by Allison Adams

Dear Texas Beekeepers,
What a wonderful convention! I had such an enjoyable time expanding my knowledge of honey bees and beekeeping, and most of all, meeting and spending time with you – that is why I am so thankful for the opportunity to represent you all as the 2010 Texas Honey Queen! It is truly an honor to be chosen for such a position.
I had the privilege of serving the Collin County Hobby Beekeepers Association for nearly two and a half years, first as Honey Princess and then as Honey Queen. I am ready to work hard on the state level to promote the beekeeping industry by educating others about the importance of one of God’s most incredible creatures, and about the people who keep them!
I would also like to thank Nicole Pettibon for her example and encouragement, and for being the dear friend that she is. I remember very fondly the time when we were both Honey Princesses together; it has been fun to work with her as Honey Queen, too. She has done a fantastic job promoting the beekeeping industry as Texas Honey Queen. Thank you, Nicole!
For those who don’t know me, my name is Allison Adams and I live in Plano (a little north and east of Dallas) with my wonderful family: my parents, Ned and Caryl, and my younger sister Caroline (16) and brother Clay (11). I was home-schooled from the second grade until I graduated from high school in May of this year, and I am now teaching children’s art classes in my home. Some of my other interests include cooking and baking (especially with honey!), sustainable agriculture, art and playing traditional Irish music.
I began my beekeeping adventure four years ago through the Collin County Hobby Beekeepers Association’s excellent youth scholarship program. My family and I now keep four hives near Southfork Ranch in Parker, TX. I am fascinated by honey bees, and have thoroughly enjoyed learning about them, although there’s still so much more to know (I think that’s great). I just love keeping bees, and I know it’s something I want to do for the rest of my life!
My first event as Texas Honey Queen was on November 18th at Southwest Academy, a private school in Allen. I gave two presentations, the first to a group of pre-K to 3rd graders and the second to 4th to 9th graders. Every Honey Queen event is memorable in some way, and this one was no exception. During the second talk, the bees in the observation hive we had brought, began buzzing loudly. The children listened and stared at the hive, and one asked what the bees were doing. As I began to explain that the bees were communicating with each other, another student had a different idea. She piped up, “They probably heard you say ‘honey’!”
I am looking forward to many, many more bee talks this year, and the chance to get to know you all better.
Thank you so much,
Allison Adams, 2010 Texas Honey Queen