Each year, the national Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees challenges 4‑H members from all over the country to submit an essay on a topic related to honey bees. Each state chooses its finalist and submits his or her essay to the Foundation for judging. Three cash prizes will be awarded in the national competition.
Essays must encompass the designated topic in 750 to 1,000 words. The 2026 essay topic is “The Power of Pollen.” 4‑H’ers should answer these questions: How is pollen important to bees? Has pollen been changing in plants and in our landscapes? If so, are those changes affecting bees? When do you observe the most and least pollen in your colonies and how does that impact their temperament and productivity?
Contest rules are at https://preservationofhoneybees.org/essays. Nebraska 4‑H submissions should be emailed to jwu-smart@unl.edu by April 15. If questions, contact Judy Wu-Smart at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Department of Entomology, 402‑472‑8696 or jwu-smart@unl.edu.