Honey Show

Palm Beach County Beekeepers Association (PBCBA) is proud to partner with the South Florida Fair for the first-ever Honey Show, taking place during the 2026 Fair, January 16 – February 1, 2026. This judged competition will highlight the finest local honey and engage the public in the beauty and craft of beekeeping.

Entries are open to all eligible beekeepers within reach of the South Florida Fair. The show will feature the following honey categories:

• Light Extracted Honey
• Medium (Amber) Extracted Honey
• Dark Extracted Honey
• Black Jar Honey (Judged on flavor only)

Entry Details

• Entry Fee: Free Honey Entry Submission
• Entry Dates: Entries should be entered by January 15, but can be submitted up until January 23, 2026, the day before judging takes place.
• Drop-off Options:
  • Before Opening Day: Participants will be granted free access for entry drop-off as follows.
    • January 3, 2026 from 10:00AM-1:00PM, Enter via Gate 10 (PBCBA Volunteer on site)
    • January 15, 2026 from 10:00AM-2:00PM, Enter via Gate 10 (PBCBA Volunteer on site)
    • January 5-14, 2026 from 10:00AM-3:00PM, Enter via Gate 10 (SFF Staff – ask for Lorie Stinson)
  • During the Fair: Entries accepted at the PBCBA booth until closing time on Friday, January 23, 2026. Standard Fair admission will apply. Parking fees will also apply.
  • Note: PBCBA Members who volunteer to work at the PBCBA booth can drop off their entries during their shift and no later than January 23.
• Judging: Saturday, January 24, 2026 Starting at 12:00 PM
• Awards Ceremony: Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 3:00 PM
• Location: South Florida Fairgrounds, West Palm Beach, Building 3
• Award Day Fair Entry: Registered participants will be given complimentary entry on the day of the judging. (Participants only. Family members will need to purchase a ticket.)
• Pickup Options:
  Participants may collect their entries:
  • February 1 (all day) at the Fairgrounds (Fair entry ticket required)
  • February 2 between 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM during PBCBA booth breakdown
  • February 6 Fun Meeting, Pine Jog Environmental Center, WPB at 6:00 PM. Participants may collect their entry at the February 6th Fun Meeting.
  • Entries not claimed by February 6 will be considered abandoned and may be used or discarded at the discretion of PBCBA.
• Questions: If you have additional questions, please contact PBCBA via email at beekeeperspbc@gmail.com, and enter in the subject line "2025 Honey Show Question"

Categories

Extracted Honey

• H1 – Light
• H2 – Medium (Amber)
• H3 – Dark
• H10: Black Jar Honey

Entry Requirements:

Extracted Honey

• One entry = 3 x 1-pound jars. Queenline or Classic jars only. See recommended links below:
  • https://www.fillmorecontainer.com/aa11-20c-case24anchor.html
  • https://www.blueskybeesupply.com/products/16-oz-wt-glass-classics-12-case-cg-16
  • https://www.webstaurantstore.com/12-oz-16-oz-honey-weight-classic-queenline-glass-honey-jar-with-plastisol-lined-white-metal-lid-case/500GJHCL16W96K.html
• All jars must be clean, uniform, and filled to the proper level (top of the fill ring)
• Metal or plastic lids permitted; no tamper-evident seals
• One label (provided at check-in) must be applied to each jar, centered and ½ inch from the bottom

Black Jar Honey (H10)

• Judged on flavor only - visual presentation is obscured
• Entry = 1 x 2-4 ounces of honey in a black or opaque jar.
  • https://amzn.to/4kEqBzW (affiliate link)
• Label (provided) must be placed ½ inch from the bottom, centered on the front

General Rules

• Only one entry per category per person. Multiple entries in the extracted honey category are permitted only if the honey is distinctly different in color. The final category placement is determined by the judges.
• No two entries in the same category from the same household are allowed
• Entries must be the work of the contestant and harvested within the past year
• Once submitted, entries may not be altered or handled
• Judges, stewards, and the immediate family of judges may not participate
• The judging area is restricted to officials until results are announced
• Unclaimed entries may be discarded or retained by PBCBA if not picked up by February 6, 2026.

Eligibility & Notifications

• Participants do not need to be present to win or receive awards.
• Contact information will be collected during registration.
• Winners will be notified after the competition.
• Ribbons and/or Awards may be mailed upon request (honey entries will not be mailed).

Judging & Awards

Entries will be judged by a certified Welsh Honey Judge with Stewards assisting. All decisions are final.

Ribbons/Awards will be given as follows:

• 1st Place – Blue Ribbon
• 2nd Place – Red Ribbon
• 3rd Place – White Ribbon
• Best in Show

Notes:

• A single entry in a category is not guaranteed an Award unless it meets judging standards.
• Awards will be in the form of a ribbon and/or certificate. No monetary award will be given.