May 28, 2026 · 24 min · 11 segments
**Episode Summary: What Makes a Good Judge, Hydrating for Jackpot Shows and Daily Skin and Hair Routines** In this episode of *To The Front*, Tony Morris and Thomas Gross answer listener questions…
I got asked at a judge show in Utah, and they did, like, a little interview process, and this was one of the questions that I got asked recently as well, so I've been thinking about this quite a bit.
Like, the... my favorite judges are the ones that we get a backdrop picture with, right? So, um, I don't think that's too much, too much to ask of anybody, wink, wink, nod, nod.
But, you know, the most important things for me, like, when I think of a day, like, we went to Michigan a week or two ago, and we, you know, we won a breed.
And the things that I liked about him in particular, and that I think good judges ought to do: one, they were very, very consistent in the kind of hogs they liked.
They described them well, right? Whether we won or we lost, I felt like we got an accurate description of what they saw, not only in our hogs in this case, but also everything else within the class, and they were pretty consistent with the kind they liked throughout the day.
When you're getting ready to do something that's a little different than what you've done throughout the day, it's okay to get on the mic and say, "Hey, this looks different than what I've done in the past." Like, I just want somebody that has a lot of integrity, is really honest, and just says what's on their mind and doesn't try to make me guess or wonder or find a reason to do this or that.
For me, I always say when I walk out of a show, I wanna, wanna know what to take them the next time we go, right? And so maybe they like them big, stout, and burly, and if they picked them that way and they were consistent all day, to me, that makes a good show judge.
That might not be how I always like them, but if that's how you like them and you stayed consistent and you described them that way, I know next time we show up to that guy or gal, we better bring a big, stout, burly one.
You know, and if you like them good-looking and built right, picking them that way and being consistent, I think is so, so important.
As you touched on, too, I think honesty and integrity, you know, um, are kind of at the forefront of things that we want in a show judge.
And [clears throat] once again, we don't always have to agree with you, but if you're giving your honest evaluation, I think that's so important, uh, along the way, too.
And I think another thing that's really important is kind of maybe some demeanor and, and, um, you know, kindness with kids, I guess, is, is a way to think about it.
That I've seen show judges that, that have the attitude of, "You should be lucky that I'm here," and others of them that, you know what? They are big-time judges, and yet they're gonna go through and high-five the four-year-olds that are showing in the Peewee Showmanship class and making it fun for the kids.
So somebody that's honest, has integrity, and has a fun time sorting, sorting animals, right? And, uh, it makes our kids enjoy it a whole lot more, and it makes the experience a whole lot better for everybody.
I got asked at a judge show in Utah, and they did, like, a little interview process, and this was one of the questions that I got asked recently as well, so I've been thinking about this quite a bit.
Like, the... my favorite judges are the ones that we get a backdrop picture with, right? So, um, I don't think that's too much, too much to ask of anybody, wink, wink, nod, nod.
But, you know, the most important things for me, like, when I think of a day, like, we went to Michigan a week or two ago, and we, you know, we won a breed.
And the things that I liked about him in particular, and that I think good judges ought to do: one, they were very, very consistent in the kind of hogs they liked.
They described them well, right? Whether we won or we lost, I felt like we got an accurate description of what they saw, not only in our hogs in this case, but also everything else within the class, and they were pretty consistent with the kind they liked throughout the day.
When you're getting ready to do something that's a little different than what you've done throughout the day, it's okay to get on the mic and say, "Hey, this looks different than what I've done in the past." Like, I just want somebody that has a lot of integrity, is really honest, and just says what's on their mind and doesn't try to make me guess or wonder or find a reason to do this or that.
For me, I always say when I walk out of a show, I wanna, wanna know what to take them the next time we go, right? And so maybe they like them big, stout, and burly, and if they picked them that way and they were consistent all day, to me, that makes a good show judge.
That might not be how I always like them, but if that's how you like them and you stayed consistent and you described them that way, I know next time we show up to that guy or gal, we better bring a big, stout, burly one.
You know, and if you like them good-looking and built right, picking them that way and being consistent, I think is so, so important.
As you touched on, too, I think honesty and integrity, you know, um, are kind of at the forefront of things that we want in a show judge.
And [clears throat] once again, we don't always have to agree with you, but if you're giving your honest evaluation, I think that's so important, uh, along the way, too.
And I think another thing that's really important is kind of maybe some demeanor and, and, um, you know, kindness with kids, I guess, is, is a way to think about it.
That I've seen show judges that, that have the attitude of, "You should be lucky that I'm here," and others of them that, you know what? They are big-time judges, and yet they're gonna go through and high-five the four-year-olds that are showing in the Peewee Showmanship class and making it fun for the kids.
So somebody that's honest, has integrity, and has a fun time sorting, sorting animals, right? And, uh, it makes our kids enjoy it a whole lot more, and it makes the experience a whole lot better for everybody.
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