Six Reasons Why You Should Apply for the Young Beekeeper Award
The Bayer Blue Ribbon Beekeeper Award, sponsored by the North American Bayer Bee Care Program, recognizes the next generation of beekeepers (12-18 years old) and their efforts to give back to their communities through activities that support honey bee and pollinator health. These outstanding individuals have created unique projects on their own or with their local communities to promote and protect bee health for years to come.
This year, applications will open in June during National Pollinator Week.
In the meantime, read on to learn six reasons why you should apply for the 2020 Blue Ribbon Beekeeper Award (or encourage a bright young beekeeper in your community to apply):
1. You’re passionate about pollinators.
The Blue Ribbon Beekeeper Award originated in 2019 as a continuation of the Bayer North America Bee Care Program’s Young Beekeeper Award, following several years of Bayer’s recognition of leaders in pollinator health.
If you’re the one in your group of friends who is passionate about the future of our food and our fuzzy friends, then this award may be just for you!
2. You can win some serious dough for school or to further your projects.
Each entrant has a chance to earn a $3,000 (1st), $2,000 (2nd) or $1,000 (3rd) prize, which can be used towards their beekeeping project or to continue their education, such as applying toward college tuition.
3. You can spread the word about your pollinator program.
The first-place winner of the 2018 Young Beekeeper Award, Leo Schirokauer, was one of more than 50 young applicants leading the way for the next generation to inspire others within the beekeeping and pollinator space. With support from Bayer, Leo used his prize money to help spur his research to investigate a cure for the devastating honey bee disease American Foulbrood (AFB). AFB is an incurable disease that kills a hive’s larvae, ultimately killing the hive itself. The availability of a treatment for AFB would not only allow beekeepers to save infected hives but would also alleviate the growing danger of a larger scale outbreak of the disease.
After winning the award, Leo has continued honey bee health research. In 2019, he traveled to Denali National Park in Alaska for two weeks to work on a native pollinator inventory project.
“I’m really excited about the potential implications my research could have on the beekeeping industry and on pollinator health overall,” said Leo.
You can read more about past Young Beekeeper Award applicants recognized as 2019 Blue Ribbon Beekeepers here.
4. If you’re between the ages of 12 and 18 and already working with pollinators, you’re eligible!
Anyone between 12 and 18 years old can apply for the Blue Ribbon Beekeeper Award. Applicants must be actively participating in the beekeeping or pollinator health space. This can be in the form of a school or community project; hive management as a hobby or family business; or research into the factors affecting pollinator health.
In other words, we want to know what you’re doing to support honey bees and other pollinators in your community!
5. Applying is quick and easy!
This year, applications will open on June 22, 2020 during National Pollinator Week, and entrants can apply online by August 21, 2020. To submit your application or learn more about the award, visit the portal here.
6. Your work will be seen by leaders in beekeeping and pollinator health.
This year’s panel of Blue Ribbon Beekeeper Award judges will consist of industry leaders in the beekeeping and pollinator health community. Judges will be announced soon.
Our Blue Ribbon Beekeeper Award winners will be announced in September during National Honey Month.
Good luck to all of you!
To get an application go to;
https://beehealth.bayer.us/what-is-bayer-doing/bayer-bee-care-young-beekeeper-award/young-beekeeper-award
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