Demonstration: Honey, Like a Fine Wine!
Presentation will include: History of Oregon honey shows. Varieties of Oregon honeys and changes in honey plants. Difference in judging by variety and the Welch Method. We will discuss choosing your glass, preparing the entries for show. Honey is judged on SHOWMANSHIP, so you need to know what the judge is looking for. I will try to give you a hint!
Marjie Ehry and her late husband Alan joined the State Bee Association shortly after they started their commercial beekeeping business “Happy Bee Apiaries” in 1962. They were submerged in every function of the OSBA, from the spring meetings to the summer picnics, the fall conventions and local Portland and Tualatin Valley meetings, and even the American Beekeeping Federation letter-writing campaigns.
In the mid 1960s Marjie started helping set up the OSBA honey exhibit at the Oregon State Fair. Fifty years later, our display is the largest educational attraction at the state fair. She “learned the ropes” of judging honey, taking a class at OSU by Dr. Burgett, and products from the hive through her many activities and brought that expertise to the OSBA.
Marjie was the Oregon Honey Queen program coordinator and chaperone 1969 – 1990 bringing two Queens to the National level (1969 Karen Peterson, 1987 Leslie Kuenzi). Her dedication to educating others about honey bees and beekeeping reached into the classrooms as well, making scores of elementary school presentations.
Marjie was a founding member of the Willamette Valley Beekeepers Association (1967); she served as OSBA President 1988 – 1992, and is a lifetime member of the Oregon State Beekeepers Association, the Willamette Beekeepers Association, and the Tualatin Valley Beekeepers Association.
In about 1970, Alan built a self-service honey stand at the top of their hill, and it is still there going strong. After Alan passed away in 2013, Marjie kept the honey stand open by buying from local beekeepers, some of whose bees are now pollinating the crops Alan’s bees once did.
Marjie’s commitment to agriculture and beekeeping in particular has been lifelong, and she continues her quest every day, always making honey bees the star of the show.