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Massachusetts Fat Honey Bee Queen Contest

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources is hosting a photo contest inviting beekeepers to submit photos of the fattest queen honey bee. Complete the form below to enter by May 3, 2026. Public voting starts May 11, 2026.
Queen honey bee surrounded by worker honey bees on top of comb.
Queen honey bee surrounded by worker honey bees on top of comb.

CONTEST UPDATES!

We were thrilled to receive an incredible 39 queen bee photo submissions from across the Commonwealth. After careful review, 8 queens were selected to compete in the inaugural bracket challenge: Black Beauty, Penelope the Pollinator Producer!, Queen Gilded Tomato, Bernadette, Spicy, Ginger, Regina, and The First Queen. 

  • Results are in and the winners of the first set of bracket matchups (from a total of 369 votes cast) and advancing to the next round ...drum roll please...
    • Black Beauty (63%) vs Penelope the Pollinator Producer! (37%)
    • Queen Gilded Tomato (68%) vs Bernadette (32%)
    • Spicy (62%) vs Ginger (38%)
    • Regina (58%) vs The First Queen (42%) 
  • These finalists now move to the next round and battle for the final bracket competition:
    • Black Beauty vs Queen Gilded Tomato
    • Spicy vs Regina

Give these queens some love and vote for your favorites to move the to final round - VOTE NOW! 

Thank you for helping us celebrate honey bees, queens, and the beekeeping community throughout Massachusetts - May the fattest queen win!

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