Hunt test / field trial judges gifts

[jczv]

Just wondering AKC hunt test or field trial judges preferences for judges gifts. I've usually given Cabelas or Gander Mountain gift certificates but I'm wondering if judges would really prefer gas cards or something else.

[Tejas]

We normally cover their travel expenses including gas and lodging and give Cabelas gift cards. Gas cards might not be a bad idea.

[dan v]

The outdoor store gift cards are nice...as are Visa debt cards. There are somethings that a judge needs that can't be bought at Gander or Cabela's....like tack, and the Visa debt cards work well for that.

[zzweims]

We ran out of gas (diesel!) once at 3:00 in the morning looking for a gas station that would accept the gas cards we received for judging.

I have a stack of un-used gift certificates from Cabela's, Bass Pro, Dog's Unlimited, etc. I usually donate them to somebody's raffle, because I have all the dog/horse stuff I need.

Ditto for the dog food samples and certificates. If its not my brand, I donate them to rescue.

One club gave me a dozen live quail. They had EU, died within a week and wiped out my flock of 200 (ouch!)

I have a gazillion camp chairs and six upland vests. They are nice, but I can only use one at a time.

I have given and received personalized clothing (shirts, vests, jackets). They are nice, but sizing can be a disaster. Especially when you have a last minute judges change from a 100lb woman named Sue to a 200lb man named Larry

I chuckled when one club gave me a WalMart gift card, but I have to admit, I used it

Ditto for the Kroger's gift card.

I have an inexpensive little saddlebag that I love and use all the time.

I used to have a beautiful English Setter hat pin, but I lost it

I've never received a belt buckle. That would be nice.

I have extra reins, halters, collars and dog stake-outs, that will be put to use eventually.

At an event I attended, the judge's received homemade K9 first aid kits that were really nice! (one of the members was a vet)

A friend of mine received a frozen turkey with homade stuffing and a recipe. We all thought it was hysterical, but he loved it. Said it was the best turkey he'd ever eaten and one of his favorite judge's gifts. (someone in the club was a turkey farmer)

Another friend received a huge sack of oranges after judging in Florida.

I give most of my judges a sack of pecans, in addition to their gifts (I have an orchard)

But by far and away, the best gift is a little thank you note with CASH tucked inside. And if you judge for me, it will likely come with a sack of pecans

And don't forget your gunners and bird planters! Both are tough thankless jobs that require SKILL. $20 or a small gift means alot. We have a loose rule on our farm that after a hunt test, anyone can run and train their dogs on Saturday, but Sunday afternoon is reserved for the gunners. I usually get local hunters to gun for us, and they really appreciate being able to take their meat dogs out and shoot the leftover birds.

Aline
http://sitekreator.com/zzfarms

[phermes1]

Visa or Amex gift cards are about as close as you can get to can't-miss. Honestly, there are only so many things I can buy at Cabela's or BassPro that aren't well into the triple or quadruple digits, and I have most of them. I'd much, MUCH rather have a gift card I can use anywhere, or Home Depot, Walmart, etc.

[wannabe]

I cashed in a couple of Cabela's Gift Cards that I received as judges gifts to help pay for a new scope for my deer rifle. Cash is always welcome, but I rarely use it to buy myself something special.

[jczv]

Thanks for the advice everyone I'll go with cash or a Visa gift card at least for our hunt test this weekend. If I was better organized I would have ordered some of those water bottles with pointing dogs on them (from that poor schmuck selling the new the bird launchers) to give out also but it's too late for this event.

Our club has never given anything to the volunteers but that's something we need to look at doing going forward. The hunt test secretary did demand a new vacuum in payment for volunteering her services for our last hunt test but it's cleaning our house (and I paid for it not the club).

thanks again for the help,
Jeff

[CherrystoneWeims]

Many times we will have a judge who is running a dog(s) the same weekend. If this is the case we give them free entries for their dog.

Aline's club ROCKS!! I judged for them a couple of years ago and they were extremely generous.

[Neil Mace]

Many times we will have a judge who is running a dog(s) the same weekend. If this is the case we give them free entries for their dog.

Careful, I suspect that is an AKC violation.

I may be likely alone in this, but I like a to recieve an inexpensive gift to remember the event. I am getting older now, so my office is clutered with saddle bags, belt buckles, Thermas's, travel mugs, hat pins, whistles, lanyards, halters, etc. each tells a story when I look at it. Bringing to mind not the wind, rain, snow, and crap I put up with, but the great people I met and the wonderful dogs I got to see run.

I have no idea what happened to the gift cards and cash, and thus do not remember the trial. No club could afford to pay me what my time is worth, so please just give me a keepsake, something to warm me in my advancing years.

Neil

[snips]

I have had people order hats, jackets, vests from me embroidered with what kind of dog they have. I did the wax hats with Vizlas for a big V trial last spring. I think it was just an extra they gave them.

[tenbearsviz]

A lot depends on the club and the judge's relationship. For example, a local club and a local judge. A cash gift would be appropriate.

If for example, I were to judge a trial WAY off the beaten path, I would like a momento of the club.

I still have my hat from Virgina Brenda!

I agree with Aline.. a belt bucket would be cool.

[zzweims]

[I may be likely alone in this, but I like a to recieve an inexpensive gift to remember the event. Neil

You are not alone. For years I resisted giving cash and gift cards for the same reason. Too impersonal. And then I started judging. No club can come close to covering a judge's expenses, let alone time. But with today's economy, money helps A small memento is nice--in addition to the cash. Some clubs stockpile these little gifts--a hat, hat pin, water bottle, with club logo--that they give to judges in addition to cash, or some other compensation. Often, they cost no more than $5-$10.

The other downside to cash, is that my husband confiscates mine! Come to think of it, he confiscates the gifts too

Aline
http://sitekreator.com/zzfarms

[zzweims]

Many times we will have a judge who is running a dog(s) the same weekend. If this is the case we give them free entries for their dog.

Aline's club ROCKS!! I judged for them a couple of years ago and they were extremely generous.

CWC is more generous than most. They run a lot of agility trials, which are big money makers. Plus, we have a Prez who understands that we are a 'non-profit.' Also, they have a very hard time finding judges for their Fall hunt test because it runs the same time as everyone's nationals (gsp, gwp, IS). The judging pool all but dries up. Their generosity is an extra insentive.

Someone told me once that the judge's gift should be of equal or greater value, than the most expensive stake of the event. And that 'a happy judge, makes for a successful event' (that and good food). I attended a big trial in NJ a few years ago. Hour long, $125 stakes that took 2-3 days to judge in a freezing rain. The judge's received $10 camp chairs. They will not judge for that club again.

Another thing CWC does, and it is not expensive, but if someone is judging one day and running dogs another day, the club will offer to pay for an extra night in a hotel.

Aline
http://sitekreator.com/zzfarms

[daddyfid]

Do most clubs ALSO give the judges money for horse expenses? Our club normally gives a gift and $50.00 for horse expenses to judges.

This is a great post! We alway's want to take care of the judges so it is great to know what judges like and what other clubs are doing.

[zzweims]

Do most clubs ALSO give the judges money for horse expenses? .

YES! And for gas (at least one way). If your judge is staying in a hotel, the club should pay for that as well. At least for the night before he/she judges.

I charge $50-$65 a day for my horses and that is cheap. Most folks I know charge more (I'm thinking of raising my price). I used to rent my horses to clubs so that others could ride them, but no more. Not unless I know the person in the saddle. Most people are too hard on a horse's mouth and/or back. One or two braces won't kill them, but 2-3 days with a bad rider in the saddle really puts your horse at risk. Our Rrrudy was out for two months last year, because the person/people riding him sat back too far and injured his back. His mouth was bloody and raw. The vet bill and lost time were all ours.

When I chair an event, judges are usually my biggest expense. Especially if I use out of state judges. But we don't use wranglers down here (I understand they are expensive)

Aline
http://sitekreator.com/zzfarms

[phermes1]

It's not like that everywhere. Horses are a question and a concern for most clubs. From the trials I've been to and the folks in different areas I've talked to, I know of just as many instances where a judge was not paid for horse rental as instances where they were. Some judges don't charge anything. Some do. I find most to be pretty reasonable; most have run trials in the past and understand how difficult they can be to pull off.

In either event, approach it like this - have an understanding with your judges before the event. Know what they expect for reimbursement, let them know what you typically reimburse for, etc. Do not wait until Sunday to find out. If the expense is too great, you have the option to find someone else. If they require more than what you can offer, they can say no. Waiting until after the event to tell them that you're not paying for something is a really good way to make them not want to come back.

[original mngsp]

I spent 10 hours one day when it was 85 degrees, sunny, with a hot wind in the saddle.

Guess what I got? I $5 pocket knife that came from a surplus store and the pleasure of having to purchase my second lunch sandwich from the club because only the first one is free for the judges.

Think I have judged for that bunch since? Nope

[dan v]

You dang right the clubs need to reimburse the judges for their horses. Otherwise...ya'll find wrangler....and pay them. See? Somebody is gonna get paid. I much rather ride my horse than a wranglers, but I'd rather not haul them around, brush them, feed/water them either. Done judging for the day....hand the horse over the wrangler and go have an adult beverage...easy.