Master Judge Program

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Georgia Barbecue Association Master Judge Program
Updated effective February 1, 2019

The Georgia Barbecue Association (GBA) chooses to recognize those Judges who have demonstrated their sustained commitment to the growth and fellowship of competitive barbecue, consistency and quality in judging, and been a positive force within the Georgia Barbecue Association. This recognition will be publicly conveyed when the GBA Board of Directors extends Master Judge Status to qualifying judges and at the annual GBA banquet.

Beginning September 1, 2018 all Judges who wish to be recognized as Master Judges by the Georgia Barbecue Association (GBA) will have heightened expectations and must meet the following criteria and procedures in order to submit a request to the GBA Board of Directors.

Master Judge Documents:    

Expectations

  • The GBA expects all Master Judges to be good ambassadors of the GBA
  • Master Judges will enter contest sites on competition day with a servant mind set putting the success of the contest experience for others ahead of themselves
  • Master Judges will be consistent and appropriate when scoring samples
  • Master Judges will mentor less experienced judges relative to scoring at competitions as well as behavior at competitions and between competitions
  • Master judges will demonstrate appropriate ways to raise issues of concern so that they can be resolved productively
  • Master Judges go the extra mile working with contest officials to be sure that everyone has the most positive experience possible during competitions
  • When necessary, Master Judges will volunteer to step up (fill in at necessary spot) or step aside (give up a judging seat) to make things run smoothly at a contest

Criteria

  • Be a member in good standing of the GBA
  • Continually sustain your status as a GBA certified judge while pursuing the Master Judge designation
  • Always abide by the GBA Code of Conduct
  • Judge at least one sanctioned meat category at 24 GBA sanctioned contest
  • Cook an entire weekend (from meat check in through awards) with a cook team that cooks all GBA Sanctioned categories at a GBA sanctioned contest, not only observing but working alongside the team as requested and directed for the duration of the weekend.
  • Shadow the GBA Representatives and Scorer during an entire contest.

Procedure

  • As a judge, you are responsible for keeping a list of the dates and locations of the GBA sanctioned contests where they judge. You must download the GBA Master Judge Contest Record that is available on the GBA website.
  • As a judge, you are responsible for securing a cook team that will welcome you to cook with the team at a GBA sanctioned contest. Note the team must cook all of the GBA Sanctioned categories.
  • At the contest where you are cooking with the team, formally notify the Lead Representative at the cook team meeting that you are cooking with the team.
  • Give the Pit Master a copy of the Master Judge Cook Team Attestation that the Pit Master is to fill out, sign and return to you.
  • At the contest where you shadow the representatives and scorer, you will be provided with an executed certification upon satisfactory completion of your assignments.
  • Ensure you’ve met all qualifications described above, including:
    • You have judged at least one meat category in 24 GBA sanctioned contests
    • You have cooked with a team for an entire contest
    • You have shadowed the GBA Representatives and Scorer for one contest
  • Create a letter of application that includes your complete contact information, your GBA Judge’s Number, a short description of your qualifications, as well as any details you feel might be relevant to the process. You may also include any additional information you feel would show you to be a good candidate for GBA Master Judge status.
  • Send all documents to the address below. Those documents include:

Send all documents to:
GBA Master Judge Application
PO Box 2085
Perry, GA 31609

The GBA Board will review applications and vote to extend the GBA Master Judge designation to those Judges who have demonstrated their sustained commitment to the growth and fellowship of competitive barbecue, consistency and quality in judging, and have been a positive force within the Georgia Barbecue Association.

GBA Master Judge Frequently Asked Questions 

Why has the GBA changed the criteria?

The GBA has matured as an organization. The Board of Directors has changed the criteria to become a GBA Master Judge AND changed the expectations that the Organization has of its Master Judges.  It is reasonable to expect more of Master Judges both in terms of what is required to become a Master Judge and to expand the role of Master Judges as the GBA continues to grow as a competitive organization.

What does the GBA expect of a Master Judge?

  • The GBA expects all Master Judges to be good ambassadors of the GBA
  • Master Judges will enter contest sites on competition day with a servant mind set putting the success of the contest experience for others ahead of themselves
  • Master Judges will be consistent and appropriate when scoring samples
  • Master Judges will mentor less experienced judges relative to scoring at competitions as well as behavior at competitions and between competitions
  • Master judges will demonstrate appropriate ways to raise issues of concern so that they can be resolved productively
  • Master Judges go the extra mile working with contest officials to be sure that everyone has the most positive experience possible during competitions
  • When necessary, Master Judges will volunteer to step up (fill in a judging seat) or step aside (give up a judging seat) to make things run smoothly at a contest

Why do you require Master Judges to judge at least 24 contests?

In order for a Master Judge to become the kind of leader that the GBA needs, they need more time to develop their own internal commitment to competitive barbecue and the GBA. Also the GBA Board of Directors needs more time to evaluate the commitment of potential Master Judges ensuring that as the GBA moves into the future, our Master Judges have the experience, commitment, and passion to be great barbecue ambassadors.

Why did you require Master Judges to shadow the Contest Reps and Scorers?

The GBA added this requirement to ensure a Master Judge holds a thorough understanding of the entire process. Since a Master Judge is expected to mentor less-experienced judges, assist at contests when needed, and be an informal representative of the GBA, the Board felt it was important to have a better understanding of what goes on “behind the scenes”. After judging 24 contests, cooking with a team, and shadowing the Reps and Scorers, a Master Judge should have a thorough knowledge of every aspect of the GBA’s role in producing successful events.

Do I have to shadow the Scorer at one contest, and the Contest Reps at a different contest?

No. You shadow the Contest Reps and Scorer at the same contest. After trying the requirement out at a few contests, the board made the decision to combine the shadowing requirements into a single contest.