Melanie Noyes was born in Idaho. In 1984, her family began running bees in North Dakota. In 1986, they settled in Turtle Lake, N.D. , where she would spend summers helping with wiring frames, extracting, returning to Idaho for winter.
In 1996, she married her husband Josh and began bookkeeping for the family business. She attended dental hygiene school in Idaho while welcoming two children. Her oldest, Cassidy recently graduated from the University of Mary with a Doctorate of Nursing degree. Cassidy has begun her career in Linton & is getting married in October!
Melanie’s son, Tanner attended BSC Lineman Program before returning to the family bee business. Tanner is married and they have welcomed Mel’s first grandchild, Grant, in July, 2025!
Josh joined the family business in 2003 and in 2006 they moved to N.D. to work bees full
time. Melanie learned how to extract and replaced her mom in the honey house. No grief, just relief. Shortly after moving to N.D., Melanie received an Associate Degree in accounting and took over all accounting for the company; and NDBA Treasurer since 2008.
Now that the children are grown, she travels to CA in January for almonds, then on to Texas in late February to set up the graft. Then back to N.D. This last season she spent most of her winter in N.D. ‘helping watch Grant’. Mel likes to travel and spend time with her family.
The 2026 Distinguished Service Award recipient is Melanie Noyes Freeman.