SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration invites board members of several different industry groups to nominate individuals they think would make outstanding Celebration judges.
Again in 2006, opinions were solicited from The TWHNC Advisory Council, TWHBEA Executive Committee, Walking Horse Trainers’ Association Board of Directors, Walking Horse Owners’ Association Board of Directors, and the TWHNC Young Trainers Council. While the Celebration’s Judges Committee has the responsibility of selecting the judging panel, the responses from these groups is certainly used in making their decision.
The top ten nominees from the groups mentioned are as follows:
Nathan Clark
Mike Carpenter
Wayne Abee
Tommy Loid*
Allen Forman
Ronnie Spears*
Tommy Howell
Rollie Beard
Wink Groover*
Huck Moss*
“We feel like we’ve put together a panel that the industry will respond very positively towards,” said Celebration CEO Ron Thomas. “Four of the five judges were in the top ten nominees. Had anyone know Jamie Bradshaw would be available to judge, I feel sure he would have made that list as well.”
Thomas also mentioned that The Celebration Board would like to see a higher response from the groups that were sent letters, they are very appreciative of those that took the time and made thoughtful responses.
Here is a breakdown on the percentage of letters returned over the last five years:
2006 44%
2005 37%
2004 46%
2003 29%
2002 65%
The Celebration opens on Wednesday, August 23rd and will close it’s 68th consecutive run on Saturday, September 2nd with the crowning of the World Grand Champion Tennessee Walking Horse.
* denotes 2006 selection