FRYEBURG — Susannah Austin, the 2014 American Honey Queen, will visit Maine from Monday, Sept. 29, to Monday, Oct. 6, as part of her National Honey Month tour. She will make appearances at Fryeburg Fair during her stay, speaking about the importance of honeybees to the public’s daily lives and how, from city to country, everyone can help the honeybee.

She will also demonstrate how honey comes in a kaleidoscope of colors. Austin will work with the Western Maine Beekeepers Association at its exhibit in the Garden Center.

Austin, 20, is the daughter of Kris and Catherine Austin of Orlando, Fla. She is a junior at the University of Central Florida, pursing a degree in biology, with hopes of becoming a veterinarian. Her family began beekeeping through a 4-H project over 10 years ago.

As the 2014 American Honey Queen, Austin serves as a national spokesperson on behalf of the American Beekeeping Federation, a trade organization representing beekeepers and honey producers throughout the United States.

The honey queen and princess speak and promote in venues nationwide, and, as such, Austin will travel throughout the United States during her year-long reign.

Prior to being selected as the American Honey Queen, she served as the 2013 Florida Honey Queen. In this role, she promoted the honey industry at fairs, festivals and farmers markets, via television and radio interviews and in schools.

Honeybees are responsible for nearly one-third of people’s entire diet, in regard to the pollination services that they provide for a large majority of fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes. This amounts to nearly $19 billion a year of direct value from honeybee pollination to United States agriculture.

For more information on Austin’s Maine visit, contact Carol Cottrill at 364-0917.

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