UF Honey Bee Research and Extension Lab (UF HBREL)

4-H Essay Contest

The deadline for the 2008 Essay Contest has passed; please check back for details on next year's contest.

 

The UF HBREL is organizing this year's annual 4-H Essay contest. The contest is a national competition, but only the best essay in each state moves on to compete in the national running. The Official UF HBREL Essay Committee will determine the top three essays in the state and, then, send the first-ranked winner on to the national competition. For information on the topic and how to submit, see rules section below or click here to download a printable version.

Further information:
Awards
Deadlines
Topic
Sources
Rules

Questions about the 2008 4-H Essay Contest should be directed to Mike O'Malley (click to email) from the UF HBREL

UF4H

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2008 4-H Essay Contest Announcement and Rules
Sponsored by The Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees, Inc.

Awards
The top three ranked essays at the state level will each receive recognition and an appropriate book about honey bees, beekeeping, or honey. The first place (state) ranked essay will also be entered into the national running.

The top three ranked essays at the national level will receive the following awards:
1st place, National: $250.00
2nd place, National $100.00
3rd place, National: $50.00

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Deadline
Friday, 8 February 2008—no essay received after Friday, February 8th, 2008 will be considered.
See “Rules” for details about where and how to submit entries.

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Topic
“The Results of Honey Bee Pollination in My Community”
The results of honey bee pollination are many and varied. Essayists are encouraged to become familiar with these pollination activities and, then, survey their communities to see what examples they can find. Some of these will be obvious (e.g. apples on sale at the supermarket), but others will be less obvious (e.g. milk from cows that are fed alfalfa hay of which honey bees have pollinated the seed form.)

Essayists should not overlook the benefit to farmers who are able to produce more or higher value crops as a result of pollination nor should they overlook the benefits to the local population from the varied diet to which honey bee pollination contributes.

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Sources
Two good internet resources…

  1. “McGregor’s Handbook of Pollination” found at http://beeculture.com/content/pollination_handbook/index.cfm
  2. “The Value of Honey Bees as Pollinators of U.S. Crops in 2000 found at http://www.masterbeekeeper.org/pdf/pollination.pdf

Additional links to beekeeping websites are available at the Foundation’s website found at http://www.honeybeepreservation.org

The scope of 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 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.

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2008 4-H Essay Contest
Rules—State and National Levels
Essays that fail to meet any one requirement will be disqualified.

  1. Contest is open to active 4-H Club members only. 4-H’ers who have previously placed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd at the national level are not eligible; other state winners are eligible to re-enter.
  2. Essays must be typewritten or computer generated, double-spaced with 12 point Times or similar font style on one side of white paper following standard manuscript format.
  3. Essayist will write on designated subject only
  4. All factual statements must be referenced with bibliographical-style end notes
  5. All entries must include (on a sheet separate from the essay) a brief biographical sketch of the essayist including date of birth, gender, complete mailing address, and telephone number.
  6. Length of the essay itself should be between 750 to 1000 words (word count does not include endnotes, bibliography/references, or the essayist’s biographical sketch)
  7. Essays will be judged on scope of research (40%), accuracy (30%), creativity (10%), conciseness (10%), and logical development of the topic (10%)
  8. The state winners from Florida will be determined by The University of Florida Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory’s Essay Committee whose decision is final. The first place essay at the state level will be entered into the national running. The National Winner will be decided by the Foundation’s Essay Committee, whose decision is final.
  9. The State Winner from Florida will be announced by 18 February 2008. The National Winner will be announced by 1 May 2008.
  10. Essays will not be returned. The national entry will become property of the Foundation and may be published or used as it sees fit.
  11. Deadline for submission is 8 February 2008; submissions received after February 8th, 2008 will not be considered.
  12. Mail entries to the following address:

4-H Essay Contest
c/o UF HBREL
Bldg. 970, Natural Area Dr.
P.O. Box 110620
Gainesville, FL 32611-0620

 

For more information and to view last years winning essays visit http://www.honeybeepreservation.org

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

last updated 11 February 2008 by M.O'Malley