Features

Young Anthony becomes a beekeeper

Written by Rebekah Phillips. Posted on Thursday, May 1st, 2008

Tony Schwager describes his business as “a hobby gone out of control.”

Anthony’s Beehive, located near Lawrence, began when son Anthony, now 21, was in the third grade. He watched a video on bees at school and was hooked.

For Schwager, the business is a chance for his son support himself as well as nourishes a life-long obsession with bees and honey. Anthony was born epileptic and developmentally delayed.

Beekeeping isn’t a dangerous business. Schwager, a former Home Depot manager and schoolteacher, explained that they only worry about being stung when the bees have a bad temperament, which can be determined by the buzz. Most of the time, bees are calm and focused. They concentrate on duties to the colony, not stinging people.

“If they actually wanted to sting you, they would find a way,” he said.

To gather honey, the Schwagers don protective gear and blow steam into hives. This tricks bees into thinking there is danger. They become preoccupied with hoarding honey instead of paying attention to the keepers.

Anthony’s products are all natural and preservative free. They consist of 20 flavors of lip balm, scented lotions, “bar-bee-q” sauce, pure honey, bee pollen, honey sticks, lotion bars, honey-straw-filling machines, and more. Prices range from $1.59 for a tube of lip balm to $16.99 for a 5-pound jug of honey.

Products are making their way into stores around Kansas and the United States. They available online at www.anthonysbeehive.com.

Anthony’s Beehive remains a family-owned business. One day, the parents hope, it will support all four of their children, especially Anthony.