4-H Beekeeping

Essay Contest
TOPIC for the year 2011:

“U.S. Honey: A Taste for Every Preference”

The taste and color of honey varies according to flowers where the bees gather the

nectar. Each different type of plant will yield honey with a different taste. The same

plants, growing in different soils and climates, can yield different honey. 4-H'ers are

encouraged to investigate the local/regional honeys of the United States and see how they

differ in taste and color. Is a honey dark with a rich flavor, or light in color and mild-

tasting? One honey may be the choice for topping your pancakes; another may be best for

baking cookies or cakes. Actual access to the honey for tasting is not required - just find

out about some of the characteristics and write about them.

AWARDS:

COUNTY AWARD: STATE SPONSOR: NATIONAL AWARDS

Whitley County 4-H Kentucky Beekeepers SPONSOR: American
Council Association Beekeeping Federation,
Inc.

1st Place $25 $100 $750

2nd Place $10 $75 $500
3rd Place $5 $50 $250

SOURCES:
Good sources of information include interviewing a beekeeper, contacting your county extension educator,
attending a meeting of a state, regional or national beekeeping association, searching libraries and the
Internet. The ABF website www.ABFnet.org has links to other beekeeping sites. The scope of the research is
an essential judging criterion, accounting for 40% of your score. The number of sources consulted, the
authority of the sources, and the variety of the sources are all evaluated. Sources that are not cited in the
endnotes should be listed in a “Resources” or “Bibliography” list. Note that “honey bee” is properly
spelled as two words, even though many otherwise authoritative references spell it as one word.
 4-H Beekeeping Essay
Contest Rules
1. Contest is open to active 4-H members only. 4-H’ers who have previously placed first, second, or
third at the national level are not eligible; other state winners are eligible to re-enter.

2. The county will have one winning entry sent to the state level. All entries must be turned in or mailed
to the Whitley County Extension Office, 4725 N. Hwy 25W, P.O. Box 328, Williamsburg, KY 40769 by
the 4:30 PM deadline on Friday, February 11 , 2011. You may turn in your essay at the February
4-H Club meeting, if your club meeting is before the deadline. No late entries will be accepted.

3. Requirements (failure to meet any one requirement will result in disqualification):

Write on the designated subject only.

All factual statements must be referenced with biographical-style endnotes.
A brief biographical sketch of the essayist, including date of birth, gender, complete
mailing address, and telephone number, must accompany the essay. It should be on a
separate sheet of paper.
Length: 250-400 words for grades 4-6; 750-1,000 words for grades 7-12
The word count does not include the endnotes, the bibliography or references, or the
essayist’s biographical sketch!
Typewritten or computer generated, double-spaced, 12-pt. Times or similar type style, on
one side of white paper following standard manuscript format

4. Essay will be judged on:

scope of research - 40%

accuracy - 30%
creativity - 10%
conciseness - 10%
logical development of the topic - 10%

5. A committee will judge all entries and select Kentucky’s first, second and third place entries. The
state champion essay will be forwarded to the American Beekeeping Federation.

6. Final judging and selection of the national winner will be made by the American Beekeeping
Federation’s Essay Committee. The national winner will be announced by May 1, 2010.

7. All entries become the property of the American Beekeeping Federation and may be published or
used as it sees fit. No essays will be returned by national.

If there are any questions, please contact the Whitley County Cooperative Extension Service at
(606) 549-1430.