect of gold. As mines played out, entrepreneurs decided to take up farming in the Lander Valley to support them. One of the major people interested in getting things going was William Tweed, who developed the first wagon farm and raised agricultural produce. He was also one of the first to bring sheep to Wyoming.

At about the same time, beekeeping was developing a strong presence in the country. One of the "founding fathers" of the industry Camille (C.P) Dadant, who followed his father, Charles, who translated Langstroth's "The Hive and the Honey Bee" for use by budding beekeepers across the U.S.

C.P. Dadant had a friend, Victor Arland, who was interested in setting up a mercantile business to supply food for fur trappers, buffalo hunters and settlers in the Big Horn Basin. Most of the supplies that came to this area at the time were brought in by wagon from Billings.

The interest Arland had in beekeeping, States said, "was paramount, because of his long friendship with Camille Dadant." Arland would order honey in 1,000-pound lots, have it shipped into Billings and brought to his mercantile. Shipments of honey were sold in five- 10- and 25-pound pails, packaged as such for transport because of the fragility of glass.

Arland, States said, wrote in a letter to Dadant that the Crow and Shoshoni Indians were trying to get him to exchange his honey for scalps they had taken from their enemies. He took them, just to make the peace.

According to a June 10, 1892 newspaper clipping, States said, Jacobs S. Myer received two beehives. At the time, Myer stated he didn't think there was another colony in the state of Wyoming. Another clipping from May of 1893 showed Myer and his neighbor, Arthur Scott, had each sent for another hive, and they had obtained 80 pounds of honey from each hive during the fall. A third clipping from December 1893 showed Myer's success, increasing his hives by five and being able to collect 200 pounds of honey.

In 1898, Myer attempted to raise comb honey. States explained such undertakings require a large number of bees to fill out the combs. In the spring of the year, a man named William Ranney paid Myer $100 for four bee swarms. In the fall, he had eight hives from which he produced 2,500 filled sections of honeycomb. He contracted with a local store to take it all, at 10 cents a pound. The demand was so high, the store still made a profit.

Ranney worked with his brother Charles to expand the business, and they were able to buy out a bee colony in Colorado; unfortunately, those bees had what is known today as American Foul Brood, one of the more devastating diseases still plaguing beekeepers.

The packaged bee business started up in California in 1917, and the Ranney brothers began ordering them to enhance their colonies. It was difficult to get the bees when they needed, so William went to the California and bought an orange grove. This way, he was able to send bees to Charles at appropriate times. At the same time, William also made orange blossom honey to increase their profits.

Charles Ranney would later marry Myer's daughter, and the couple continued honey production in the Lander Valley. States noted during the 1930's his own grandfather chose to go into beekeeping. The Ranneys had already been using some of States' land to keep bees, and States was impressed with the production of honey.

Also presenting was Bryant Honey President Don Bryant, who spoke on the company's production. Bryant currently has hives in Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska and California.