Winners of the 2021 Young Beekeeper Award

     First Place:
          Riley Brand (White Water Beekeepers)
     Second Place:
          Lilly Pryor (Indy Southside Beekeepers)

Junior Division Placings

     First Place:
          Cassidy Riddle (Michiana Beekeepers)
     Second Place:
          Elisabeth Mains (North Eastern IN Beekeepers)         
     Third Place:
          Darien Sharpe (Community Beekeepers)



Senior Division

Riley Brand

I found the process to be pretty straightforward.  The guidelines were very clear and I appreciated having specific talking points to address in my application.  Submission and mailing instructions were easy to follow.  I was informed of the program by an experienced beekeeper who gave me the great advice of not waiting until the last minute to apply.  I would give that same advice to any young beekeeper who would want to apply in the future.  Taking my time and working ahead of the deadline helped make the process go very smoothly.  I also appreciated the opportunity to get to visit another part of Indiana.

Lilly Pryor

Applying for the Young Beekeepers of Indiana Award gave me the opportunity to reflect on what I have learned through beekeeping as well as how I can and have impacted others. My long term goal is to advocate for agriculture and beekeeping. I have been able to help educate younger generations as well as people my age and older about beekeeping, because of what I have learned through my own personal experiences. Beekeeping has provided me with many outreach opportunities as well as FFA and 4-H opportunities, and I have learned so much in the 3 years of being a beekeeper. I would recommend for next year's applicants to take on every opportunity they are offered through beekeeping, take your time to advocate for what you are passionate about, and finally reflect on what you’ve learned and share it. I am truly thankful for the opportunity to share my knowledge and to be able to learn more things about beekeeping for the future.



Junior Division 

Cassidy Riddle

Applying for this program was an enjoyable and simple task that I would recommend to younger beekeepers.  I would recommend other beekeepers to try for this award because you are already putting in the time and work with your bees, you might as well get an award for it.  When applying for this award, I would advise other beekeepers to keep their answers simple and related to their personal beekeeping experiences.  Winning this award allowed me to sit down and think about how a simple Father’s Day gift for my grandfather has turned into a rewarding new educational hobby and now a small business.  I have just begun to be a beekeeper and have learned so much already.  I appreciate TBoI for setting up this award to encourage young beekeepers to become more involved. I believe that the process of application and interviews for the Young Beekeeper of the Year award has challenged me to be a better beekeeper.  I appreciate all the time and effort the volunteers for this program have given.  Thank you all very much. 

 Elisabeth Mains

Competing for the Young Beekeeper’s Award is challenging and fun!  I enjoy talking with the judges and learning from them.  Meeting other young beekeepers is enjoyable and it is nice to know there are other people my age that are passionate about beekeeping also.  This year has been a great learning experience with new and different challenges as I try new forages and new locations for my hives.  Having the support of the Beekeeper’s of Indiana has been helpful as they provide education but allow me to apply that knowledge to my own beekeeping.  Attending the workshops and classes through both my local beekeeping group and TBOI makes beekeeping more fun and I can better share the information with others.  It has helped to build my confidence so that I can educate those around me with the benefits of honey bees and how to help protect them.

Darien Sharpe

It has been a great experience to be able to apply for the Indiana Young Beekeeper Award.  This past spring my mother and I joined the Community Beekeepers Club in Greenfield, Indiana and then we joined The Beekeepers of Indiana right away.   When the first newsletter came and I learned of the contest I was motivated to apply.  I have worked at my school for 2 years with bees and been a beekeeper for about one year now with the help of club members and my mentor, Ron Myers.  He has taught me most of the things I know about bees.