Stephanie Slater

Stephanie Slater Profile Photo

American Honey Show Training Council Certified Honey Judge and Beekeeper

Stephanie Slater has been keeping honey bees since 2017. She produces nationally award-winning honey in Walworth County, Wisconsin.

Stephanie entered her first honey show in 2019. She had absolutely no idea what she was doing, but with some dumb luck, received a 2nd place at the Wisconsin State Fair. Two months later, after applying some of the judge’s feedback to her entry, she received a 2nd place at her first American Honey Show. She was hooked and started doing anything she could to learn more about how to improve as a competitor. In 2023, she became the first person in Wisconsin to be certified as a honey judge through the American Honey Show Training Council.

Since 2019, Stephanie earned Best of Show awards from the Walworth County Fair, the Wisconsin State Fair and the American Honey Show; Best Tasting Honey in the United States from the Center for Honey Bee Research Black Jar Contest; 3rd Place in the International Flavor Awards; several awards at the North American Honey Bee Expo; and was Good Food Award finalist.

Stephanie was the 2022 Wisconsin Beekeeper of the Year and can often be found giving presentations throughout the Midwest.

Sept. 2, 2026

Winning at Honey with Stephanie: Preparing Pollen for Competition

Stephanie Slater explores how to prepare pollen for honey show competition. Learn what judges look for, how to collect, dry, clean, store, and present pollen, why color diversity matters, and how to achieve the proper fill level. Stephanie also shares lessons from her own competition experience and spotlights several upcoming fall honey shows.
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Aug. 31, 2026

400 Episodes of Beekeeping Today: Looking Back and Looking Ahead

Beekeeping Today Podcast celebrates its 400th episode! Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman are joined by Dr. Jim Tew, Dr. Dewey Caron, and Stephanie Slater for a wide-ranging conversation about the podcast’s beginnings, lessons learned from beekeeping, and the value of continuing education and community. The group also answers a Hive IQ question about how quickly a successful new beekeeper should expand, discusses nectar flows, honey production and marketing, and reflects on what keeps beekeeping interesting season after season.
Aug. 5, 2026

Winning At Honey with Stephanie: Preparing Honey for Competition

Preparing extracted honey for competition may seem intimidating, but according to Stephanie Slater, success comes down to patience, attention to detail, and understanding what judges are really looking for. In this episode of Winning at Honey, Stephanie shares practical advice for preparing award-winning extracted honey—from bottling weeks in advance to achieving the proper fill level, eliminating bubbles, selecting matching jars, and avoiding common defects that cost exhibitors valuable points. She also explains how judges evaluate entries, what can disqualify an otherwise beautiful jar of honey, and why proper handling begins long before the honey reaches the extraction room. Stephanie is also joined by Brutz English, President of the American Honey Judges Association, who discusses the organization’s remarkable growth, upcoming governance changes, and his vision for expanding honey judging education throughout North America.
July 1, 2026

Winning At Honey with Stephanie: Creating Award-Winning Beeswax Exhibits

Stephanie Slater returns with a busy summer update, sharing highlights from the Heartland Apicultural Society conference, a youth beekeeping camp, and preparations for upcoming honey judging events. This month’s featured topic explores how to create award-winning beeswax exhibits, including proper wax handling, candle preparation, common mistakes to avoid, and practical tips that judges look for in competition entries. Stephanie also spotlights upcoming honey shows in Colorado and South Carolina and offers encouragement for first-time exhibitors.
June 3, 2026

Winning at Honey with Stephanie: Entering Honey Shows

Stephanie Slater discusses preparing for the upcoming honey show season, shares major news about the new American Honey Judges Association, explains how Black Jar Honey Tasting Contests bring beekeepers together, and offers practical advice on one of the most overlooked keys to success in honey competitions: carefully reading the rules before entering.
May 6, 2026

Winning at Honey: Choosing the Right Jars for Honey Shows

Stephanie Slater shares expert tips on selecting and preparing jars for honey shows, along with updates on upcoming events and judging opportunities.
April 17, 2026

2026 Midwest Honey Bee Expo – Part 3

Honey show insights, black jar judging, and bee lab outreach from the University of Minnesota highlight this final Midwest Honey Bee Expo short.
April 1, 2026

[Bonus] Short - Winning Honey with Stephanie Slater

Stephanie Slater launches a new monthly series on honey shows, sharing how to get started, why they matter, and how competitions like the Black Jar Contest help beekeepers improve their craft.
March 24, 2026

Bonus – Introducing Stephanie Slater: Honey Shows and Judging

Stephanie Slater introduces her experience with honey shows and judging, previewing a new series on evaluating honey and participating in beekeeping competitions.
Jan. 9, 2026

[Bonus] North American Honey Bee Expo 2026, Day 2 (Friday)

Join us on the floor at NAHBE 2026 for Day 2 as we capture conversations, reflections, and the energy of one of North America’s premier beekeeping events.
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April 7, 2025

Judging Honey Shows With Stephanie Slater (328)

In this episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, certified honey judge Stephanie Slater joins Jeff and Becky to demystify the art and science of honey shows. From understanding how entries are judged to tips on preparing award-winning honey, Stephanie...