​Honey 

Sweet success starts with a jar! Think your honey has what it takes to wow the judges? Enter your best golden goodness in the Swain County Agricultural Fair and compete for a blue ribbon! If your bees made it, we want to see (and taste) it! 🐝
Show off your hard work from hive to harvest, and let your honey shine.

Youth & Adult Entry Information

Honey
Check-in: Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Drop off Hours: 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. 
Any entry received after 5:00 will not be judged
Location: Swain County Cooperative Extension, 60 Almond School Road, Bryson City

​Exhibit Pick-up: 
​​Tuesday, August 25 | 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Swain County Cooperative Extension
Exhibitor Information
Youth (8-18 years)
  • Division A:  Ages 5-7 ~ Non-Competitive
  • Division B:  Ages 8-13
  • Division C: Ages 14-18
  • Division D: Special Needs All Ages ~ Non-Competitive
Adult (19+)

​Competitive vs. Non-Competitive? 
Honey Exhibit Information
HONEY EXTRACTED CLASS
  • B006: Light 3 jars (not less than 14 oz. size)
  • B007: Dark 3 jars (not less than 14 oz. size)
HONEY CHUNK CLASS
  • B008: Light 3 jars (not less than 14 oz. size)
  • B009: Dark 3 jars (not less than 14 oz. size)
​​
Rules and Regulations
  • All honey must have been produced by the exhibitor during the current season.
  • No entries may be labeled, except with entry tags.
  • All exhibits must be of required color, quality, and condition in order to receive ribbons.
  • All extracted honey displayed must be protected from honeybees and other insects.
  • Glass, or other suitable transparent materials are recommended for this purpose.
​
Awards​
  • Blue Ribbon (1st Place)
  • Red Ribbon (2nd Place)
  • White Ribbon (3rd place)
  • Purple Ribbon (Best in Show)
​
Factors to be Considered in Judging
Honey, Extracted
  • Density (moisture content over 18.6% DISQUALIFIED)=15
  • Absence of granulation or crystallization=10
  • Cleanliness=35 (absence of lint =8, dirt =12, wax =9, and foam =6)
  • Flavor: absence of overheating or fermentation=20
  • Accuracy of filling and uniformity=10
  • Container appearance=10
  • TOTAL=100
​Honey, Chunk
  • ​Density of liquid portion (moisture content over 18.6% DISQUALIFIED)=10
  • Cleanliness of liquid portion: absence of foam, dirt, was, and crystallization=20
  • Neatness of comb cut: ragged edges, parallel cuts and uniformity of size of cut=20
  • Absence of watery capping, uncapped cells and pollen cells=15
  • Cleanliness: lack of travel stain and foreign matter in comb=15
  • Uniformity of appearance includes containers, cut comb, liquid honey and contents in jars=20
  • TOTAL=100​
​FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Minda Daughtry, Extension Agent
Agriculture/Horticulture Agent
[email protected]
(828) 488-3848​

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