If you take a drive through the prairies of Rocanville, Saskatchewan, you’ll pass fields of golden canola, patches of wild clover, and rows of hardworking honeybee hives — many of them belonging to Lance Strong. As a second-generation beekeeper, Lance has been surrounded by the hum of honeybees since childhood. His father Brian began their family’s apiary in the early 1990s and became a long-time member of the Bee Maid Honey Co-operative. Today, Lance proudly carries on that legacy, managing their honey operation with steady hands and a deep appreciation for the craft, tending to 1,700 to 1,800 production hives, and raising around 1,200 nuc colonies on average each year.
Although he once planned to study kinesiology, Lance had a change of heart after high school. The thought of leaving the farm filled him with dread. When his parents asked, “Then why are you leaving?” the answer became clear. It was at that moment he realized how much he truly loved beekeeping and the life it offered.
Lance enjoys the physical, hands-on nature of the work. Each season brings new challenges and opportunities — from lifting heavy honey boxes during hot summer harvests in full gear to managing colony health and overseeing the work of his team. He appreciates the physical benefits of the job, but also the mental clarity it brings. Running a commercial bee farm involves constant problem-solving and attention to detail.
One of the most rewarding parts of the job for Lance is seeing the full life cycle of a honeybee play out as the year progresses. He begins by transferring larvae in June during queen rearing and follows their progress through mating, colony growth, and ultimately, honey harvest the next season. Every stage requires care, thought, and hard work—and yes, plenty of bee stings. He also values the lifelong learning that comes with the job, noting that every year brings mistakes and lessons.
“I’ve learned to ask questions often and listen to those around me,” he says. “Understanding that my way isn’t always the right way has been one of the most valuable lessons of all.”
Surrounded by his family, a thriving community, and the enduring strength of the Bee Maid Honey Co-operative, Lance continues to grow both his farm and his family’s legacy, one hive at a time.
