| Black Jar Honey Contest winners for 2026 announced. 10/19/2026 by Deborah Griffith. BURNSVILLE – Honey lovers from across Mitchell, Avery and Yancey counties and beyond gathered on Thursday, Oct. 15, at Homeplace Beer Co. to select the area’s best tasting honey at the Mayland Black Jar Honey Contest. Sponsored by Toe Cane Beekeepers Association (TCBA), the contest is designed to choose the best honey by taste alone, as all jars are wrapped in black bags hiding the content and beekeeper identification. Judges from the general public cast their vote for the honey they most admire. In addition to the variety of honey at the contest, a silent auction of valuable merchandise donated by local businesses was well-received and provided funding for continued educational efforts by the beekeeping association. First place was awarded by popular vote to Michael Neal of Cedar Ridge Farm in Yancey County. His (Entry D) was a spring wildflower variety. Second place was awarded to Jim and Ann Coomber of Happy Apple Bees, (Entry N), in Yancey County, which was a basswood variety. Third place was awarded to Ed Geouge of Blue Rock Apiary in Yancey County, (Entry M), a mid/late summer wildflower variety. All funds raised by the contest will be used by TCBA to continue educational programs about bees and other pollinators for school children and the general public, and for supporting the activities and events at TCBA’s Educational Apiary at Mayland Community College near Spruce Pine. Beekeepers entered in the contest and the letters associated with their entries are as follows: Camille Collins of Elemental Hills, (Entry A); John Harrison of Three Peaks Apiary, (Entry B); Michael Neal (second entry) of Cedar Ridge Farm, (Entry C, a sourwood variety); Peggy Watson of White Fawn Apiary, (Entry E); Rick Harty of Harty Farms, (Entry F); Michelle Mejia of Moral Bees, (Entry G); Rick Harty (second Entry H, wildflower); Leigh Wilkerson of Five Apple Farm, (Entry I); Charles Carroll of Yancey County (Entry J); Randy Glover/Joann Damelio of Shiny Mountain Apiary, (Entry K); Robert Storch of Bunny and the Bee Apiary, (Entry L); Yancey Jones of Hawk Branch Honey, (Entry O); Camilla Prada of Mountain Miel Apiary, (Entry P); Susan Sigmon of Laurel Ridge Apiary, (Entry Q); Kristi Benningfield of Field+Honey Farm, (Entry R); Tom Tipton of Tipton Farms, (Entry S); Emma Martin of Mitchell County, (Entry T); John Harrison, second entry – goldenrod, (Entry U); Susan Spruill on behalf of TCBA Educational Apiary, (Entry V); Susan Spruill of Chestnut Mountain Farm, (Entry W); Hayley Cook of Cook Farms (Entry X – fall wildflower); Deborah Griffith of Whippoorwill Hill Apiary, (Entry Y); Hayley Cook, second entry summer wildflower (Entry Z). TCBA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit association dedicated to helping bees and beekeepers flourish in our neighboring communities through education, outreach, cooperation, and mentoring. For more information visit toecanebeekeepers.net. |
You can see color variations in the area’s honey from its varied nectar sources.
No responses yet