Hives for Heroes prepares new recruits for future

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) - So the bees are asleep and the recruits have gone home but this weekend the training yard was buzzing with activity.

“Actually I’m a ‘newbee’ as far as hives for heroes I’m a third-year beekeeper but I learned about this group from Brian one of the mentors and the guy that started this and I’ve been coming every Saturday and I learn something new every time I come,” Frank Demilia one of the veterans present said.

Saturday was a special day for Hives for Heroes, training day. Mentors met up with ‘newbees’ to check on the health of their hives and put them one step closer to mentoring themselves.

“Hopefully next year I’ll feel more confident I wanna make sure I keep my bees through the winter cause that’s one of the most arduous things is people will lose their hives that first winter so I want to make sure I can get through that get on the other side and go through all the process and stuff,” Bonnie Silver a veteran at the event said.

For the veterans involved, there are a variety of reasons why they enjoy coming to the meeting and taking part in the hobby. The two I spoke with shared their favorites.

“The comradery and just being able to support each other, feel supported, it’s an environment. I mean if you’re a veteran you get it,” Silver said.

It is healing many of us with PTSD learn to calm ourselves in the presence of the hive and I know the Veterans Administration does animal therapy and they’re experimenting with beekeeping now,” Demilia said.

Demilia is excited about the future and even says he’d be willing to take more on if the opportunity presents itself.

“Next year having learned what I can from this group I’m ready to mentor and it’s my understanding that the city has given us some additional bee yards and maybe we’ll split up and each take a bee yard. I don’t know Brian runs the show so we’ll find out but I’m willing to do that,” Demilia said.

Many of the ‘newbees’ involved with Hives for Heroes are getting ready for their next step to switch into mentoring so there will be a need for more ‘newbees’ soon. If you’re a veteran and you’re interested in signing up, click here.

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