Following are the rules spelled out by The Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees, Inc. (American Beekeeping Federation, Inc.) who sponsors the contest nationally. The North Carolina State Beekeepers Association sponsors the contest at the state level.
National Awards: Cash Prizes to top 3 National Winners:
1st place . . . . . .$750
2nd place . . . . . .$500
3rd place . . . . . $250
Each State Winner receives an appropriate book about honey bees, beekeeping or honey.
State Award: The first place essay in North Carolina will receive $50 from the NC State Beekeepers Assn.
TOPIC:
The topic for the year 2010 is:
"Is My Community Honey Bee-Friendly?"
Honey Bees and other pollinators have been in the news lately. Many beekeepers have experienced colony losses to the yet-unexplainied Colony Collapse Disorder, or "CCD". These unexplained losses have caused some people to wonder "What can I do to help?" For this essay, you should survey your community to see what is being done, or could be done to help honey bees. Perhaps there are classes to attract new beekeepers, or laws that prohibit beekeeping? Does your community allow roadsides and open land to grow up in blooming plants in the spring, or not? Are there resources to help home gardeners make bee-friendly choices? When insecticides are required for pests (for example, mosquito control), are insecticides chosen or applied with bee protection in mind. Include your state in your survey if there is some reason, for example, your state may have declared the honey bee your state insect, or your state highway department may have a wildflower seeding program.
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. Sources which are not cited in the endnotes should be listed as "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.
(see over for Rules)
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.
2. Requirements (failure to meet any one, disqualifies the essay) -
3. Essays will be judged on a) scope of research - 40%; b) accuracy
- 30%; c) creativity - 10%; d) conciseness - 10%; and e) logical
development for the topic - 10%.
4. Judging and selection of the National Winner will be made by the Foundation's Essay Committee, whose decision is final.
5. Each state may submit only one (1) entry.
6. National Winner will be announced May 1, 2010.
7. All National entries become the property of the Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees, Inc, and may be published or used as it sees fit. No essay will be returned.
8. Essays must be received by February 14, 2010. Essayists should mail their entry (or have County Agent mail entry) to:
Stephen B. Bambara
Dept. of Entomology, NCSU
Box 7613
Raleigh, NC 27695-7613
If you have read all these rules, read them again. After you have written your essay, read them once more just before mailing the essay. Did you write on the topic? (Agents or Leaders, please check the essay for adherence to the rules.) Use the checklist below.
9. And lastly, follow the rules. Use this checklist.
[ ] My essay is on the topic.
[ ] I used end notes.
[ ] Sources not cited in my endnotes are listed under "Resources".
[ ] My essay is 750-1000 words.
[ ] I included a brief biographical sketch about myself, including my address and phone.