Imagine having to hand-pollinate all the blossoms that honey bees visit or, instead, take actions to protect honey bees and keep them on the job. Those were topics tackled by Enumclaw’s Elise Dunning in her first-place essay in the 4-H beekeeping essay contest.

Writing to the topic, “Reducing the Usage of Bee-Killing Pesticides in my Community,” the home-schooled eighth-grader advised that people should be “using natural alternatives as well as being careful to follow rules for chemical application… Most importantly, though, speaking out and spreading awareness of the honey bee’s jeopardy can save this bee from toxic chemicals. Our actions and day-to-day choices, whether chatting with family or applying chemicals to our yards, need to be carried out with the honey bee in mind.”

Dunning learned March 1 she was the essay champion at the Washington state level and was informed May 1 that her entry was deemed tops in the nation. The contest drew state-winning essays from 21 states.

For her efforts, Dunning received a cash award of $750 from the Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees.

Each state winner, including the national winners, received a copy of a book about beekeeping.