Winning At Honey with Stephanie: Creating Award-Winning Beeswax Exhibits

Creating Award-Winning Beeswax Exhibits

Hello everyone!  Welcome to Winning at Honey with Stephanie.  This Beekeeping Today Podcast short focuses on bite-sized moments where we dive into honey shows, judging tips, and the art of exhibiting. My name is Stephanie Slater and I’m exited to be here again.

Wow! June was a busy month!  The last weekend in May, I visited Michigan State University for the Heartland Apicultural Society conference.  The HAS committee along with Megan Milbrath, Ana Heck, and other MSU staff ran an excellent well-organized beekeeping conference.  There was a nice variety of vendors and presentation topics, fun social opportunities, and (my favorite) apiary experiences.  That’s the magic of events like HAS and EAS; colonies are relocated to campus so beekeepers can experience hands-on application of what they are learning during the conference. 

Right after HAS, I led a beekeeping summer camp for 5th through 8th graders at a local college. This was my third year teaching the camp, and it was definitely the most challenging weather we've faced. Every day seemed to come with a chance of rain, and the temperatures were unusually hot for early June.  In fact, on the last day, the college closed due to severe weather just as the kids were heading to lunch.

Since I'm not an educator by trade, I found myself wondering, "What am I going to do with all these kids if we can't get out to the apiary?" Fortunately, I was able to adjust our schedule each day, moving outdoor activities to the cooler morning hours and squeezing them in between rain showers.

Despite the forecast, we managed to visit the apiary every day. Although, if I'm being honest, the kids probably would have been happier staying inside where the air conditioning was.

Along with learning the basics of honey bee biology and anatomy, the campers made lip balms, participated in a honey tasting, and practiced mite checks using simulated samples. It was a busy week, and I think everyone learned something new.

One thing I didn't anticipate was that many of the campers had already watched The Secrets of Beesbefore coming to class. They arrived feeling pretty confident in their bee knowledge, and one student even informed me that I wasn't teaching them anything they didn't already know! As you can imagine, that put a little pressure on me. It was a good reminder that I'll need to keep updating and expanding the curriculum each year. I may not have convinced them that they didn't know everything about bees, but I think they still learned a few new things.

Last month, I told you about the black jar honey tasting contest that I facilitate during the Wisconsin Honey Producers Association summer meeting.  It was a great turnout with a lot of participation.  I was excited to see that some of our youth beekeepers contributed honey as well.  You won’t believe this, but I forgot the crackers again.  Like a ninja, I snuck out of the meeting and found a local convenience store—I don’t think anyone even noticed.

At the time of recording this episode, I’m packing up the car to head to Tennessee for the American Honey Judges Association Honey Judge Academy.  I’ll tell you all about it in my next episode.

I did work on the rules for the Midwest HoneyBee Expo and they are in the review/approval process so hopefully they can be published very soon and I’ll be sure to let you know when they are available.

July is shaping up to be even busier so I’ve started a checklist.

·      I need to mail my Honey for Good black jar entry.  Honey for Good is the new name for the Center for Honeybee Research.

·      I also need to start preparing entries for the Eastern Apicultural Society honey show.  This will be my first time attending EAS and I’m looking forward to it.

·      Before I can do all that, I need to actually extract some honey.  I bet you can guess what I’ll be doing during the long 4^th of July weekend.

·      I also get to judge a few county fair honey shows in July.  These are always so much fun and I love how more county fairs in my area are hiring honey judges as that wasn’t always done in the past.

At the WHPA Summer Meeting, I gave a presentation on beeswax, and afterward several people asked questions about preparing beeswax for competition. So this month, let's talk about how to create beeswax entries that judges will love.

When judges evaluate beeswax exhibits, they're looking for clean, well-prepared entries that are free of debris and defects. They'll evaluate appearance, texture, aroma, craftsmanship, proper weight, and compliance with the show rules. For candles, details like centered wicks, flat bottoms, and overall finish are especially important.

Before we talk about making exhibits, let's talk safety. Beeswax is highly flammable and melts at about 147 degrees. Always use a double boiler over an electric heat source, and never leave melting wax unattended.

PRO TIP ALERT: when it comes to beeswax, less heat is usually better. Heat it slowly and let it cool slowly. Excessive heat can damage the color and aroma, while rapid cooling often leads to cracks, shrinking, and uneven surfaces.

A few basic tools will make your life much easier: a double boiler, good straining material, pouring pots, molds, cotton wicking, wick-centering tools, a level, scissors, and an accurate scale.

Some of the staining materials that work well include sheer, nylon curtains (I get mine at Goodwill), pantyhose doubled over a couple of times, or the paper cone strainers that are meant for paint sprayers.  You can melt in one pot and pour through strainers into a second pot.

Silicone molds are generally the easiest to work with because candles and blocks release easily. More intricate molds may benefit from a small amount of mold release, but don't overdo it. Judges expect beeswax to smell like beeswax—not chemicals.  Our friends at Betterbee carry a large assortment of silicon molds.  I like purchasing molds from beekeeping suppliers because they are of a high quality.

For beeswax blocks, don't assume the entry must be square or rectangular. Many shows allow round blocks as long as they meet the weight requirements. And if you're struggling to remove a finished piece from a mold, try putting it in the freezer for about 15 minutes.

Wicking matters. Use cotton wicks sized appropriately for your mold—manufacturers usually provide recommendations. I also suggest doing a few test burns. Many honey show judges will actually light one of the candles during judging to evaluate performance, so proper wicking is critical.

Make sure your wicks are centered while the wax cools. There are many tools available for this. I like the bow-tie style holders, but clothespins, bobby pins, skewers, and other homemade solutions can work just as well. Once the candles are finished, trim the wicks to the length required by the show rules. Many competitions require wicks to be primed and trimmed to one-half inch. A primed wick has been pre-coated by soaking it in melted beeswax before it is placed in the mold. This helps the wick stay straight and can improve candle performance.

PRO TIP ALERT: Always use a level before pouring. A candle that's slightly uneven can be surprisingly noticeable to a judge. Judges are looking for candles with flat, stable bases, centered wicks, and a uniform appearance.

When judging candle exhibits, consistency is extremely important. Most shows require two or three identical candles, and judges will compare them closely. Your candles should match in height, diameter, weight, color, finish, and overall appearance. Any casting flaws, surface defects, or differences between the candles can cost valuable points.

Color is another area judges evaluate carefully. The ideal beeswax candle displays a vibrant, natural beeswax color ranging from white through the various natural shades of yellow. Dark gray, brown, or dull-looking wax may indicate overheating, contamination, or poor wax handling and can be penalized during judging.  Cappings wax is best for competition.

Aroma also matters. Judges expect beeswax candles to smell like natural beeswax, with pleasant honey and floral notes. Off-aromas such as smoke, burnt sugar, caramelized wax, chemicals, or other unusual odors can indicate excessive heat or contamination and may result in point deductions.

The wax itself should be clean and free of debris or impurities. One of my favorite tricks is shining a high-lumen flashlight through finished beeswax exhibits before entering them. You'll often spot tiny particles or imperfections that aren't visible under normal lighting.

If you are pouring molded taper candles, you’ll want some sort of form to hold the molds upright and straight.  I’ve seen contraptions made from PVC pipe as well as custom racks made from wood.

Make sure you use a scale to weigh your beeswax entries so that they meet the minimum weight requirements.  Also make sure that your scale is weighing accurately.  I felt really bad for a friend last fall that had some wax entries disqualified because they were under weight.  He didn’t realize that his scale was off. 

PRO TIP ALERT:  perform practice pours whenever you get a new mold.  You’ll be able to get used to how it performs and be able to identify any flaws in the mold. 

Let's talk about some common mistakes.

Don't use a crockpot or microwave. Use a double boiler so you can better control the temperature.

Don't add scents or colors unless the rules specifically allow it. Judges want to see and smell natural beeswax.  There may be a few artistic beeswax categories that allow for dyed wax, but it will specifically state that in the rules.  Beeswax figurines and flowers made from beeswax are examples of when dyed beeswax can be used.  I dyed wax green, pink, and brown for the flowers made from beeswax exhibit that I entered in the 2026 North American Honey and Beeswax Championship.

Don't stir melted wax unnecessarily. Debris settles to the bottom, and stirring can redistribute it throughout the wax.

Don't pour in a drafty area. Air movement can create ripples and surface defects.

Don't cool beeswax too quickly. Rapid cooling often causes high shoulders, cracks, and sunken surfaces.

And don't splash while pouring. A smooth, steady pour produces a smoother finished product.

Finally, don't adulterate your wax. Competition beeswax should be 100% beeswax, with no added waxes, extenders, bleaching agents, or other contaminants.

Some final finishing touches--Polish your beeswax entries before submitting them for judging.  Use a silk or nylon cloth to smooth sharp edges and remove fingerprints.  Bloom can easily be removed with light use of a hair dryer or heat gun—just be careful not to overdo it and cause damage.

Before entering any competition, read the rules carefully. Requirements vary from show to show. Check things like minimum weight, dimensions, candle styles (such as molded, dipped, floating, or rolled), number of items per entry, display requirements, and whether candles may be lit during judging.

Beeswax categories aren't easy. I've been working to improve my beeswax exhibits for years. Looking back, my biggest mistake was using too much heat. Once I learned to slow down and be patient, my results improved dramatically.

Even now, I'm always experimenting with ways to slow the cooling process and improve my finished products. Molded tapers are still my least favorite category, but I've gotten pretty good at dipped tapers—even though they take a lot of time and patience.

If you're thinking about entering beeswax exhibits for the first time, don't be intimidated. Start simple, follow the rules, and keep practicing. Every batch teaches you something new.

This month, I’m featuring two honey shows. 

If you're looking for a summer honey show opportunity, consider entering the 2026 Larimer County Fair Honey Show in Loveland, Colorado. Entries are accepted on Tuesday, July 28, and best of all, there is no entry fee.  The fair runs July 31 through August 4, giving exhibitors plenty of time for the public to view the entries after judging. Entries will remain on display through the close of the fair, with pickup scheduled for August 5.  If you'd like to showcase your honey and hive products in a fair setting, this is a great opportunity to participate.  There are 21 categories, including some novice categories for those of you new to competing.  They also have a few cash prizes to go along with some of the ribbons.

Another upcoming opportunity for exhibitors is the 2026 South Carolina Beekeepers Association Summer Honey Show, taking place July 16 through 19 in Greenville, South Carolina. If you're attending the conference or looking for a midsummer honey show, be sure to check out this opportunity.  There are 28 categories with cash prizes for Best in Show and Sweepstakes winners.

You can find more information on these honey shows at www.honeyshowusa.com.

If your state or region has a honey show that you’d like me to talk about, feel free to send me the information.  If you have honey show-related questions, send those my way also.

Until next month…Blue skies and blue ribbons, I’ll catch you next time.