FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2009
Essayists Dance with the Honey Bee
Honey bees don’t do the Electric Slide, admits Helen Coats in her first place essay in the 4-H Beekeeping Essay Contest, but their Honey Bee Dance makes them successful at producing honey – “So let’s hear a round of applause for our little friends, who communicate through circles, wiggles, and waggles…in order to create one of the world’s favorite sweeteners – honey.”
The 2009 essay contest, sponsored by the Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees, drew state-winning essays from 27 states. The assigned topic was “The Dance Language of Honey Bees.” Essayists were to learn about the honey bee’s dance language, how it was discovered, how it works and how it provides colonies the ability to find and exploit floral resources.
Helen, 10, lives in Rock Hill, S.C. She combines music with her love of nature and hopes to become an accomplished violinist and singer. She titled her essay: “The Bee Dance – Not Exactly the ‘Electric Slide’!” As first place winner, she receives a $750.00 cash award.
“BZZZZT! BZZZZZT! A honey bee buzzes wildly while walking on the honeycomb. Becoming suddenly quiet, she circles left and downward…” Leslie Pike,11, of Hodgenville, Ky., began her essay with a word-picture of the dance. She won second place and a $500.00 cash prize.
The third place essay earned a cash award of $250.00 for Traci Sirotiak, 18, of Newberg, Ore., who plans to continue in 4-H as a volunteer in her adult years. Because the four best essays were of such good quality, the judges are awarding an honorable mention prize of $100.00 to Solly Burton, 17, of Sullivan, Ind. He has taken beekeeping in 4-H for eight years.
Each state winner, including the national winners, will receive a copy of a book about beekeeping.
Complete list of the winners (including all the state winners)
