2nd Annual CCE Yates County Pollinator Bracket Tournament

PENN YAN - Cornell Cooperative Extension-Yates County is launching the 2nd Annual Yates County Pollinator Bracket Tournament on March 7.

Inspired by the National Park Service’s “Fat Bear Week,” this tournament aims to educate the community and bring attention to the variety and importance of pollinators in the support and continuity of agriculture. We invite the community to choose which pollinator to the crown in this March-Madness style bracket where pollinators are pitted against each other for your vote.

Like last year’s challenge, this year’s tournament will run over five weeks as an interactive event through our association’s website and social media channels. Each week will feature a face-off between eight native pollinators and fun facts about each species. Vote for your favorite and see which will advance to the next round.

Among this year’s competitors is the 2022 reigning champion, the Squash Bee ( Peponapis pruinose).

Formally named Yates County’s Pollinator of the Year by the Legislature (Resolution No. 183-22), the Squash Bee is the most effective pollinator of squash, including pumpkins, winter squash, zucchini, ornamental gourds, and summer squash which are of high value to the local economy through fresh market and processing sales. It was native to Central America but emigrated northward following the expansion of human cultivation of squash plants, making the squash bee unique among solitary pollinators. In summary, the tournament averaged around 15,000 views, with the squash bee winning 56% of the vote during the final round (for a full recap video of the 2022 tournament, visit https://youtu. be/N-r0h58VvNw).

To learn more about squash bee and this year’s other competitors, visit our website at http://bit.ly/3m81UCp.

To participate in this year’s challenge, follow us on the CCE-Yates County Facebook page (https://www. facebook.com/CCEYates), on Twitter (https://twitter.com/ CCEYates), or subscribe to our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@ CCEYates).

Pollinators are vital to creating and maintaining the habitats and ecosystems native animals rely upon for food and shelter and to farmers, nursery owners, and produce growers for their economic livelihoods.

However, only one can be named Yates County’s Pollinator of the Year.

For more information, please contact the CCEYates County Association at 315-536-5123.

Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities.

2nd Annual CCE Yates County Pollinator Bracket Tournament

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