OK - You Won't Believe This - Update

[SQUEELQuilter]

This is not a swap or anything, and it's probably the wrong place to post, but it's the forum where I usually interact & know folks.
Ok here's the story -

Our county fair just finished & sad to say, my quilts & the quilts of my friends did really poorly. We were thinking the judge was just really strict this year. HOWEVER, when I got home - I noticed that my entry tags all looked as if they had been tampered with (ie. torn edges, markings scribbled out, etc.). After some preliminary investigation - I got a tip that the ladies that help accept the entries CHANGED THE RESULTS!!! I then called one of the ladies to ask her about it & she openly admitted to changing the results of our quilts (after the designated judge finished & left), because she thought they "weren't up to her standards".
WOW! needless to say, I was (and still am) completely astonished that #1 someone would do such a thing and #2 would feel justified in doing it because she disagreed with the judging.
The fair board & folks responsible for the quilt entries have been notified and we are awaiting more info about what is going to happen. As near as we can tell she cheated the 3 of us out of hundreds of dollars in prize/premium money. I don't know if this was a personal attack against the 3 of us or if it was widespread. Sad, sad, sad, that someone would do such a thing. We live in a small community & sadly to say, this type of thing is exactly why we don't belong to the local guild.
That's why I love this forum. Everyone that I've met here is supportive, and I've had positive experiences with all I've interacted with.
Anyway - I just needed to vent a little about the situation.
Thanks for listening all!

UPDATE- Well so far there are 6 entrants that we have found whose entries were tampered with after judging. We've been put on the agenda for the next fair board meeting and from what I hear they are also very angry & disappointed in what happened. I've not heard any more from the two "tamperers" and don't expect to. The news I hear from town is that they still basically feel that they were right in doing what they did. I did talk to the editor of the local paper who was as astonished as the rest of us and is planning a story. I gave her all the facts as I knew them, but also suggested she talk to everyone involved. We'll see what happens next. As far as the money, I'm pretty sure we'll never see it, but I think the issue is more about honesty & integrity. I'll post more when I know more.
Thanks to everyone for all their support!

[MAWmum]

That is awful! I can't believe that she would do something like that. WOW I hope that things get straightened out.

[sadiedaisy1]

Wow, if you can trust the fair, who can you trust?? I'm probably naive and I've never entered anything into a fair, but who knew these kinds of things could happen behind the scenes. Very sad. I hope they correct it and you end up winning!

[Checkers]

Unbelievable! And with prize money involved - she should be in some big trouble.

[cindyg]

That's just not right. I hope she can be prosecuted. At the very least I would write an editorial for the local paper and name names. I hope this gets rectified and she is not allowed anywhere near the quilts/judging anymore. And I hope you 3 get the prize money you deserve. How arrogant of her to change the judge's results because the quilts weren't up to her standard. Boy, that makes me mad for you. You can vent here anytime.

[gardenquilter]

i am in shock

[momof6quilts]

Wow I can't believe they would do that. I wonder if there is somethig that can be done about it?


Vicky

[bethstreet]

The really strange thing is that she openly admitted it to you!! What an arrogant woman... she needs to be brought up on charges but not by you by the fair board because ultimately they need to put out the money you should have earned... Don't look for this to go away very quickly and stay on it, keep asking the fair about it!! If you know a lawyer I would seek some advice if possible.
You better believe we are behind you 100%, don't hesitate to vent at all..
Beth

[teacupdelights]

Are the judges aware of what was done? I think they should know.

And whoever selects the committee needs to know, too.

What a rotten thing to do.

Carol

[luv_2quilt60]

Thats Just awful..........Yes, I would have heads rolling.............Beverly