The story of Daniel Tatar, his bees, and 18 years of honest honey from the Missouri Ozarks.
Daniel Tatar started keeping bees in Strafford, Missouri in 2008 — not to sell honey, but because he was fascinated by the hive. One colony became two, two became twelve, and twelve became a full commercial operation covering the Ozarks.
Today Show Me Honey Co. runs hives across the Springfield, MO area — in clover fields, wildflower meadows, and hardwood forests. Every February, the colonies migrate west to California's almond groves for pollination season before returning home for the Ozark summer flow.
The philosophy has never changed: healthy bees, honest honey, no shortcuts. Grade-A Fancy raw honey — never heated above hive temperature, never micro-filtered.
Daniel started with a single hive in Strafford, MO. One colony, zero sales — just pure curiosity about honeybees.
Expanded to 12+ colonies. First honey sales at local farmers markets. Started taking on swarm removal calls.
First migratory pollination trip to California almond groves. Now an annual tradition every February — trucks loaded, bees ready.
Launched creamed honey, hot honey, comb honey, and gift sets. Nucs program started to help new beekeepers get their start.
Hundreds of customers across the Ozarks. Same philosophy from day one: beekeepers first, sellers second.
Raw, unfiltered, never heated above hive temperature. Grade-A Fancy — exactly what comes out of the hive.
We manage our hives with care for colony health and longevity. Healthy bees produce better honey — that's always been the priority.
Based in Strafford, MO since 2008. We serve the Springfield area and migrate our hives to California's almond groves every February.