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A closer look at the 26 professionals selected to evaluate one of the Quarter Horse industry’s most important stages
When the All American Quarter Horse Congress announces its judges, exhibitors pay attention. The names on the panel help shape nearly a month of competition in Columbus, Ohio, where some of the industry’s most accomplished horses and exhibitors step into the arena. For 2026, the Congress has assembled a 26-member panel whose credentials span AQHA, NSBA, NRHA, NCHA, NRCHA and WCHA competition.
The roster brings together long-tenured judges, newer cardholders and professionals whose judging credentials cross multiple disciplines. Some arrive with more than three decades of AQHA judging experience, while others bring specialized reining, cutting, cow horse or conformation credentials to the panel.
The 2026 Panel by the Numbers
| 26 | judges named to the 2026 panel |
| 25 | judges listed with an AQHA card |
| 21 | judges listed with an NSBA card |
| 9 | judges listed with an NRHA card |
| 5 | judges listed with a WCHA card |
| 4 | judges listed with an NRCHA card |
| 2 | judges listed with an NCHA card |
| 570+ | combined completed years of AQHA judging experience among the 23 judges whose licensing years were published |
| 14 | states represented |
A Panel Built Across Organizations
The breadth of the roster is one of its defining features. AQHA and NSBA credentials dominate the panel, reflecting the Congress’s extensive all-around, Western Pleasure and Hunter Under Saddle schedule. At the same time, judges carded with NRHA, NCHA, NRCHA and WCHA bring additional depth for reining, cutting, working cow horse and conformation-focused competition.
Two judges, Allen Mitchels and Nancie Wright, are listed with five association credentials. Pam Scott carries four, while Clint Fullerton carries four as well. Their multi-association backgrounds underscore the range of expertise represented across the full Congress schedule.
Quick Reference: 2026 Congress Judges
| Judge | Home Location | Cards Listed | AQHA Judge Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allen Mitchels | Michigan City, Indiana | AQHA, NSBA, NRHA, NCHA, NRCHA | 1992 |
| Ann Salmon Anderman | Pilot Point, Texas | AQHA, NRHA | 1992 |
| Brad Jewett | San Antonio, Texas | AQHA, NSBA | 2010 |
| Christa Baldwin | Stanton, Michigan | AQHA, NSBA | 1998 |
| Clay Macleod | Rancho Santa Fe, California | AQHA, NSBA | 1984 |
| Clint Fullerton | Bonner Springs, Kansas | AQHA, NSBA, NRHA, WCHA | 2010 |
| Dolly Chayer | Beggs, Oklahoma | AQHA, NSBA, NRCHA | 2008 |
| Edward Bricker | Evans City, Pennsylvania | AQHA, NRHA | 2006 |
| Eric Petersen | Mabel, Minnesota | AQHA, NSBA | 2014 |
| Holly Hover | Cave Creek, Arizona | AQHA, NSBA | 1988 |
| Jan Hoskin-Hay | Reddick, Florida | AQHA, NSBA, NRHA | 2007 |
| Jerry Erickson | Whitesboro, Texas | AQHA, NSBA | 2010 |
| John Dean | Whitesboro, Texas | AQHA, NSBA | 1989 |
| Karen Graham | Cave Creek, Arizona | AQHA, NSBA | 1996 |
| Kelly Boles Chapman | Bellevue, Michigan | AQHA, NSBA, WCHA | 2001 |
| Kelly Hedges | Perrysburg, New York | AQHA, NRHA | 2025 |
| Margaret Fuchs | Canfield, Ohio | AQHA, NRHA | 2017 |
| Mark Turner | Evansville, Indiana | NRHA | 2006 |
| Michael Weaver | Newcastle, California | AQHA, NSBA | 2006 |
| Nancy Alto-Renfro | Finley, California | AQHA, NSBA | 2012 |
| Nancie Wright | Penrose, Colorado | AQHA, NSBA, NRHA, WCHA, NRCHA | 2013 |
| Pam Scott | Melrose, Florida | AQHA, NSBA, NCHA, NRCHA | 2003 |
| Rebecca Halvorson | Guthrie, Oklahoma | AQHA, NSBA, WCHA | 1993 |
| Rick Christy | Reddick, Florida | AQHA, NSBA, WCHA | 2000 |
| Sissy Anderson | Leitchfield, Kentucky | AQHA, NSBA | 2011 |
| Tonya Brown | Escondido, California | AQHA, NSBA | 2011 |
Meet the Judges
Allen Mitchels
Location:
Michigan City, Indiana
Judge Cards Held:
AQHA, NSBA, NRHA, NCHA, NRCHA
AQHA Judge Since:
1992
Ann Salmon Anderman
Location:
Pilot Point, Texas
Judge Cards Held:
AQHA, NRHA
AQHA Judge Since:
1992
Brad Jewett
Location:
San Antonio, Texas
Judge Cards Held:
AQHA, NSBA
AQHA Judge Since:
2010
Christa Baldwin
Location:
Stanton, Michigan
Judge Cards Held:
AQHA, NSBA
AQHA Judge Since:
1998
Clay MacLeod
Location:
Rancho Santa Fe, California
Judge Cards Held:
AQHA, NSBA
AQHA Judge Since:
1984
Clint Fullerton
Location:
Bonner Springs, Kansas
Judge Cards Held:
AQHA, NSBA, NRHA, WCHA
AQHA Judge Since:
2010
Dolly Chayer
Location:
Beggs, Oklahoma
Judge Cards Held:
AQHA, NSBA, NRCHA
AQHA Judge Since:
2008
Edward Bricker
Location:
Evans City, Pennsylvania
Judge Cards Held:
AQHA, NRHA
AQHA Judge Since:
2006
Eric Petersen
Location:
Mabel, Minnesota
Judge Cards Held:
AQHA, NSBA
AQHA Judge Since:
2014
Holly Hover
Location:
Cave Creek, Arizona
Judge Cards Held:
AQHA, NSBA
AQHA Judge Since:
1988
Jan Hoskin-Hay
Location:
Reddick, Florida
Judge Cards Held:
AQHA, NSBA, NRHA
AQHA Judge Since:
2007
Jerry Erickson
Location:
Whitesboro, Texas
Judge Cards Held:
AQHA, NSBA
AQHA Judge Since:
2010
John Dean
Location:
Whitesboro, Texas
Judge Cards Held:
AQHA, NSBA
AQHA Judge Since:
1989
Karen Graham
Location:
Cave Creek, Arizona
Judge Cards Held:
AQHA, NSBA
AQHA Judge Since:
1996
Kelly Boles Chapman
Location:
Bellevue, Michigan
Judge Cards Held:
AQHA, NSBA, WCHA
AQHA Judge Since:
2001
Kelly Hedges
Location:
Perrysburg, New York
Judge Cards Held:
AQHA, NRHA
AQHA Judge Since:
2025
Margaret Fuchs
Location:
Canfield, Ohio
Judge Cards Held:
AQHA, NRHA
AQHA Judge Since:
2017
Mark Turner
Location:
Evansville, Indiana
Judge Cards Held:
NRHA
AQHA Judge Since:
2017
Michael Weaver
Location:
Newcastle, California
Judge Cards Held:
AQHA, NSBA
AQHA Judge Since:
2006
Nancy Alto-Renfro
Location:
Finley, California
Judge Cards Held:
AQHA, NSBA
AQHA Judge Since:
2012
Nancie Wright
Location:
Penrose, Colorado
Judge Cards Held:
AQHA, NSBA, NRHA, WCHA, NRCHA
AQHA Judge Since:
2013
Pam Scott
Location:
Melrose, Florida
Judge Cards Held:
AQHA, NSBA, NCHA, NRCHA
AQHA Judge Since:
2003
Rebecca Halvorson
Location:
Guthrie, Oklahoma
Judge Cards Held:
AQHA, NSBA, WCHA
AQHA Judge Since:
1993
Rick Christy
Location:
Reddick, Florida
Judge Cards Held:
AQHA, NSBA, WCHA
AQHA Judge Since:
2000
Sissy Anderson
Location:
Leitchfield, Kentucky
Judge Cards Held:
AQHA, NSBA
AQHA Judge Since:
2011
Tonya Brown
Location:
Escondido, California
Judge Cards Held:
AQHA, NSBA
AQHA Judge Since:
2011
Experience at Both Ends of the Roster
The published licensing dates show a panel that balances institutional memory with newer perspectives. Clay MacLeod, first carded by AQHA in 1984, is the longest-tenured AQHA judge listed. Holly Hover follows from 1988, John Dean from 1989, Allen Mitchels from 1992, and Rebecca Halvorson from 1993.
At the other end of the range, Kelly Hedges is listed as an AQHA judge since 2025. That spread of experience gives the panel both deep familiarity with the evolution of Quarter Horse competition and the perspective of judges who have entered the system more recently.
What the Roster Means for Exhibitors
No judging panel can remove the anticipation that comes with walking into a Congress arena. That uncertainty is part of the challenge. What the 2026 roster does offer is a broad cross-section of credentials, regions and judging tenures.
For exhibitors, the best preparation remains the same: present a horse that is correct for the class, execute the pattern or performance cleanly, and make the judge’s job as straightforward as possible. The names may change from arena to arena, but correctness, consistency and quality remain the common language.
As Congress approaches, StallionCompare will continue following the stories, horses and people that make the show one of the most anticipated events on the Quarter Horse calendar.