Here is your chance to enter a County, State, and National Contest without leaving your own home!
Honey bees are hardworking, tirelessly gathering nectar and pollen to share with their hive. They provide a vital ecological service by pollinating agricultural, garden and native plants. Explore more about these fascinating insects by participating in the North Carolina 4-H Beekeeping Essay contest. The essay provides a platform for youth to creatively express their working knowledge and research of the craft of beekeeping.
The 2025 essay topic is, “The Importance of Youth in Beekeeping: How 4-H Members Can Make a Difference!”
For this essay, a 4-H member should answer these questions: Why youth are important in beekeeping? How can 4-H members make a difference? How can more young people get involved in beekeeping? What are your future plans as a beekeeper? What is a major contribution a young beekeeper has brought to the industry?
Note that “honey bee” is properly spelled as two words, even though many otherwise authoritative references spell it as one word.
Essay Awards
The state beekeeping essay follows the rules laid out by the national contest sponsored by the Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees. NC 4-H youth will compete in the following age divisions; 1). 8-10 2). 11-13 and 3). 14-18. Youth awarded first in each category will receive $25 each. The overall winning essay from either 11-13 or 14-18 will be sent on to the national competition. Youth can only place first one time within an age category.
Essay Submission
Essay's are to be emailed to Shea Ann DeJarnette, 4-H Extension Agent at sadejarn@ncsu.ed by the close of business April 24, 2025. The submissions will be gathered for judging on the county level and submited for you to the state level. Please note all rules that follow will apply to the county countest as well.
State Rules:
NC 4-H Essay Content Rules
Eligibility: The contest is open to active 4-H Club members only. 4-H’ers who have previously placed first, second, or third at the national level are not eligible; but other state winners are eligible to re-enter.
Requirements (failure to meet any one requirement disqualifies the essay)
-Write on the designated subject only.
-Essay must be typed on single-sided pages and formatted following standard manuscript format using double-spaced type and 12pt font in a legible font face.
-Youth in the 11-13 and 14-18 age category must have an essay length of 750 to 1000 words. Youth that are in the 8-10 age category, only need to write an essay that is between 400-500 words.
Word count does not include sources, works cited or the writer’s biographical statement.
- All factual statements and interview references must be cited in a “sources” or “bibliography” list.
- On a separate page, please include a brief biographical statement of the writer including mailing address, email address and phone number.
Scoring: Essays will be judged on
(a) scope of research – 40%;
(b) accuracy – 30%;
(c) creativity – 10%;
(d) conciseness – 10%;
(e) logical development of the topic – 10%.
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 the subject are valued sources of information and should be documented.
Awards:
NC 4-H youth will compete in the following age divisions;
1). 8-10
2). 11-13
3). 14-18.
Youth awarded first in each category will receive $25 each. The overall winning essay from either 11-13 or 14-18 will be sent on to the national competition. Youth can only place first one time within an age category.
National Essay
The winner of the North Carolina 4-H state Beekeeping Essay is forwarded to the national Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees to participate in their national essay contest.
Each state may submit only one entry.
North Carolina 4-H submits the state winning essay by May 1, 2025.
Any 4-H Club member who placed first, second or third in previous years of the national competition is NOT eligible to win in 2025; however, state competition winners remain eligible to enter the national competition.
Essays entered must encompass the designated topic only. There will be no exceptions.
National winners will be announced by June 15, 2025
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.
Three cash prizes will be awarded in the 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.
June 30-July 25: All Taiwan delegates are tentatively placed!
July 20-August 15: we need 1-2 more families to host South Korea delegates! Pick them up and return them directly to the airport (could be RDU, Charlotte, or Asheville, depending on host family location)
July 24-August 16: We need about 23 more families to host Japan delegates! Pick them up from 4-H Congress, or a regional pick-up location. We will also have regional options for the return. 
Dates: June 14–26, 2026
Learn more & apply: 
Check out the Showcase:
Winner Announcement:
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