Sweet honey! South Dakota ranked 2nd in the Nation for honey production, as of early 2023. In this Throwback Thursday photograph, two tough beekeepers examine a beehive. It appears, due to the single box, that is after honey harvest. One of the beekeepers uses a smoker to relax and drive the bees further down in the hive. The other reviews a frame with a few bees on it. Notice both men are gloveless, and one is in his shirtsleeves! Their veils tie (hopefully tightly) on top of the head and around the neck. Honey production is hard work, but the protection for the beekeeper has come a long way to full canvas coveralls and zip over veils. South Dakota’s honey tends to be popular sweet clover honey. It has become a popular past time, asking the backyard beekeeper, “To bee or not to bee?”