At a disadvantage from birth with epilepsy and global developmental delay, fourth grader Anthony Schwager wanted a bee hive. Alarmed, his parents said no, but they eventually gave in. After having two hives die during the first winter, Anthony restarted his dream with four additional hives the following summer. Now, he has 200 as a part of his own business: Anthony’s Beehive.
“Anthony has made me realize that people with disabilities can support themselves with dignity without being pigeon-holed into a job, such as a janitor or a busboy,” mother Terri Schwager said.
Anthony’s dream started after he saw a video in fourth grade about bees. He came home and begged his parents for hives over and over again.
“I’m so glad my brother got this opportunity,” sister Mariah Schwager, LHS junior, said. “I also wonder what would have happened if that fourth grade teacher had showed him a video on fire ants or tarantulas or something besides bees.”
Another aspect of the job is to collect swarms in order to increase the number of hives.
“People will give us a call and Anthony will go find the swarm and collect it,” Terri said. “He scrapes the bees into a box with something like a 3-ring binder.”
These swarms have helped to lower the costs of purchasing new hives every year. Anthony’s Beehive strives to double the amount of hives in its possession each year using its profits. The profits are made by selling lotion, honey, lip balm and chapstick at local farmer’s markets.
