07/08/2025
Another exciting year at Owingsville as we congratulate one of our judges for being selected to judge this year’s Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration! Congratulations Mr. Campbell!
Judges Announced for 87th Celebration
SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration has selected Chris Bobo, Ross Campbell, Robert Cortner, Brent Grider and David Sisk to judge the 87th Annual Celebration, to be held Aug. 20–30, 2025.
The event will span five day sessions and 11 nightly sessions. Day sessions will be held in Cooper Steel Arena, while all night sessions will take place in the historic Celebration Arena.
“We are pleased to have such an experienced panel that has judged all across the Walking Horse industry over their careers,” said Celebration Chief Executive Officer Warren Wells. “To be able to combine such experience with a judge that will be making his Celebration debut continues The Celebration’s focus on having the best judges in the industry while also committing to bringing in new judges to expand the overall judging pool.”
This year’s judging panel was selected from a group of 27 SHOW HIO-licensed judges who submitted their names for consideration. All judges selected are required to hold at least a AAA license with the certified Horse Industry Organization.
David Sisk of Columbia, Tennessee, will make his sixth appearance, while Chris Bobo of Shelbyville, Tennessee, will judge for the fifth time. Brent Grider of Columbia, Kentucky, and Ross Campbell of Cullman, Alabama, will each make their third appearance. Robert Cortner of Wi******er, Tennessee, will make his Celebration debut.
Sisk previously judged The Celebration in 2014, 2015, 2018, 2021 and 2023. He judged Walking in the Smokies earlier this year and has worked at major venues including the National Trainers’ Show (twice), Fun Show, Celebration Fall Classic, North Carolina Championships, Mississippi Charity, Alabama Jubilee and the Marshall County Horsemen’s Association.
Bobo has judged more than 50 shows since 2005, including The Celebration in 2012, 2016, 2017 and 2021. He has judged the Fun Show four times and major events such as the International, Gulf Coast Charity, Mississippi Charity, Alabama Jubilee and Columbia Spring Jubilee. He judged the Christmas in July show earlier this year.
Campbell, returning for the first time since 2020, previously judged The Celebration in 2018 and 2020. In 2025, he judged The Money Tree Classic, FAST Spring Showcase and West Tennessee Strawberry Festival. He has also judged at the Columbia Spring Jubilee, Pulaski, Marshall County Horsemen’s Association and Woodbury Lions Club, totaling more than 30 shows since 2009.
Grider judged The Celebration in 2012 and 2021 and the Fun Show twice, most recently this year. He has judged over 50 venues since 2004, including the National Trainers’ Show and Columbia Spring Jubilee five times each. His experience spans the North Carolina Championships, Gulf Coast Charity, Kentucky Celebration, Alabama Jubilee and numerous Fourth of July weekend shows.
Cortner, the only first-time Celebration judge, has previously worked three Celebration-managed events. He judged the Fun Show in 2021 and 2025, and the Celebration Fall Classic in 2022. His résumé also includes the Columbia Spring Jubilee, National Trainers’ Show, FAST Spring Showcase, Money Tree and Alabama Jubilee.
For more information on the 87th Annual Celebration, visit www.TWHNC.com
