State Beekeeping Essay Due
Friday, Feb 1, 2013 12:00am – Sat, Feb 2, 2013 12:00am — 4 weeks awayWhere: Raleigh, NC (Map)
Hello Friends!
Please consider passing this opportunity on to your 4-H youth (Only active 4-H youth are eligible)! Youth can delve deep into understanding the fascinating biology of these social insects and the implications of how some agricultural practices may affect hive health.
The North Carolina state winner receives a $50 award and the winning essay is submitted to the national contest through the Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees. If selected as a national winner, 1st place is $750, 2nd is $500 and 3rd is $250. Our state essay topic and judging criteria follow the national program. Please see the attached announcement for the topic and essay guidelines.
State beekeeping essays are due February 1st, 2013. Please send all essays ELECTRONICALLY to Liz Driscoll at liz_driscoll@ncsu.edu
Congratulations to 4-H'er, Gabby Venturini, of Wilkes County on her state winning 2012 essay!
2013 Essay Topic: Reducing the Usage of Bee-Killing Pesticides in my Community
Pesticides are a fact of modern life, but misuse or overuse of pesticides, or making poor choices when selecting and applying pesticides can be devastating to honey bees and other pollinators. The 4-H'ers are encouraged to learn about bee-killing pesticides being used in their communities – by homeowners, businesses, or farmers. Then, they should investigate how the impact of those pesticides on honey bees can be lessened.
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.
Even if dated 2012, all rules still apply: http://ipm.ncsu.edu/4-H/essay.html
National Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees: http://honeybeepreservation.org/2012/05/2013-essay-contest-topic/
