Northwestern Pa Beekeepers and Honey Queens participate in "Honey To Money" Event
With the unique opportunity to host two Honey Queens, the members of the Northwestern Pa Beekeepers Association wanted to make it special. In a quickly hatched plan at their October 31st meeting, a spontaneous collection was taken. Representing proceeds from honey, money was donated for a local food bank. The girls would arrive just a week later on November 6th, for a 4-day promotion.
The American Honey Queen, Teresa Bryson, and Pennsylvania Honey Queen, Alyssa Fine, quickly started their promotion tour in Northwestern Pennsylvania. Teresa arrived at Pittsburgh airport at 3:00 PM, flying in from a week in Wisconsin. Alyssa picked her up and they drove directly to a 'meet and greet' dinner, at Crowley's Restaurant in Cranesville, with members of the Northwestern Pa Beekeepers Association. At 6:30 PM, the kick-off dinner was highlighted with the Honey Queens presenting a donation of honey sales proceeds, donated by local beekeepers. The donation of $560 was presented to the Second Harvest Food Bank in Erie. Receiving the check on behalf of Second Harvest was Heather Muscacchio. With the resources of Second Harvest Food Bank, each dollar is equal to seventeen dollars in help. Second Harvest works with 11 counties in northwest Pennsylvania.
The Honey Queens will visit schools in Crawford and Erie counties during their 4 days. In total, eleven schools are on their schedule. The American Honey Queen's tour will include CC Ring Elementary school in Jamestown, New York. Teresa has visited 24 states thus far, hoping to have visited 30 by the end of the December. Teresa, as American Honey Queen, was the former 2010 Pennsylvania Honey Queen. Her hometown is Chambersburg, Pa. She will turn over her crown at the American Beekeeping Federation convention held in Las Vegas, Nevada, in January.
Alyssa, the 2011 Pa Honey Queen, has traveled more than 25,000 miles criss-crossing Pennsylvania, representing the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association. She visited Erie earlier this year as well as the Crawford County Fair in August. A graduate of Penn State, her home town is Monongahela, Pa. At the end of this week, she will crown the 2012 Pa Honey Queen at the PSBA annual banquet in Lewisburg, Pa.
Teresa Bryson, American Honey Queen, left and Alyssa Fine, Pa Honey Queen, right present a check for $560 on behalf of the Northwestern Pa Beekeepers Association to Heather Musacchio of the Second Harvest Food Bank in Erie.
Pictured with the Pa Honey Queen and American Honey Queen are officers of Northwestern Pa Beekeepers. (left to right) John Haschalk, Alyssa Fine, Teresa Bryson, Tara Miller and Charlie Vorisek
(Article and Photos submitted by Charlie Vorisek)
