Craig Noorlander performs a vital annual service to New Mexico beekeepers, both new and experienced.  For many years he has traveled to California in spring to transport hundreds of honeybee packages back to New Mexico, to be picked up by beekeepers who are getting started or perhaps have lost bees over the winter.  He has the experience and specialized vehicles and equipment to ensure the bees arrive safely and in good health.
 
This year, his truck broke down on the way to California (twice), and because 750 packages of bees were waiting for him, he had to pay the breeder to transport them instead.  On package pickup day, it was determined that almost 300 of the 750 packages contained only dead bees, which of course meant disappointed customers.  Craig is devastated as he knows he has not successfully completed this task that he takes on voluntarily….and financially he has been hurt badly as much of the payment to the breeder came from his own personal funds….and he plans to return the payments he received to those that did not get their bees.
 
We beekeepers in New Mexico have the opportunity to help Craig with this loss, which is estimated to be 10s of thousands of dollars ($$$).  Please contribute whatever you can to try to make Craig whole.