by Jimmie Oakley

The Williamson County Area Beekeepers Association crowned Miss Rebekah Jones, WCABA Honey Queen, at a Coronation Ceremony held during their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday evening, September 22, 2009. Miss Allison Adams, Collin County Honey Queen, and Mrs. Shirley Acevedo, Texas Honey Queen Chair, were on hand to sanction the activity and conducted the crowning ceremony. It was most fitting that the ceremony was held during September, National Honey Month, at our annual Honey Tasting and Honey Judging.
The Honey Tasting contest, dubbed the “Tasters Choice,” that preceded the Coronation Ceremony allowed the many members and visitors present to sample each of 15 different flavorful and distinct virtual honeys from this year’s crop, and express their appreciation by casting any or all of their allotted three votes for the honey of their choice. The top vote getters were awarded 1st 2nd and 3rd place ribbons.
At the same time, three beekeeper club members acted as Official Judges of the 2lb jars of honey that were destined to go to the Texas State Fair for display after being judged at the meeting. The honey was being judged against a quality standard that awarded ribbons based on point totals accumulated by each entry. All the honeys were judged
“Blue Ribbon” quality and received a ribbon designating the same.
The Coronation was the highlight of the evening’s activities and contained all the “pomp and circumstance” that befit the occasion. Mrs. Acevedo spoke briefly of her background in beekeeping and of her current position as Texas Honey Queen Chair; the importance of the honey queen’s position and the vital message they bring. Miss Adams told of her introduction to bees and beekeeping by way of the scholarship program, and her role in her local area as spokesperson and educator.
Then Miss Rebekah Jones was asked to come forward where Queen Allison draped her with a white on black satin sash designating her title and then presented her with several notable sash pins to start her collection. Mrs. Acevedo then gave Allison a “Rhinestone Heart” tiara that she ceremonially placed upon the head of the WCABA Queen candidate, crowning her officially as the Williamson County Area Beekeepers Association Honey Queen. Jimmie Oakley presented Queen Rebekah Jones a dozen red roses as a token of appreciation from the members of WCABA.
Queen Rebekah then introduced herself as the 15 year old daughter of Paul and Cindy Jones. She lives in Spicewood, Texas, where she is home-schooled along with her older sister, Rachael and her younger brother, Caleb where she helps in the family business, Lawnscapes of Texas. She thanked the Club and her parents, the Collin County Honey Queen and Mrs. Acevedo for making it all possible; with assurance that she was ready to go to work. The Honey Queens were then put to work recognizing and presenting ribbons to the winners of the night’s tasting and judging.
The meeting concluded with the all important photo ops of the Queens, family, and friends.