HOW DO I BECOME A FLOWER SHOW JUDGE?

This is a question often asked.
 Any National Garden Clubs member is eligible to become a judge and may take the four necessary NGC Flower Show School courses.  The procedure is as follows:

  1. Contact your state Flower Show Schools Chairman and she will tell you where
      and when the nearest    Flower Show School will be held and obtain a brochure
      for you. 
   2. You must own a Handbook for Flower Shows, and subscribe to The National
      Gardener Magazine.  Any changes made in the Handbook are listed in the
       magazine. Available through the RI Book Chairman.
   3. There is a recommended reading list.  You may purchase the books from NGC
       Headquarters through the RI Book Chairman, or borrow from a current judge.
   4. Upon payment of the course registration fee, a student outline will be sent to
       you.
   5. Each course consists of two full days of instruction that includes Horticulture,
       Design and Flower Show Procedure.  You will also learn how to point-score
      designs and horticulture exhibits. On the third day you take a written exam on
       the above subjects, a grade of 70 or more is needed to pass. 
   6. After passing Course II, students may start earning exhibiting credits in
      Horticulture and Design.  These are earned by exhibiting in Small-Standard or
      Standard Flower Shows and winning blue ribbons or  a 90+. A total of five
      exhibiting credits are needed, these may be two in Horticulture and three in
      Design or  vice-versa. 
   7. Upon passing Course III, the student becomes a Student Judge and now may
       begin to earn the five  judging credits needed before taking the Handbook
       exam.
   8.  After passing Course IV the Student Judge must write a flower show schedule,
       with help, which must score 70 or more to pass. Once this is completed
       successfully, and all exhibiting and judging credits have been obtained, the 
      Student Judge may take the Handbook exam.
   9.  Upon passing this exam the student judge becomes an Accredited Judge. 

More exhibiting and judging credits are needed to advance to the next level - Accredited-Life Judge and still more to attain Accredited-Master Judge status all of which require attendance at Symposia. All judges are required to refresh at least every three years, to keep their 'good-standing.'

 There are many benefits of becoming a Flower Show Judge: Learning new designs and horticultural techniques;   invitations to judge shows in Rhode Island and other states;  this year alone our RI judges were invited to judge in  Philadelphia, Cleveland, Atlanta, Connecticut, and Massachusetts and some exhibited in these shows too.  You will learn more than you thought possible, and enjoy every minute! 
 
 I am always happy to talk with anyone in more detail, so please call or e-mail me if you are interested.
 .

 Sue Redden
 RI Flower Show Schools Chairman
 245-8215