HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – James Hunter was named the number one speller with the word “globular” during the Big Bee Spelling Bee at Hopkinsville Brewing Company. Visit Hopkinsville coordinated the fun event to raise funds for the Literacy Council in Hopkinsville.

“This is why I love Hoptown,” said Amy Rogers, executive director of Visit Hopkinsville. Rogers and other organizers buzzed around the room all night dressed as bees and beekeepers, making sure all of the eager adult spellers were enjoying themselves.

Big Bee Spelling Bee in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Aug. 1, 2024 (Daynnah Carmona)
Big Bee Spelling Bee in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Aug. 1, 2024 (Daynnah Carmona)
Big Bee Spelling Bee in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Aug. 1, 2024 (Daynnah Carmona)
Big Bee Spelling Bee in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Aug. 1, 2024 (Daynnah Carmona)
Big Bee Spelling Bee in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Aug. 1, 2024 (Daynnah Carmona)
Big Bee Spelling Bee in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Aug. 1, 2024 (Daynnah Carmona)
Big Bee Spelling Bee in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Aug. 1, 2024 (Daynnah Carmona)
Big Bee Spelling Bee in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Aug. 1, 2024 (Daynnah Carmona)
Big Bee Spelling Bee in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Aug. 1, 2024 (Daynnah Carmona)
Big Bee Spelling Bee in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Aug. 1, 2024 (Daynnah Carmona)
Big Bee Spelling Bee in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Aug. 1, 2024 (Daynnah Carmona)
Big Bee Spelling Bee in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Aug. 1, 2024 (Daynnah Carmona)
Big Bee Spelling Bee in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Aug. 1, 2024 (Daynnah Carmona)
Big Bee Spelling Bee in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Aug. 1, 2024 (Daynnah Carmona)
Big Bee Spelling Bee in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Aug. 1, 2024 (Daynnah Carmona)
Big Bee Spelling Bee in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Aug. 1, 2024 (Daynnah Carmona)
Big Bee Spelling Bee in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Aug. 1, 2024 (Daynnah Carmona)
Big Bee Spelling Bee in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Aug. 1, 2024 (Daynnah Carmona)
Big Bee Spelling Bee in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Aug. 1, 2024 (Daynnah Carmona)
Big Bee Spelling Bee in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Aug. 1, 2024 (Daynnah Carmona)
Big Bee Spelling Bee in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Aug. 1, 2024 (Daynnah Carmona)
Big Bee Spelling Bee in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Aug. 1, 2024 (Daynnah Carmona)
Big Bee Spelling Bee in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Aug. 1, 2024 (Daynnah Carmona)
Big Bee Spelling Bee in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Aug. 1, 2024 (Daynnah Carmona)
Big Bee Spelling Bee in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Aug. 1, 2024 (Daynnah Carmona)
Big Bee Spelling Bee in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Aug. 1, 2024 (Daynnah Carmona)
Big Bee Spelling Bee in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Aug. 1, 2024 (Daynnah Carmona)

A dozen local participants tried their best to spell increasingly difficult words each round, with recognizable faces from around the city approaching the mic. Peg Hays, owner of Casey Jones Distillery was out in round three along with Hopkinsville Fire Department Public Information Officer Payton Rogers.

Only two were left standing in the end with Abby Hess taking second place after missing one letter in the word “fussbudget”. Registration fees coupled with onsite donations and the auctioning of a wreath led to over $1,500 being raised for the Literacy Council.

The organization has been in Hopkinsville for almost 30 years, with the goal of promoting literacy by providing various reading programs for local children.

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