The 16th Zagreb County Beekeeping Festival, 23rd Honey Exhibition with judging, and the 11th Vrbovine Honey Days took place in Vrbovec on Friday and Saturday. The opening ceremony, accompanied by the awarding of diplomas, took place today on the main square in Vrbovec.
The local beekeepers' association organised a trade fair, workshops, and a performance for children, a children's artwork exhibition, a honey breakfast for children, a promotion of the film 'Vrbovine Paths of Honey', a lecture, a round table, and many other activities. The event was co-organised by the Zagreb County Beekeepers' Association.
The president of the local beekeepers' association, Jasmina Lipić, said that they were proud to host beekeepers from across the county. She highlighted that they were proud to showcase the quality of local honeys and to once again emphasise the importance of beekeeping in their region. 'Behind every jar of honey lies knowledge, experience, dedication, and much effort,' Lipić said, adding that beekeeping involves many challenges, from weather conditions to the care of bee colonies.
According to her, such exhibitions are valuable because they provide an opportunity for beekeepers to showcase the results of their work, exchange experiences, and receive recognition for the quality of their products. Lipić noted that the association seeks to pass on knowledge to younger generations, having long organised beekeeping workshops in schools, held workshops with children, and celebrated Bee Day with children in kindergartens. 'We believe it is important to introduce children to the world of beekeeping and show them how significant bees are to nature and daily life,' she said. She thanked the many institutions, collaborators, and friends of the association for their support, without which their work and the organisation of such events would not have been possible.
The president of the Zagreb County Beekeepers' Association, Željko Vikić, addressed the attendees, reminding them that the first Beekeeping Festival had taken place in Samobor in 2010, when they launched the event and 'spun the festival from association to association across the county'. The aim is to encourage local events while promoting the values of beekeeping, providing an opportunity for each association to showcase itself. Beekeepers from all member associations of the county's beekeepers' union participated, with exhibitions, tastings, advice, and the sale of products. Over the years, the event has been enhanced with various additional content. In addition to showcasing the tradition of beekeeping and the production of bee products, the event also presents a part of the local cultural heritage, including songs, dances, and local customs. Vikić highlighted that the event highlights the importance of beekeeping for food production, and that the union, along with 11 beekeeping associations, continuously works on protecting the natural environment and educating about the importance of beekeeping.
The Dean for Agriculture, Rural Development, and Forestry, Gordana Županac, said that Zagreb County always stands by its agricultural producers. They support primary production, processing, marketing, education, and participation in fairs. 'The most beautiful thing is to come somewhere and see happy, smiling faces, as we see today here with the diploma holders and those supporting them,' said Županac, adding that effort and dedication in the county are ultimately reflected in the results. She called for the purchase of local products: 'We must buy local, we must first support our own.'
Today, gold diplomas were awarded at the 23rd Honey Exhibition with judging, where there were 108 honey samples in total. The champion of the exhibition was Davor Novosel from the 'Matija' Beekeepers' Association in Sveti Ivan Zelina, who won gold for his acacia honey. A further 28 gold diplomas were awarded.
