MoCo Ag Fair Honey & Beeswax Contests

Want to enter the Montgomery County, Maryland
HONEY, MEAD, PHOTO (and more!) CONTESTS ?
Here's What To Do:

SUPERINTENDENT: Jim Fraser, 301-518-9678

DEADLINES for Show Entries

  1. All show entries must be delivered to the Farm and Garden Building Friday, Aug 11, 2023, 10 AM – 4 PM (the Friday before the fair opens), or Saturday, August 12, 8:30 AM – 2 PM (opening day of the fair) . Be sure to obtain a receipt for each item entered.
  2. All Show Entries must be picked up by the participant the day after the fair closesSunday, August 20, 2023 from 10 AM – 2 PM. Unless otherwise arranged, any items that are not picked up will become the property of MCBA, Inc. and/or will be donated to charity.

RULES for Show Entries

1. All exhibitors are subject to the general rules and regulations in addition to the particular rules listed here. Department 63, Honey and Beeswax is open to all. No need to be a Montgomery County Resident.

2. All honey and beeswax exhibits must have been produced by the exhibitor during the past 15 months (except Classes 2, and 18 through 25).

3. Only one entry allowed per class.

4. No exhibitor’s name or label will be allowed on entries except classes 2 and 19. Identification stickers with exhibitor’s number may be secured to the bottom of the items to avoid mistakes in dismantling exhibits.

5. All honey entries must have been gathered and ripened in a natural way by honeybees.

6. Judge may withhold prizes for insufficient merit and remove from public view any entry or part thereof which, in his or her opinion, discredits the exhibition.

7. The superintendent at time of entry will determine the color class of all extracted honey, but, prior to judging, may shift it to another class where appropriate.

8. Honey display (minimum of 10 pounds of honey) may include pictures and charts but may not include beekeeper’s equipment, tools, observation hive or honey in tins.

9. John Smeltzer Educational Exhibit, (class 2) Three-dimensional exhibit preferred; text readable at four feet. Labels permitted (rule 4 does not apply). Live bees or insects are not permitted. If exhibit requires honey, five pounds is the maximum amount. Object: to depict the importance of honeybees to mankind. (1) Produce valuable economic goods (honey, beeswax, pollen, propolis, bee venom, by-products and medicinal drug components); (2) perform valuable economic service (pollination); (3) provide interesting and cultural recreation.

10. Extracted honey must be exhibited in clear glass standard honey containers of one pound or more capacity.
Chunk and finely granulated honey must be exhibited in standard wide mouth honey containers of one pound or more capacity.
Pollen must be exhibited in clear glass standard honey containers of one pound or more capacity.

11. If new beekeepers bring three item entries for classes 26, 27 and 28, they will be judged also in the appropriate classes for additional premiums.

12. All rectangular section honey combs must be sealed in plastic bags or wrapped in clear plastic.

13. All cut comb honey must be packed in clear covered plastic boxes, 4x4x1.5 inches.

14. Frame of honey must be supported vertically in a sealed case with transparent windows for viewing entire comb portion and to prevent robbing by local bees.

15. Personal gift arrangement of honeybee products should be attractive and practical (In a box, basket, or other suitable container).

16. Arts and crafts articles may be drawings, paintings, pottery, needlework, batik, carvings, depicting honeybees and bee keeping activities. Exhibit must have been created by the exhibitor. Commercial kits or copies of commercial items are not acceptable.

17. Beekeeper’s Children’s (under 12) Arts and Crafts may be a drawing, painting, beeswax craft, needlework, ceramic, model, toy, etc.

18. Items exhibited in classes 23 and 24, which may be unfamiliar to the viewer, must be labeled with name, use, directions for use, when appropriate.

19. For classes with two or less entries, the Superintendent has the option to combine classes.

20. The judge has the option to withhold first place in a class with only one entry.

21. If more than one member of a household exhibit in the same class, the lower scoring entry may be placed after the other exhibitors by the superintendent.

CLASSES - DIVISION 1 CATEGORIES:


1. Honey display (not to exceed five feet in length and 24 inches in depth).
2. Educational poster or exhibit (not to exceed three feet in length and 18 inches in depth; maximum five pounds of honey). (see Rule #10)
3. Three jars, water white extracted honey. (see Rule #10)
4. Three jars, extra light amber extracted honey. (see Rule #10)
5. Three jars, light amber extracted honey. (see Rule #10)
6. Three jars, amber extracted honey. (see Rule #10)
7. Three jars, dark amber extracted honey. (see Rule #10)
8. Three jars, dark extracted honey. (see Rule #10)
9. Three jars, finely granulated honey. (see Rule #10)
10. Three jars, chunk honey. (see Rule #10)
11. Three plastic boxes of cut comb honey, 4 x 4 x 1.5 inches.
12. One frame of honey.
13. Three rectangular or round sections of comb honey.
14. One jar, pollen. (see Rule #10)
15. One piece, molded block of beeswax, plain or fancy (one pound minimum).
16. One pair, dipped taper or straight beeswax candles.
17. One pair, molded taper or straight beeswax candles.
18. Candle, other.
19. Artistic beeswax creations, coloring and additives permitted (moldings and plain candles not permitted).
20. Personal gift arrangement of honey bee products (labels permitted). May include dried flowers and agricultural products.
21. Arts and crafts article (depicting honey bee keeping).
22. Photograph print (depicting honey bee keeping), framed or matted.
3. Other products or by-products from the honey bee (cooked/ baked items, beverages and mead not permitted).
24. Gadget to assist the beekeeper.
25. Unusual item produced by honeybees.
26. Molded beeswax tree ornaments, additives and coloring permitted.
27. One jar, extra light through light amber extracted honey (new beekeeper only).
28. One jar, amber through dark extracted honey (new beekeeper only).
29. One jar, chunk honey, one section of comb honey, one frame, one plastic box of cut comb honey or one piece molded beeswax (new beekeeper only).
30. Beekeeper’s children’s arts (depicting bee keeping), under 12 yrs old.
31. Beekeeper’s children’s crafts (depicting bee keeping), under 12 yrs old.

CLASSES - DIVISION 2 MEAD (Honey Wine)


Entry must be produced by exhibitor
1. Exhibitor must not be involved in any way with commercial mead making or use the facilities of commercial mead makers.
2. No artificial coloring or flavoring agents are allowed in the entries.
3. No labels or identifiers are allowed on the bottle.
4. Entries shall be exhibited in standard 750ml. or “fifth” wine bottles.
5. Composite, plastic, natural cork or screw tops are acceptable. No patterns or names on corks.
6. Following judging the mead bottles will be emptied.

Special Rules:
1. The exhibitor shall state on the entry tag whether the submitted entry is: a. Straight, honey and water “must” only. or b. Augmented, honey and water “must: plus fruit juices, herbs, spices, etc.
2. Entries shall be at least 12 months of age.
3. Allowed additives for all classes: sulphating, yeast, yeast nutrients or energizers, citric acid or acid blend and tannin.
4. Please note: Initial specific gravity (pre-fermentation level) should be noted on the entry tag.

Classes:
1. Dry Mead, 0-1% Residual Sugar.
2. Semi-Sweet Mead, 1-2% Residual Sugar.
3. Sweet Mead, over 2% Residual Sugar.

PREMIUMS (Hint: On phones, this table is best viewed horizontally)

1st2nd3rd4th5th6th
Class 1$40$35$30$28$25$20
Class 2$35$30$25$20$18$15
Classes 18, 20,29,30,31$12$10$8$7$6$5
Other Classes$10$9$8$7$6$5

SPECIAL AWARDS


All Special Awards are sponsored by the Montgomery County Beekeepers Association, Inc.
1. An award of a GRAND CHAMPION RIBBON and $25 will be given.
2. Three awards of a CHAMPION RIBBON and $20 will be given to three entries.
3. An award of a BEST IN SHOW RIBBON and $35.00 will be given.
4. An award for BEST OVERALL EXHIBITOR and $50.00 will be given to the exhibitor with the most total points in the Honey & Beeswax show. Points will be assigned to each entry on the following basis: 3 points for each first place, 2 points for each second place, and 1 point for each third place.