Tony Schwager, right, takes a closer look at a honey frame that is still swarming with bees. Tony's son, Anthony, 22, co-owns Anthony's Beehive in rural Douglas County. Anthony, who was born with a developmental disability, got the idea to raise bees when he was in third grade.

Terri Schwager lived with fears about her son’s future.

Because of birth trauma, her boy, Anthony, was born with a developmental disability – he had global developmental delay with epilepsy.

“As a parent, I know that I worried a lot when he was younger,” Terri Schwager said. “What is he going to do? What kind of job is he going to get, knowing the limitations that are facing him?”

Those fears later resolved themselves.

Anthony, now 22, is the co-owner of Anthony’s Beehive, a thriving business based in rural Douglas County.

It all started with an idea from Anthony himself.

When he was in third grade, Anthony watched a video about bees in one of his classes. He came home that night begging his parents – Terri and Tony Schwager – to consider getting some bees and hives of their own.

“At first when I came home and told my parents about bees, they were just like – first off, they didn’t know anything about bees,” Anthony said. “They basically blew me off.”

But Anthony persisted. A year later, the family discussed the matter again.

When their other children had requests – like for a llama or a horse – they had given in. That year, they decided, it was Anthony’s turn.

“I still remember that conversation,” Terri said. “It was like, ‘If we’re good parents, and we want to be good parents, even though I don’t want to do it, we’re going to have to do it.’ “

At first, it was just a hobby. Anthony started with two beehives, and in the second year, those hives died.

Anthony and Tony started back up with four hives the next year and began selling honey at the Farmers’ Market in Lawrence. Soon, he was making a profit and gaining the reputation around town as “The Bee Guy.”

The Schwagers later expanded to 30 hives, and after receiving a grant from the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities, they increased to 100 hives. About that time, they also started selling other products such as honey straws, lip balm and lotion, which the entire family helped manufacture.

After starting in just a few stores, Anthony now places his items in more than 250 locations nationwide. For a while, Tony even quit his full-time job as a teacher to help grow the business.

“I just find it ironic, I’m pleased that (Anthony’s) the one that came up with this idea, in terms of carrying bees,” Terri said. ” Did I even envision where we’d be and what we’d be doing? No way.”

The plan is for Anthony’s Beehive to keep expanding as well. “We think Anthony will be involved in it until he’s an old man,” Tony said.

The family is also considering constructing an office building that would include a beehive exhibit so that Anthony could share his passion and knowledge of bees with school children and visitors.

“Not a lot of people actually raise bees,” Anthony said. “A lot of people are afraid of them or allergic to them. It’s fascinating how cool they are, what they do.”

Anthony has become a role model for people with disabilities, his father said.

Because of her family’s bee business, Terri said her concerns about Anthony have disappeared.

The issue resolved itself. And Anthony ended up finding his calling in the process.

“I think, if there’s such a thing as God’s plan, I do believe that this is what he’s supposed to be doing,” Terri said. “I believe in my heart that this is what he’s supposed to be doing.”