A Descanso resident has claimed a national beekeeping title for the first time in California history, and East County has a sweet reason to celebrate.

Delanie Craighead was named the 2026 American Honey Queen by the American Beekeeping Federation at its annual Conference and Tradeshow in Mobile, Alabama. The honor makes her the first winner from California in more than six decades of the program.

Craighead, the daughter of Don and Laurie Craighead of Descanso, is a University of California, Davis graduate with a bachelor’s degree in animal biology and a minor in veterinary medical entomology. She previously served as a Peace Corps volunteer in South America and most recently works as a kennel attendant at a dog daycare. She previously held the 2025 California Honey Queen title before advancing to the national stage.

In her new role, Craighead will spend the next year representing the beekeeping industry across the United States, appearing at fairs, festivals, schools and media events. The selection resonates with particular depth for East County: nearby Harbison Canyon takes its name from 19th-century beekeeper John Harbison, who was once the largest honey producer in the world and helped establish San Diego County as a major honey-producing region during California’s Golden Age of Beekeeping.

The local industry has seen a modern resurgence. According to East County Magazine, San Diego County honey production surged 264% in 2023, with locally produced honey valued at over $4.7 million. County and city zoning changes in recent years have made urban and suburban beekeeping more accessible, and beekeeping is now the fastest-growing livestock segment in the U.S. economy, according to Marketplace.com. Despite years of declining bee populations, national hive counts are recovering — with more than a million new colonies added over the past five years.