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Beekeeping is not only our occupation, it is also our passion. Starting the fourth generation of this 1908 established family business, we can't help but be humbled by the hard work that has been put into producing quality Colorado honey for almost 100 years. Our great grandfather Walter Leckenby was one of the earliest Colorado beekeepers. Pure curiosity of the bees drove Walter to manage close to two hundred hives in the Fort Lupton area. People drove from all over Colorado to buy his honey off a wagon in front of his house on highway 85. After several years in the business, Walter retired and sold his bees to his new son-in-law Arthur Johnston. Arthur continued beekeeping while still working in the coal mines during the winters. His love for beekeeping grew and he decided to quit his coal mining job in order to expand his beekeeping operation. Arthur and his wife Louise had four rowdy boys and Arthur passed his knowledge and passion for the bees on to his sons. Larry, Harlan, Lyle, and Gary all went into the bee business and at one time they had a combined total of 10,000 hives and millions of pounds of honey have been produced by the Johnston family. Our father, Lyle, placed himself in Rocky Ford in order to contribute his bee pollination to one of the greatest melon districts in the world. Without our bees, the Arkansas Valley would not be known as the melon capital of the world! During the winter months, our bees travel to the central valley of California for pollination of the almond orchards. Lyle has remained in the business for over thirty years and the passion of bees has been instilled into yet another generation. My brother Jeff, sister Jamie, and myself continue the family tradition trying to educate others on how important bees are to the natural food source supply and how healthy and medicinal pure honey is. We take the greatest pride in our family business and we guarantee that your tongue will buzz with delight when you try our quality honey products! Jacy
Johnston - Owner/Sister |
