For Kevin Meier, a life among the hives started with a childhood spent watching his father tend to bees.
Growing up in Lucerne, Switzerland, Kevin developed an early appreciation for nature and the quiet rhythm of beekeeping. His father kept bees as a hobby, but when he began considering expanding the operation commercially, he knew they would need to find a place with plenty of open space and abundant floral sources for the hives to thrive. At just seven years old, Kevin moved with his family across the ocean to Canada, where they found exactly that: wide open fields, rich natural landscapes and plenty of room for bees to do what they do best.
Today, Kevin runs Wildrose Country Apiary in Smoky Lake, Alberta, alongside his wife and children. The apiary has grown from a humble 20 hives to approximately 2,300 hives, capable of producing a bountiful honey harvest averaging over 100lbs each per year. For Kevin, though, the rewards of beekeeping extend well beyond the honey flow.
He appreciates the quiet pace that comes with working among the hives, but says his children bring a whole new energy to life on the farm. Being able to work alongside his family every day and share quality time together is one of the things he looks forward to most. He also loves seeing his children develop the same appreciation for nature that he discovered when he was their age.
As a member of the BeeMaid Honey co-operative, Kevin says he’s found a supportive community of fellow honey producers and takes pride in producing a product that is local, pure and connected to the land around him. It’s a way of life that keeps him close to the land while creating something his family can be proud to pass on.