General Question About Judging

[ScottMcC]

Can someone fill me in on the basics of the judging process, some of the basic criteria, and the like?

I know there are 3 basic levels of awards (HCC, AM, FCC), along with the other special awards, but I really have no idea what goes into assigning the points.

Thanks!

[littlefrog]

For quality awards (what you are talking about), we look up as much information as we can find on the particular plant. If it is a hybrid, have others of that hybrid or similar been awarded? How does this one compare? If no awards, how does it compare to the parents. Is it an improvement?

After that basic research, we may or may not 'point'. Different types of plants are pointed on different scales (a breakdown of points for flower parts, size, color, etc. = 100 points on all scales). How do we do that? Practice... We are judging against some arbitrary standard of perfection, and it takes a while to figure out what that is (and it is a moving target, we expect plants 10 years from now to be better than 10 years ago).

Anyway, on that arbitrary scale of perfection, perfection is 100 points. If we can come up with 75-79 points, that is an HCC. 80-89 an AM, and over that an FCC. At least three certified judges must score the plant, and it is the average of their scores which determines award or no award. And we have to be within 6 points of eachother, too.

Is that a start on an answer? I encourage you to find your local judging center and attend a judging or two, it is a very enlightening process.

[ScottMcC]

That's definitely a great start and great info. I take it the criteria for points are different for each plant, right? For instance, you can't fault a unifloral plant for only having one flower, but a multifloral with many flowers would get more points than one with only a few.

How exactly does the process work? Plant owner takes it to a judging center and then the judges are let loose?

[littlefrog]

Yes, the criteria are different for different kinds of plants and breedings. For example, we would not fault a Maudiae type paph for only having one flower (99% do). However, if we got in a Paph. rothschildianum with only one flower, it would be a serious flaw.

Different kinds of plants have points divided up differently. For example, for many (most) types there are some points to be awarded for floriferousness. Those points are put elsewhere for plants that are not expected to be floriferous (maybe into color, or form). I think you can probably find the breakdowns on the web somewhere, google for AOS score sheets.

To get a plant looked at by an AOS judging team, you need to get it to a judging somehow. And yes, pretty much you bring it in, and let the judges loose (it is their natural habitat, it is OK). There are lots of 'regions' in the US (34 or so now? it is a lot), and each center meets once a month, on different days. I'm sure the AOS has that information (orchidweb.org). If for some reason you can't get to a judging, let me know and I'll find a way for you to get your plants seen.

Or, if you exhibit a plant at an AOS judged show (in an exhibit), it is being looked at for AOS awards. We consider any plant in a show to be a candidate, unless the exhibitor has explicitly written 'not for AOS' on the entry tag. That is a slightly different process, a judge will nominate ('Pull') plants if they think they are competitive, the plants are removed from the exhibit (if possible) for evaluation, and everything is pretty much the same after that.

[cb977]

Scott, if you are a member of an orchid society, sign up to be a clerk at your next show. I did it recently and really learned a lot.