BABA: Honey Show Judging; What’s It All About

Presented by Mary Duane, President of Massachusetts Beekeepers Association

The presentation will cover the basics of the judging process at a honey show. Mary’s presentation will address both what can be entered in a honey show and what a judge is looking for in a sample of liquid honey or an article of beeswax.  Additionally, tips will be shared on how to prepare your entry for a honey show.  Entering honey in a judging show is a terrific way to learn about the quality of your hive products, including the moisture content of your honey or the purity of your beeswax.  BABA hopes that knowing something about the process may encourage you to consider entering your hive products in a honey show or agricultural fair judging event.  Earning a first-place ribbon at a honey show can increase the value and sales of your honey!

Mary Duane is President of the Massachusetts Beekeepers Association and past president of both the Worcester County Beekeepers Association (WCBA) and the Eastern Apicultural Society (EAS).  She began her beekeeping career in 1999 after attending a WCBA bee school.  She earned her EAS Master Beekeeper certification, and is now an instructor at WCBA — where it all started.  She lectures throughout New England, and has been a Honey Show judge at Topsfield Fair and The Big E.  She manages upwards of 10 hives in central Massachusetts.