Essays are due in the Louisiana State 4-H Office:
February 12, 2010
This Essay Contest is open to Louisiana 4-H Club Members Only!
4-H Club members in other states should contact their 4-H agent for information
Send all essays to a 4-H agent in your Parish in Louisiana for submission to the state 4-H office
State and National Awards: Sponsors
State Awards: Plaques-Louisiana Beekeepers Association; Cash Awards-Dale Pollet
Awards: Cash Award to 3 Top Winners: 1st Place State Winner--$100, 2nd Place National Winner--$75.00, 3rd Place National Winner--$50.00. Plaques to top three and certificates to participants
National Awards: National Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees, Inc.
Awards: Cash Prizes to 3 Top Winners: 1st Place National Winner--$750, 2nd Place National Winner--$500.00, 3rd Place National Winner--$250.00. National winners receive an appropriate book about honey bees, beekeeping, or honey.
2010 Topic:
The topic for 2010 4-H Honey Essay Contest 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-unexplained Colony Collapse Disorder, 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 the 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 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.
The ABF website: < www.ABFnet.org > has links to other beekeeping sites.
TIPS: All factual statements must be referenced with bibliographical-style endnotes/footnotes. A brief biographical sketch of the essayist, including date of birth, gender, complete mailing address, and telephone number, must accompany the essay. Note that “honey bee” is properly spelled as two words, even tough many otherwise authoritative references spell it as one word.
RULES:
The Contest is open to 4-H’ers who have not placed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd at the national level, or 1st place in Louisiana’s Honey Bee Essay Contest.
REQUIREMENTS
1. Preparation of essay for judging: Typed or computer-generated, double- spaced, 12pt. (Times or similar type style), on one side of white paper following standard manuscript format.
2. Write on the designated subject only: "Is My Community Honey Bee- Friendly?"
3. All factual statements must be referenced with bibliographical-style endnotes.
4. Must include a biographical sketch on a separate sheet of paper. A brief biographical sketch of the essayist, including date of birth, gender, complete mailing address, and telephone number, must accompany the essay.
5. Length – The essay is limited to: 750-1000 words. The word count does not include the endnotes, the bibliography or references, not the essayist’s biographical sketch – which should be a separate page.
6. Entry must include a HONEY BEE ESSAY COVER SHEET signed by a 4-H agent be considered for national judging.
7. Length – The essay should be 750 to 1000 words. The word count does not include the endnotes, the bibliography or references, or the essayist’s biographical sketch.
8. Essays will be judged on: (A) scope of research, 40%; (B) accuracy, 30%; (C) creativity, 10%; (D) conciseness, 10%, and (E) logical development of the topic, 10%.