John Thomas, or JT as he is known, is a local beekeeper. He is what is known as a "side-liner" in the beekeeping community. There are commercial bee farmers, side-liners, and hobbyists. JT has been keeping bees for about fourteen years, three of which has been in the Lavina area. JT and Karen Merfield, another local beekeeper, have started the Musselshell County Beekeepers Club.

A hobbyist has one or two hives in their backyard, whereas a side-liners has between forty or fifty hives. They are producing enough honey and wax to pay for their hobby, and perhaps a small supplemental income. Commer...