The 2025 North American Honey & Beeswax Championship, part of the North American Honey Bee Expo, held from January 2-4 in Louisville, Kentucky, brought together some of the finest honey and beeswax artisans from across the continent. With 1,188 exhibits and 298 exhibitors, the event was a true celebration of beekeeping craftsmanship and dedication. This is only the second year of this competition, yet it has already established itself as a premier event in the industry.

One of the most anticipated competitions was the Black Jar contest, featuring 210 anonymous honey entries in little black jars vying for the title of best-tasting honey in the country. This year, Robetta Baker of Talcum, Kentucy took the top honor. She’s only her 2nd year beekeeping and black jar was her only entry in the competition!

The highlight of the event was the announcement of the Best in Show winner. This year’s top prize went to Dale Gelter for beautifully crafted molded ornamental beeswax candles in the shape of a pine cone.

The judging panel included 33 judges from the American Honey Show Training Council, with special guest Senior Judge Michael Young lending his expertise. Behind the scenes, 10 secretaries and 21 stewards worked to keep everything running smoothly.

I was lucky to participate in the event for a second year in a row. This year, I assisted as a secretary and spent 28 hours helping at the show. It was an incredible experience to be part of such a large and exciting competition. I love seeing all of the amazing things people make as part of their beekeeping – honey, wax, encaustic art, photography, baked goods. Our beekeeping community is so talented.

With such strong participation and impressive entries, the 2025 North American Honey & Beeswax Championship once again proved why it’s one of the premier events in the beekeeping world. As the buzz settles, beekeepers and honey lovers are already looking ahead to next year’s competition, eager to see what’s in store.