SHOW: Judging Shows


I may be beaten up for this post, but I feel it just
has to be said.  We just had our Bench Show judged
yesterday.  We are a very small club, with perhaps 8
members who regularly participate in our events,
particularly our show.  The purpose of the show is
twofold.  First it is to make the community aware of
us and find new members, secondly it is to give
rewards to those active members who work so hard
keeping us going.  

We've had a strange growing season this year.  Very
warm weather in January, February and early March and
then cold blustery weather late March and April.  The
last two weeks we've had temperatures in the 80's one
day and down in to the 40's and 50's the next.  We've
had thunderstorms, hail and very strong winds much of
the last two weeks as well.  And to top it off, our
peak bloom was last weekend.  

So to say the least, we had a smaller than usual show.
 But that does not mean that we did not work just as
hard to put the show together.  I ask myself, why do
some of the judges refuse to take that into
consideration when judging a show.  I ask, not for
myself, I have several silver medals and lots of
rosettes, but for the newer club member who worked
just as hard (perhaps harder) trying to come up with a
few good stalks for the show as they would have done
in a good season.

Two of the judges were extremely tough on everything. 
One of the other judges who frequently serves as a
judge for our shows said, "I try to remember that
these people work very hard putting a show together". 
That to me is the sign of a judge who is well rounded.
 

Since I have only attended a couple of judges training
classes, I do not know all of what is taught and while
I can certainly understand "the letter of the law" at
a Regional or National show, I cannot see why it hurts
to give an Honorable Mention to someone who has a
well-groomed, but not "blue ribbon" entry.  It
encourages them to do better next time.

I would really like to understand this problem.  I
have to spend months after something like this happens
trying to revitalize others to get them to stay in the
club and then participate in the next show.  If the
"letter of the law" without any allowance for the
problems encountered by iris fanciers is the only way,
then I ask why should people bother.  Why not just go
to the garden store and buy whatever iris they are
selling and go out and enjoy the beauty of them,
without all of the heartaches and disappointment?
Rigidity is the first step toward death. 



=====
Jeanne Holley
Pocahontas MO - Zone 6
President, SEMO Iris Society
Region 18

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