The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration has selected its judging panel for its 70th annual Celebration, Aug. 20-30. The judging panel will consist of veterans Rollie Beard of Lewisburg, Tenn., Jamie Hankins of Paris, Ky., and Tommy Howell of Shelbyville, Tenn. Newcomers to center ring will include Nathan Clark of Arab, Ala., and Jennifer Bingham Davis of Shelbyville, Tenn.

The most veteran of the crew is Howell who will be judging the Celebration for the sixth time. His most recent appearance was in 1996. He also judged in 1981, 1987, 1992 and 1994. Beard will be making his fifth assignment at the Celebration. He judged the event in 1988, 1994, 2002 and 2005. Hankins judged the Celebration in 1994, 1996, 2001 and 2003.

It is noteworthy that the three veterans of the crew judged the 1994 Celebration together. In 1994, five judges were selected but only three were pulled to judge each class. That year these three men were selected to judge the World Grand Championship class, won by Gen’s Armed & Dangerous.

Davis judged this year’s Fun Show as well as two other multi-day industry shows, the East Tennessee Classic and Land O Sky. Clark judged the Fun Show, as well as the Germantown Charity Show earlier this year.
Clark will judge the Red Carpet Show of the South in Pulaski, Tenn. on July 26, 2008. Beard will judge the Wartrace Horse Show on Aug. 2, 2008.