By DANE LILLINGSTONE
LOCAL Warwick apiculturist John Craig has taken out first prize at the Ekka for his famed honey.
He scooped first and second in the Frame of Comb Honey category, second in Granulated Honey, Fine Grain and third in Novice Liquid Honey.
Last year was the first time he’d entered the Ekka.
“It’s my second year – I’ve never entered in shows before and last year I thought I’d give it a go,” he said.
“I’m retired from full-time employment now. I’ve got more time to spend on the bees.”
Owner of Carramar Apiaries, Mr Craig has been involved with bees since he was 16. He now goes to the Pig and Calf Sale every Wednesday and has started going to the Uber Markets.
“The bees are going pretty well at the moment,” he said.
“When I’m going into the winter I tend to leave the honey on there, to make sure they get through it.
“The last few weeks are looking up because we’ve passed the big blow of winter. I took some honey out the other day for the first time since April.”
He now plans on volunteering at the Queensland Beekeepers Association tent at the Ekka for a few days this week.
In other Ekka news, Goondiwindi’s Michelle Mesner has taken out the Miss Showgirl 2015.
Michelle is currently studying a bachelor of agribusiness and said she was proudly representing the Southern Downs.
