Karla's Kolumn: Judging is hard, but at times tasty

Judging is hard, but at times tasty

Since moving to Worland in 2015 I have covered the Rhubarb Rhevival all but one year, and I do not know what I was thinking that one year when I assigned it to someone else because I love rhubarb.

This year I was asked to be a judge and I thought it would be fun and then I forgot I hate judging. In talking to my fellow judge, Jay Richard, I figured out my issue with judging – being decisive. There are many things in my life in which I can make firm decisions (we are not talking online shopping here folks so do not go there).

But judging other people's work I find hard. My first experience as a judge was in junior high as a line judge in volleyball - what were they thinking asking students to line judge. Needless to say I made a call that won our team the game but in truth I had no idea. I didn't play volleyball and in truth I was not paying that close attention when the ball came at me. Years later I know you are to watch the lines and if you cannot make the call then you tell the referees that, which I should have done. I guessed, not even knowing what my call would mean to the game (truth be told I didn't know it was match point).

I have never line judged again.

It did not deter me from being a judge however. Fast forward many years to my life as a reporter for the Lovell Chronicle and they needed judges for a speech and debate meet. I told them I would give it a try for one session. I think it was poetry, although I am not sure. I try to block the memory, which is why when Rick Dorn asked this year I respectfully declined.

It's hard for me to judge one person without then starting to compare to the others. I never like giving a 10 or excellent rating on anything. It could be the best meal or service I have ever had and if they ask me to take a survey I will give them a ranking one number below perfect. Why? Because everyone can be better, everyone can improve and a perfect ranking implies perfection and really who am I to judge.

Oh that's right I would be the judge.

I have judged newspaper contests for other states before as well, but I feel a bit more qualified for those entries, but it is still hard for me.

So back to the Rhubarb Rhevival. This was not my first food judging, and hey, I watch enough Chopped and Master Chef that I feel I have trained for this.

Several years ago I did judge a church pie baking contest. They had specific criteria and I knew the pie bakers (all guys) took this contest seriously so it was a different atmosphere than on Saturday.

The participants and the spectators always have a good time at the RR, at least they have at all the ones I have been.

So then came Saturday morning. I was ready for good rhubarb and good food and I was not disappointed. I truthfully wanted them all to win. They were all that good.

But in truth you should have seen my score card – I rated the first one, and then came the second one and I rated it and then I began comparing throughout the whole Rhevival and I was changing numbers after every entry.

By the end I had many numbers changed and had one clear winner and a three-way tie for second. Well how can that be I thought.

I conferred with my fellow judge and we settled on first, second and third based on total points.

I have been debating my numbers and wanting to try all the recipes again since Saturday. Maybe I'm a poor judge or maybe I just have a sweet tooth.

So to all those who entered, I had a great time judging and you are all winners in my book – really, just look at my scorecard.

That said, we will be publishing the recipes of the entries over the next several weeks so look for the winning recipe next week.