The Emley Show is always a highlight of the beekeeping calendar, taking place each year on the first Saturday in August. It’s a wonderful opportunity to bring together beekeepers, honey lovers, and the wider public in a vibrant celebration of rural life and craftsmanship.
This year was extra special for us. Alongside the usual open Honey Show – the official Emley Honey Show, which welcomes entries from all beekeepers – we also hosted the Yorkshire Beekeepers Association (YBKA) Honey Show, replacing our usual association competition for members. The turnout was excellent, with a larger-than-usual number of entries and two judges required to handle the volume.
Our association’s presence at the show went far beyond the competition. As always, we ran a lively stall selling honey and displaying a range of exhibits to engage both the public and fellow beekeepers. These displays are more than just educational – they promote our association, raise awareness of the craft, and help us meet our charitable objectives by fostering understanding and enthusiasm for beekeeping.
This year we also added a new and vital element: a stall dedicated to Asian Hornet awareness. With growing national concern about sightings and identification, this was a timely addition, and it attracted significant interest throughout the day.
None of this would have been possible without the teamwork and generosity of our members. I want to express my sincere thanks to everyone who helped set up on the Friday, welcomed and spoke with visitors on the Saturday, and stayed behind to pack everything away afterwards. As the saying goes, many hands make light work – and I couldn’t have been prouder of what we achieved together. The positive feedback we’ve since received about our section has been both heartening and well-deserved.
A special thank you goes to our stewarding team: Ivor Flatman, Mark Buckley, Richard Thompson, Mel Hallas, and Gerard and Krista Moore. Thanks also to Michael Sykes, Julie Oxley, and Jo Worrall, who joined us during the day to lend a hand. Although Graham Browster was unable to attend due to illness, his support in preparing for the show was much appreciated.
An extra note of gratitude goes to Tan, a friend of Gerard and Krista’s, who generously gave up a full day to help with honey sales. Krista, meanwhile, deserves particular thanks for her wonderful work dressing the stand and keeping the sales running smoothly throughout the day.
Honey Sales – Emley Show 2024
This year, five members submitted honey for sale, and I’m delighted to report that the figures were excellent. The commission from member sales almost covered our trade stand fee of £93, and the total sales figures speak for themselves:
- Total honey sales: £1,406.60
- Member honey sales: £1,052.00 (commission £86.67)
- Association honey sales: £350.00
The association honey was sold at a premium price, reflecting the high quality of our produce and the strong interest from visitors.
All in all, Emley Show 2024 was a great success – a day that showcased not just our honey, but the passion, cooperation, and public spirit that define our association. It was a proud moment for all involved, and a fitting reminder of why we do what we do: to share the wonder of beekeeping with our wider community.