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 2012 is:
Honey bees pollinate a wide variety of plants. The food crops that benefit from honey bee pollination have been said to contribute one-third of the American
diet. In addition, many non-food plantings and natural environmental plants benefit from honey bee pollination. The 4-H’ers are encouraged to investigate the
plants in their communities that benefit from honey bee pollination and determine the results of that pollination.
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, farmers 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 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.
(Rules cont'd)
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. NC will submit its winning essay to the National Competition.
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. National winning essays will be posted at: http://honeybeepreservation.org.
8. NC Essays must be received via email by midnight, February 14, 2012. Essayists should email their entry (or have County Agent email entry) to:
david_tarpy "at" ncsu.edu
Subject: Beekeeping Essay Entry
If you have read all these rules, read them again. After you have written your essay, read them once more just before e-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, email, and phone.