STATE CONTACT
Tom Webster, Extension Specialist - Apiculture
Community Research Service, Kentucky State University
Frankfort, KY 40601
(502) 227-6351

"Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless or race, color, age, sex, religion, disability, or national origin."

NATIONAL AWARDS SPONSOR: American Beekeeping Federation, Inc.
$250 cash prize to the winning essayist
$100 cash prize to the 2nd place winner
$ 50 cash prize to the 3rd place winner

STATE SPONSOR: Kentucky Beekeepers Association
$100 cash prize to the winning essayist
$ 75 cash prize to the 2nd place winner
$ 50 cash prize to the 3rd place winner

TOPIC: For the "turn-of-the-century" 2000 essay contest, the topic is "Honey Bees and Humans Through the Centuries."

The essayists should explore the variety of ways man has employed honey bees and their products since the beginning of this relationship. The essay can touch on the "laundry list" of ways of utilization - or it can focus on one area of utilization and explore it more fully.

SOURCES: Good leads for your research include your school and public libraries, local beekeepers, your county Extension agent, your local or state beekeepers association, the beekeeping professor at your state's agricultural college. The ABF website: www.abfnet.org has links to other beekeeping sites. The 1999 winning essays are also on abfnet, as are prior years. The MAAREC site is also a good source: maarec.cas.psu.edu

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.

Personal interviews with beekeepers and others familiar with bees and beekeeping activities are valued sources of information and should be documented. Sources which 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.

BEE ESSAY CONTES RULES
1. Contest is open to active 4-H members only. 4-Hers who have previously placed first, second, or third at the national level are not eligible; other state winners are eligible;

2. Each county may enter one essay in the state contest.

3. Essays must be 750 to 1000 words long on the designated subject only. (The word limit does not include the references or the essayist's biographical sketch.).

• All factual statements must be referenced with endnotes.
• Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
• Essay must include a BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH of the writer, including date of birth, sex, complete mailing address and telephone number.

4. Essays must be typewritten, double spaced, on one side of the paper only and should follow standard manuscript form.

5. Essays will be judged on:

• scope of research - 40%;
• accuracy - 30%;
• creativity - 10%;
• conciseness - 10%;
• logical development of the topic - 10%.

6. Each county must send its winning entry to 4-H Programs, 212 Scovell Hall, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546 by FEBRUARY 1. No late entries will be accepted.

7. A committee will judge all entries and select Kentucky's 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place entries. The state champion essay will be forwarded with information giving the number entered in state judging to the 4-H Essay Contest, American Beekeeping Federation, Inc., P. O. Box 1038, Jesup, GA 31598 in time to meet their March 1st deadline. The names and addresses of the top three entries will be forwarded to the treasurer of the Kentucky Beekeepers Association.

8. 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.

9. 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.

Last Revised: 7/27/99
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