1998 4-H Beekeeping Essay Contest Announcement and Rules

Awards:

Cash Prizes to 3 Top Winners:
1st Place .........$250.00
2nd Place .........$100.00
3rd Place .........$50.00

Each state winner receives an appropriate book about honey bees, beekeeping, or honey.

Topic: The subject of the 1998 Essay will be a report on the beekeeping activities in your community and/or state.

Report on as many aspects of the beekeeping and honey industry as you can identify in your area. Do not overlook the less obvious portions of the industry-for example, pollination of crops, honey processing, manufacturers of bee supplies, beekeeping research facilities, etc.

Sources: Good leads for your research include your county extension agent, your local or state beekeepers association, your state's Department of Agriculture, the Crop Reporting Service, and the beekeeping professor at your state's agricultural college.

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 values sources of information and should be documented. Sources which are not cited in the endnotes should be listed in a "Resources" or "Bibliography" list.

1. Contest is open toactive 4-H Club 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 reenter.

2. Requirements (failure to meet any one disqualifies)
   • Preparation for National-Judging; Typewritten,double spaced, on one side of the paper following standard manuscript format.
   • Length: 750 to 1000 words long.
   • Write on the designated subject only.
   • All factual statements must be referenced with bibliographical-style endnotes.
   • A brief biographical sketch of the essayist including date of birth, gender, complete mailing address, and telephone number, must accompany the essay. (The word limit does not include the references or the essayist's biographical sketceh.)

3. Essays will be judged on
   1. scope of research - 40%
   2. accuracy - 30%
   3. creativity - 10%
   4. conciseness - 10%
   5. logical developrnent of the topic - l0%

4. Essayist should not forward essays directly to the American Beekeeping Federation office. Texas 4-H Beekeeping Essays are due no later than February 13, 1998. No essay received after February 13,1998 will be considered.

5. Each state may submit only one entry.

6. Final judging and selection of the National Winner will be made by the ABF's Essay Committee, whose decision is final.

7. The National Winner will be announced by May 1, 1998.

8. All national entries become the property of the American Beekeeping Federation, Inc. and may be published or used as it sees fit. No essay will be returned.

9. Mail the winning state entries to:

   4-H essay Contest,                  
   American Beekeeping Federation, Inc.
   P.O. Box 1038                       
   Jesup, GA 31598                     
   Street Address:                     
   115 Morning Glory Circle            
   Jesup, GA 31598                     
   

   Note to State Contest Coordinator: In your transmittal letter, please tell us how many persons entered the contest in your state.

Brianne Damon won the 1997 4-H Essay Contest in Texas with her essay entitled They're Here...

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