Beekeeping

Description: This project will help youth learn beekeeping, the types of bees, the honey and wax they produce, the plants that attract bees, and the equipment a beekeeper needs.

State Fair Entries: 1 educational exhibit per county, 1 honey exhibit per member, unlimited number of county entries.

Exhibit Guidelines:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) may be used, with parental permission, when creating this exhibit and is to be documented as a reference. A majority of the work to create this exhibit is to be the 4-H member’s original work. All posters, notebooks, and display boards must include a reference list indicating where information was obtained, giving credit to the original author, to complete the 4-H member’s exhibit. This reference list should/might include web site links, people and professionals interviewed, books, magazines, etc. It is recommended this reference list be attached to the back of a poster or display board, be the last page of a notebook, or included as part of the display visible to the public. A judge is not to discredit an exhibit for the way references are listed. Posters are to be 22”x28”, displayed horizontally, and placed in a clear plastic sleeve or covered with clear plastic to protect contents. Display boards should be designed to sit on a table using no more than 36” of tabletop space. Space should be left in the lower right-hand corner to place an exhibit tag provided by Purdue Extension staff. Judges evaluating exhibits should recognize individual differences and creativity, therefore using information in this document as a guide rather than a requirement. 

Special Notes:

• There are no age/grade specifications for beekeeping exhibits. No bee hives may be brought to the State Fair.
• Honey water content will be measured.
• Fill level: the honey should be filled to the jar shoulder, not over, nor under
• Chunk honey should go in a wide-mouth jar, preferably one specially made for chunk honey (see beekeeping catalogs).
• Be careful to distinguish "chunk honey"(comb in jar) from "cut comb" (comb only in box). Honey (including chunk, cut comb, and comb) must be collected since the previous county fair.

Exhibit Class Guidelines:

Educational Poster or Display (grades 3-12)

Create an educational poster, notebook, or display about any manual activity or on any beekeeping topic of choice that is age/grade appropriate.  Youth can also design and complete an independent study activity.

Extracted Honey (grades 3-12)

Exhibit two (2) one-pound jars, shown in glass or clear plastic, screw-top jars holding 1 pound of honey each. Each container is to have the 4-H member’s name and county written using permanent marker.

Chunk Honey (grades 3-12)

Exhibit two (2) one-pound jars (wide-mouth glass or clear plastic) with a comb in each jar. Each container is to have the 4-H member’s name and county written using permanent marker.

Cut-comb Honey (grades 3-12)

Exhibit two (2) one-pound boxes. Boxes are usually 4 1/2” x 4 ½” in size. Each box is to have the 4-H member’s name and county written using permanent marker.

Two Honey Product

Exhibit four (4) containers total of two different honey products using extracted honey, chunk honey, or cut-comb honey as described in each product above.