Hello, fellow bee and honey lovers! I would like to introduce myself. My name is Tracy and I own The Queens Reserve Honey Company. I know, very exciting, and you just have no idea how exciting! I will enlighten you and let you know what road in life led me to create such a delightful company.

I chose to become a beekeeper after sitting and visiting with my Popo on many occasions throughout my life. Popo was my amazing and beloved grandfather. He recently passed away, after living 101 years, to their very fullest. At times I would sit with him for hours, as he would share with me his wonderful life stories. The stories that captivated me most were of him and his father and their honey collecting technique during the depression. Popo told of him and my great grandfather setting off into the forest to seek out honey when money was too scarce to purchase honey from the local beekeepers. They would fill a canning jar lid with sugar water and patiently wait for a neighboring bee to be tempted by their sweet mixture. Once the bee took the bait, Popo and his father would try their best to follow their bee friend back to its hive, nestled deep in the rolling Missouri hills. At times the bee would outmaneuver them, and they would wait, yet again, for another unsuspecting bee to lead them to the sweet mother load. Once they eventually were led to the tree hive, and able to gain entrance, Popo’s father taught him to only take part of the honey and part of the comb, and not to disrupt the lives of the bees, in their want for the taste of mouth-watering, liquid gold. They always left enough for the bees to continue to live and prosper. This unstated agreement worked for all parties involved, for many years.

Then approximately four years ago, after sitting and listening to Popo speak once again, about his bee adventures, I decided to do a bit of research on the science and art of beekeeping. It appealed to my creative side and love of nature. After researching all aspects of beekeeping thoroughly on my own, I then signed up for a class on beekeeping and never looked back. I started with one hive and four years later, that one hive that I nurtured, has grown to 18.

I have two wonderful people that have been there helping me since day one through this learning curve, Valerie and Don. They have helped grow and spread the word about The Queens Reserve Honey Company and what glorious honey my bees produce. Between the three of us tending the hives, wrangling swarms, growing the business, and enjoying the fruits of the bees labor, beekeeping has been an adventure and pure joy. I still hear my Popo’s stories in my mind as I care for my bees and their busy hives. He encouraged my love for beekeeping, with his boyhood memories that he so lovingly shared with me, and I will forever “BEE” thankful.