North Carolina Crowns First Honey Queen in More Than 50 Years
19-Year-Old Sienna Izquierdo Named North Carolina Honey Queen at High Country Honey Festival
ASHE COUNTY, N.C. — The High Country Honey Festival in Ashe County recently made North Carolina beekeeping history by crowning the state’s first North Carolina Honey Queen in more than 50 years.
Sienna Izquierdo, a 19-year-old college student from Jacksonville, North Carolina, received the unique honor and will serve as an ambassador for beekeeping, honey production and pollinator education throughout the state.
Izquierdo is currently studying Zoology at Coastal Carolina Community College and will receive a $5,000 scholarship to support her future studies.
Her passion for honeybees began well before receiving the crown. Izquierdo is a North Carolina State Certified Beekeeper who is already actively sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm for honeybees with others. She has helped educate more than 300 local elementary school students about honeybees and the importance of beekeeping.
As North Carolina Honey Queen, Izquierdo will build upon that work by traveling throughout the state, speaking to schools, civic organizations, agricultural groups, beekeeping associations and community organizations. Her role will focus on educating the public about honeybees, promoting the honey industry and inspiring a new generation of beekeepers.
The North Carolina Honey Queen Program is affiliated with the National Honey Queen Program, which is part of the American Beekeeping Federation. Izquierdo is scheduled to represent North Carolina at the national competition in January 2028, where she will join state representatives from across the country.
A central goal of the North Carolina Honey Queen Program is to educate and inspire people to become involved in beekeeping. As a spokesperson for beekeeping and the honey industry, Izquierdo will have a special opportunity to reach young people and introduce them to the fascinating world of honeybees.
Encouraging younger generations to become involved in beekeeping is increasingly important to the future of agriculture. Honeybees and other pollinators play an essential role in the production of many foods and agricultural crops across the United States. Through education and outreach, the North Carolina Honey Queen Program hopes to cultivate an appreciation for honeybees while encouraging future generations of beekeepers.
For Izquierdo, wearing the North Carolina Honey Queen crown represents much more than receiving a title. It provides an opportunity to combine her interests in science, education and beekeeping while serving communities throughout North Carolina.
Organizations, schools, agricultural groups, beekeeping associations and community organizations interested in having the North Carolina Honey Queen attend or speak at an event are encouraged to contact the program.
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About the North Carolina Honey Queen Program
The North Carolina Honey Queen Program promotes honeybees, beekeeping, honey and pollinator education throughout North Carolina. Through public appearances, educational programs and community outreach, the program seeks to increase awareness of the importance of honeybees while encouraging people—especially young people—to become involved in beekeeping and pollinator stewardship.