E-mail: info@ABFnet.org.  WEB SITE: http://www.ABFnet.org

AWARDS: Cash Prices to 3 Top Winners: 1st Place $250.00 2nd Place $100.00 3rd Place $50.00 Each State Winner, including the national winners, receives an appropriate book about honey bees, beekeeping, or honey.

The topic is "Encouraging Youth to Become Beekeepers."  The beekeeping industry is concerned about the decline in the number of beekeepers as well as the advancing average age of active beekeepers.  What could be done to encourage someone to become a beekeepers, whether hobbyist or commerical?

SOURCES:

Good leads for your research include your school and public libraries, local beekeepers, your county Extension agent, your local or state beekeepers association, the beekeeping professor at your state's agricultural college. The ABF website <http://www.ABFnet.org> has links to other beekeeping sites. The 2001 winning essays are also published on abfnet, as are previous years'.

Include in your own perspective (what is there about bees and beekeeping that might appeal to you?), talk to friends who keep bees for a hobby, and even search out adults in their communities who are or have been beekeepers.  Personal interviews should be documented.  Review the level of interest in beekeeping in the past and today, and, perhaps, mention some famous beekeepers, real or fictional.

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.  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:
 
I. 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; other state winners are eligible to re-enter

2. Requirements (failure to meet any one disqualifies) -
- Preparation for National Judging: Typewritten, 12-point Times or similar type style, double-spaced, on one side of the paper following standard manuscript format.
- Write on the designated subject only.
- All factual statements must be referenced with bibliographical-style endnotes.
- A brief biographical sketch of the essayist, including date of birth, gender, complete mailing address and telephone number must accompany the essay.
- Length: 750 to 1000 words.
- The word count does not include the Activity Sheet, the endnotes, the
bibliography or references, nor the essayist’s biographical sketch.

3. Essays will be judged on (a) scope of research -40%; (b) accuracy - 30%; (c) creativity - 10%; (d) conciseness - 10%; and logical development of the topic - 10%.

4.  Each state is responsible for choosing a winner.  Thus, essays should not be sent to the Federation Office in Georgia.  Florida entries must be officially submitted by a 4-H faculty member to Essay Contest, c/o Dr. M.T. Sanford, extension specialist in apiculture, Box 110620, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0620. These must be received by Tuesday, February 13, 2001. Those residing in another state should check with their local 4-H office about how to submit entries.

5. Each state may submit only one entry.

6. Final judging and selection of the National Winner will be made by Foundation's Essay Committee, whose decision is final.

7. The National Winner will be announced by May 1, 2001.

8. 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.