Judgement Day

While contest judges should be experts and know exactly what they're doing (as they obviously do with the Irish Fest contests), sometimes they miss the mark entirely.

At this past weekend's local BBQ contest, Irish Fest's very own John Hayes made some amazing BBQ. Ask any of us who were there—it was so good, we each ate more than our fair share.  Anyway, the perfect ribs, sausage and pulled pork, and later the brisket and chicken, were mouthwatering and award-winning in our book. Unfortunately John didn't place in the top ten.

Unlike the judges at the BBQ, the judges for the Irish Fest contests are all experts in their field.

• The Stout Beer Brewing Contest judges are BJCP Certified, which from what I understand is the cream of the crop of home-brew judges.

• The Cow Art Contest judges are all professional artists (You need to enter this Friday-only contest—there were only five entries last year! Your odds of winning, not to mention the prizes, are really good!).

• The judges for Saturday's Amateur's-Only Baking Contest for Irish Soda Bread are all professional chefs. Sunday's Master's Only Baking contest will be judged by the Irish Fest board of directors. While they're not professionals, they are judging what the professionals turn in, and somehow, I think that's fair.

• The Knitting Contest judges know more about knitting than I ever knew I didn't know about knits and purls. Saturday's Knitting Contest is for amateur's only, so if you've been thinking the competition is too stiff, you might want to give this one a try. Sunday is the Master's Only Knitting Contest, for those who teach knitting or are so good they could probably knit or crochet a working refrigerator. (You know who you are.)

• Finally, for the Photography Contest, both Saturday and Sunday are for amateurs only, and judged by professional photographers.

Even if you don't enter, feel free to stop by the contest tent and see what others have entered—it's always amazing to see what such talented people can procure. The luck of the Irish to you if you do enter! All the contests details and entry forms can be found here.

Cami, Kim, and Debra
Contest Queens