These last few weeks have been as busy for me as it has been for my bees. Even the weather is out to make life more difficult. On the Thursday that I was to leave for Houston, the sky opened up and dumped nine inches of snow in three hours on Gainesville, TX, where I attend school. Although it was incredibly beautiful, getting anywhere took three times as long. As we rarely have a snowfall in this area, it was, nevertheless, enjoyed immensely, at least by the children.

In February, I flew down to Dripping Springs (Austin area) for the TBA Delegates Meeting. The topic of the meeting was youth scholarships and honey queen programs. The meeting was very informative and several experts on the subject gave tips on how to start a program and find applicants.

At the end of February, I flew to Des Moines, Iowa, for media training with Princess Rachel. We stayed with Luann Hausner (former American Honey Princess), where she and Anna Kettlewell (former American Honey Queen and now American Honey Queen Chairperson) spent the next few days training us to be at our best with the media. During our time in Iowa, American Honey Princess, Rachel Bryson and I gave several school presentations to middle and high school students. We also had a radio interview scheduled with a local station, but unfortunately for us, at the last minute, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture called in to talk and we were bumped. We did have a little fun while we were there; one evening was spent at the local fondue restaurant. Neither Princess, Rachel nor I, had tasted fondue before!

The next weekend of March 6–9, I was in the Houston area for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the largest rodeo in the world. On Friday, I gave 14 school presentations to over 500 children at an elementary school. Saturday and Sunday were spent at the rodeo, working the booth. One special aspect of the booth included a screened–in gazebo that had a beehive placed inside so the bees could fly around inside the “Buzzeebo”. On Sunday, the performer at the rodeo was the nationally famous, Hannah Montana, which drew incredible numbers of people to this already well–attended event.

I would love to come to an event in your area. I am available for interviews, personal appearances and beekeeping presentations. To arrange a time for your American Honey Queen or American Honey Princess, Rachel Bryson to visit, please contact Anna Kettlewell at 414/545-5514 or send her an email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Locally, you may also contact

Rachael Seida,
American Honey Queen