Farmer's Market Spotlight: Spradlin Farms & Pap's Hilltop Honey

    Honey.  No, I'm not talking about that Jessica Alba movie.  I'm not even talking about the countless songs that sing about honey and other sweet stuff.  I'm talking about honey - plain and simple...or would that be pure and simple?
    Meet Wes Spradlin.  He, his wife Jen, and their kiddliwinks are the human sweetness behind Spradlin Farms.  The rest of the sweetness comes from the bees.  Now's the time to humor me and wave to the Spradlin's.  Just ignore that big guy in the cowboy hat.  He's there for the WiFi connection, too.  Honestly, I don't have an inkling of an idea what goes into beekeeping and producing honey, but I know I like it…on toast, in oatmeal, when I'm baking bread…  Get the picture?  
    I do know honey can look and taste different depending on what flowers the bees are sucking on.  I also know several years ago when Wes told me it was hard to get his hands on those small bee udders to milk them of honey he was yanking my chain.  I may be strawberry blond, but I'm not a total airhead all the time.  I won't mention the number of times I've walked outside in my bare feet and stepped on a bee this summer alone.  And although I remember reading honey was found in a very old Egyptian tomb, I know I wouldn't have been the one to taste test it to make sure it was still good no matter that it's supposed to keep forever if sealed well.  A handfull of years ago our family went to the Lithopolis Honey Festival and had the pleasure of tasting different kinds of honey.  Out of all we tested, our taste buds were fond of the local honey found at the Chillicothe Farmer's Market.  Our Market is fortunate to have two local honey producers - Spradlin Farms and Pap's Hilltop Honey, with Chris Lewis being the head bee wrangler at Pap's.  Whether it's Spradlin honey or Pap's honey, I can attest it's de-lic-ious!  In fact, I buy the big mondo size bottles of honey because I hate to run out.  Don't worry though, they have smaller sizes too.  Even bottles shaped like bears.
    Now I know I don't have a picture of Pap's, which is a total oops on my part, but I do have a picture of the Spradlin's.  From left to right it's girl kiddliwink, Wes the bee wrangler, and boy kiddliwink.  Then there's Jen at the back.  Don't worry, she's not hiding.  She's keeping Wes in line.  Anyone that thinks I'd actually believe bees have udders needs to be kept in line...
    So there you have it, folks!  When you're at the Chillicothe Farmer's Market make sure to stop by and visit with our local beekeepers and buy some honey.  Everyone needs a bit of sweetening up on occasion so why not make sure you sweeten up with something local?  I do.  Smiling & Waving, Sharon

 

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