2015 Essay Topic: "Planting for Bees from Backyards and Up"
Beekeeping has become difficult due to a lack of native plants for forage. In this essay, you will be required to discuss ways that habitats can be modified to become "bee friendly". Does your community allow roadsides and open land to grow wildflowers and encourage native planting of bee friendly plants?
Survey your community to see what is being done to help honeybees. Include your state in your survey to see if there is a wildflower planting program available or any other program that could aid the honey bee.
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.