Hofmann Apiary observes World Honeybee Day

As visitors arrived at the historic Hofmann Apiary site northeast of Janesville, they were greeted by a to-scale queen bee. Glistening in shades of brown and gold, she greeted workers and drones as they arrived. She reminded them bees have every right to their own celebration, since more than one third of the food humans eat is pollinated–made possible–by bees.

 

About 150 people visited the open house at the apiary in honor of World Honeybee Day on Saturday, August 17. In addition to being greeted by Twin Cities area beekeeper and honeybee advocate Terry McDaniel, they were able to learn about the practices of the large-scale apiary which once operated on the site. They were treated to free popcorn and live music; a food truck was available for lunch or snacks.

 

Living in the family home located at the site are Larry and Jan Hofman. Larry, 81, is grandson to apiary operators Emil and Clara Hofman. Larry shares family lore which reveals Emil was operating a farm raising Chester White pigs on the site when, one day in 1903, a swarm of bees happened to arrive on the property.

 

“My grandfather knew enough to realize they were looking for a new home,” reveals Larry. “So he fashioned a hive that would meet their needs.”

 

By 1920, Emil had built what the American Bee Journal described as “the largest apiary in Minnesota,” and was keeping about 1,000 colonies–a number Larry says was “unheard of” at the time.

 

Today, the buildings where the various tasks of the operation were carried out are still standing. Displays and artifacts help visitors understand some of the demands of the large-scale business.

 

One intriguing display shows how to make a “bee beard.” By putting a queen bee in a small cage under their chin, the brave at heart will draw in hundreds of worker bees who will position themselves all around her–across the lower part of their face, down their neck and sometimes onto their chest.

 

Larry mentions his grandfather made himself a “bee beard” for the centennial celebration held in Janesville in the 1950s. The small cage he used for the queen bee is on display at the apiary, as is a photo of the “beard.”

 

Also celebrating World Honeybee Day were a number of vendors with stands at the site. New Richland beekeeper Jason Casey was offering some of his “Sun Honey” products for sale. He also had a number of squares of honeycombed wax from a hive. As he picked one up to demonstrate it, a bee flew out. “It doesn’t mean any harm,” Casey said lightheartedly. “It’s just sniffing around.” Casey revealed he is one two beekeepers who have hives on the apiary property.

 

Also vending honey was T McD’s Bees–the Twin Cities area company owned by Terry McDaniel, and Strand Honey, a beekeeper located south of Mankato. Along with them was Edenvale Nursery offering native plants for sale.

 

The 46-acre site at the apiary consists of 10 acres of restored prairie, 5 of restored forest, 20 acres of wetland, and the six-acre building site. More information is available from the organization’s website, www.hofmannapiaries.org