Winning at Honey with Stephanie: Entering Honey Shows

Stephanie Slater dives into the critical yet often overlooked foundation of honey show success: reading the rules—carefully and completely. She shares a personal story of nearly missing a candle entry due to confusing two shows’ requirements, turning a frustrating mistake into a powerful lesson. As chair of the Midwest Honey Bee Expo Honey Show, she emphasizes that every event has unique, evolving rules—whether about jar counts, presentation, or eligibility—that can make or break an entry. Beyond rules, she introduces the Wisconsin Honey Producers Association’s fun, low-pressure Black Jar Honey Tasting Contest, a social, taste-based event that celebrates honey’s diversity and fosters beekeeper connection. The episode also covers the major rebranding of the American Honey Show Training Council into the American Honey Judges Association (HJA), now a formal membership body with a $50 annual fee, a new board, and a revamped website. Stephanie urges beekeepers to treat honey shows not just as competitions, but as opportunities for education, storytelling, and community. The episode ends with a spotlight on the North Carolina Bee Jubilee Honey Show, highlighting its 40+ categories and charitable mission. Stephanie’s message is clear: preparation starts not with jars or candles, but with a deep, deliberate reading of the rules—and with a spirit of curiosity, not just competition.