The Missouri 4-H Beekeeping Essay Contest is a qualifying contest for the National 4-H Beekeeping Essay Contest by the Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees, Inc. The first-place winner of the Missouri contest will be entered into the national contest. The first-place winner in each age division in the Missouri essay contest will receive a prize.
Essay topic
2026 topic: The Power of Pollen
- How is pollen important to bees?
- Has pollen been changing in plants and in our landscapes?
- If so, are those changes affecting bees?
- When do you observe the most and least pollen in your colonies and how does that impact their temperament and productivity?
Eligibility
- Must be a current 4-H member.
- Members who placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd in previous years at the national level are NOT eligible for 2026 prizes.
- State contest winners remain eligible to win in their age division in the state competition. Essays entered must encompass the designated topic only. There will be no exceptions.
Essay requirements
- Essays must be typewritten or computer-generated on single-sided pages and formatted following standard manuscript format using double-spaced type and 12pt font in a legible font face.
- Essays must encompass the designated topic in 750 to 1,000 words. Word count does not include sources, works cited or the writer’s biographical statement.
- All factual statements and interview references must be cited in a "sources" or "bibliography" list.
- 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%.
- On a separate page, please include a brief biographical statement of the writer including mailing address, email address and phone number.
- The statement “I verify that AI was not used to create this essay” must be included at the bottom of the essay and signed.
Please email your completed essay to Marcia Shannon at carlsonm@missouri.edu no later than April 27, 2026.
National winners will be announced on June 15.
National awards
Three cash prizes will be awarded in the 2026 National 4-H Beekeeping Essay Competition. The author of the highest-scoring essay will win first prize. The author of the second-highest scoring essay will win second prize. The author of the third-highest scoring essay will win third prize.
- First Prize: $750
- Second Prize: $500
- Third Prize: $250
The three prize-winning essays will be published in ABF Quarterly, the magazine of the American Beekeeping Federation. All authors of essays submitted to the national competition will receive a relevant book on honeybees, beekeeping or honey.