2020 National 4-H Beekeeping Essay Competition: Call for Entries

Submission Deadline: April 15, 2020

Sponsored by: Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees

Put on Your Thinking Cap!

An essential judging criterion is the scope of research you put forth in developing the ideas behind your essay—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 the subject are valued sources of information and should be documented.

Note that “honey bee” is properly spelled as two words, even though many otherwise authoritative references spell it as one word.

Eligibility:

The 2020 National 4-H Beekeeping Essay Competition is open to active 4-H Club members only.

Any 4-H Club member who placed first, second or third in previous years of the national competition is NOT eligible to win in 2020, however, state competition winners remain eligible to enter the national competition. Entered essays must encompass the designated topic only. There will be no exceptions.

Competition Rules & Essay Requirements:

Any 4-H Club member interested in writing an essay should contact their local 4-H office for competition details. The state selection process must be completed through the 4-H system.

Failure to meet any one of the essay requirements will result in disqualification.

Essay requirements for national judging:
- Essay must be typewritten or computer-generated on single-sided pages and formatted following standard manuscript format using double-spaced type and 12pt font in legible font
- Essay must encompass the designated topic in 750 to 1,000 words. Word count does not include sources, works cited or the writer’s biographical
- All factual statements and interview references must be cited in a “sources” or “bibliography”
- Essays will be judged on (a) scope of research, 40%; (b) accuracy, 30%; (c) creativity, 10%;

(d) conciseness, 10%; and (e) logical development of the topic, 10%.

On a separate page, please include a brief biographical statement of the writer including mailing address, email address and phone

Each state may submit only ONE
Deadline for national submission: April 1, 2020
National winners will be announced: June 1, 2020

National competition entries may be submitted for judging via mail to the address listed below or email to msausaman@abfnet.org. Use “4-H Essay Entry from <State>” as the subject line.

Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees 500 Discovery Parkway, Suite 125 Superior, Colorado 80027

Decisions made by the trustees of the Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees during national judging are final. All national competition entries become the property of the foundation and may be used as it sees fit. No essays will be returned.

Awards:

Three cash prizes will be awarded in the 2020 National 4-H Beekeeping Essay Competition. The author of the highest scoring essay will win first prize. The author of the second-highest scoring essay will win second prize. The author of the third-highest scoring essay will win third prize.

First Prize: $750
Second Prize: $500
Third Prize: $250

The three prize-winning essays will be published in ABF Quarterly, the magazine of the American Beekeeping Federation. All authors of essays submitted to the national competition will receive a relevant book on honey bees, beekeeping or honey.

Questions? Contact Molly Sausaman, Executive Director, Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees, at 720-616-4145 or msausaman@abfnet.org.

GOOD LUCK!