Winning at Honey with Stephanie: Entering Honey Shows
In this edition of Winning Honey with Stephanie, Stephanie Slater checks in on her own honey show preparations and admits that her comb honey supers still aren’t ready despite last month’s plans. A strong nectar flow in southeastern Wisconsin has kept her busy in the bee yard, including hosting a retail partner for an apiary visit that showcased queen cells, egg-laying activity, pollen collection, and royal jelly production.
Stephanie looks ahead to the major honey competitions coming in January, including the North American Honey and Beeswax Championship, the American Honey Show, and the Midwest Honey Bee Expo Honey Show. She also discusses the recent transition of the American Honey Show Training Council to the newly named American Honey Judges Association (AHJA), including new membership opportunities, governance changes, and the launch of a new website.
The episode also highlights an engaging activity from the Wisconsin Honey Producers Association Summer Meeting: the Black Jar Honey Tasting Contest. Stephanie explains how the contest works, why it encourages participation from both competitive and non-competitive beekeepers, and how it showcases the remarkable diversity of honey flavors produced within a single state.
The main educational focus of this month’s segment is a reminder that one of the most important skills for honey show success is carefully reading the rules. Stephanie shares lessons learned from her own exhibiting experiences, explains the details exhibitors should review before preparing entries, and offers practical advice to avoid common mistakes that can result in lost points or disqualification.
The episode concludes with a spotlight on the North Carolina Bee Jubilee Honey Show and encouragement for exhibitors to continue learning, competing, and sharing their experiences within the honey judging community.
Websites mentioned:
- American Honey Judges Association – https://honeyshowusa.com
- North Carolina Bee Jubilee & Honey Show - https://www.eventeny.com/events/bee-jubilee-2026-25337/
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American Honey Show Training Council Certified Honey Judge and Beekeeper
Stephanie Slater has been keeping honey bees since 2017. She produces nationally award-winning honey in Walworth County, Wisconsin.
Stephanie entered her first honey show in 2019. She had absolutely no idea what she was doing, but with some dumb luck, received a 2nd place at the Wisconsin State Fair. Two months later, after applying some of the judge’s feedback to her entry, she received a 2nd place at her first American Honey Show. She was hooked and started doing anything she could to learn more about how to improve as a competitor. In 2023, she became the first person in Wisconsin to be certified as a honey judge through the American Honey Show Training Council.
Since 2019, Stephanie earned Best of Show awards from the Walworth County Fair, the Wisconsin State Fair and the American Honey Show; Best Tasting Honey in the United States from the Center for Honey Bee Research Black Jar Contest; 3rd Place in the International Flavor Awards; several awards at the North American Honey Bee Expo; and was Good Food Award finalist.
Stephanie was the 2022 Wisconsin Beekeeper of the Year and can often be found giving presentations throughout the Midwest.
