To Peter and Marc who think that AOS awards are somehow a commercial endorsement for commercial growers: I take immense offense at such an obviously ignorant and cynical allegation. It is simply not true. First go read "The Handbook" on judging. No where does it suggest that the judging system aims to make commercial endorsements. I assume you are also ignorant about and have forgotten about all the cultural awards made to the grower and botanical/horticultural awards made to recognize not seen before, horticulturally interesting, etc plants. Let me remind you that all AOS judges have gone through a minimum of six years of intensive training at their own expense. During their training they attend hundreds of shows, judgings, etc, where they are on the hot seat to comment on and defend their opinions---a process that forces trainee judges to learn to make in depth judgements with due consideration. THE OWNERS NAMES ARE NEVER ON A PLANT AT THE TIME OF JUDGING!!!!!!!!!!!! That is to prevent just the sort of silliness that Peter and Marc are suggesting. And to slam the one system that assures that a huge range of species and hybrids will be recognized for quality is in direct contrast to Asian growers who produce huge quantities of a relatively small variety of meristems/mericlones. These growers are a huge force in limiting the variety of orchids available to buyers. The AOS judging system is a huge force in encouraging diversity because it recognizes qualtiy wherever it sees it--and never on the bench of a commercial grower's greenhouse. To get a qualtiy award (to put it on a simplistic base), a plant must be of significantly better quality in some way than past awards, represent a new direction in breeding, etc. All judges will admit that the standards for judging quality are not perfect--there is always debate going on about technical aspects to improve the process. It does evolve but only with the input of hundreds of judges. Now Peter and Marc are so silly to assume that any judge would travel at their own expense, spend six or more years training at their own expense, take a large amount of time away from family, use vacation time on judging rather than family or recreation, etc with the intent to commercially endorse a plant for a grower. If we are lucky we get a good lunch but sometimes we get some deli meat slapped in sandwiches for our efforts. We do it for the love of orchids, to learn more, etc. THE AOS JUDGING SYSTEM IS THE BEST HOPE WE HAVE FOR MAINTAINING A DIVERSITY IN WHAT IS BEING GROWN AND SETTING STANDARDS FOR LARGE AND SMALL BREEDERS TO REACH FOR. WITHOUT IT, STANDARDS WOULD BE SET BY HOME DEPOT AND WALMART. Is that what you want? And yes, you will find large breeders getting awards, but I think if you surveyed the AQ you will find that most awards do not go to the big breeders but to good growers whether they are commercial or not. For example, my 88 year old mother has around 10 AOS awards and the only plants of hers that have ever been sold were those that were donated to her society's fundraising auction or when the divisions were using space that was needed for new plants. Jean Allen-Ikeson who is fuming in Nova Scotia, Canada
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