The October, 2023 Great Lakes Congress Show

The Great Lakes Congress shows are always well attended. There are six of them held each year, three in the spring and three in the fall, and I usually attend the March and the October shows. 

This year's October show was sold out plus there were four vendors set up in the vendor's part of the show hall. Nearly everyone was selling from their tables, too. So much shopping to be done!

The GLC showhall is large with a kitchen attached. Model Horse Warehouse was in attendance and set their merchandise up in there. (The kitchen area can be seen on the far left - the area behind the hobbyist in the white sweatshirt.)

To the right of the vendors' area was the GLC raffle (spanning two tables) and the area where Liz, Sam, and Jamie Rott run the show - typing up results, selling raffle tickets, pop, candy bars, and more. This year they also had new GLC tee shirts for sale. Of course, I came home with one of them!

Tiffany Purdy is a long time member of GLC and often judges at our shows. At this show, she judged OF Breyers. I love to show under Tiffany - she is knowledgable and she is consistent in her placings. 

Barn Buddy Kelsey (on right) judged Chinas, Resins, and Customs with Linda Shawhan (left) shadowing her. Kelsey told me later that it had been a very difficult job as there were some incredible models on the table. I agree with her - I do not know how she and Tiffany were able to winnow out those that placed - the competition was tough.

I brought 21 models (ten Breyers and 11 chinas) and came home with 13 ribbons, 3 NAN cards, and a reserve championship. In light of what was on the table, I felt very lucky to have done that well.

Sweet Amy took first place in the OF Breyers American Ponies class.

I did not anticipate her taking Reserve Champion of the Draft/Pony division!

Nancy's Love earned a NAN card in OF China Arabian Mares.

And Windsong Adelaide was third in OF China Longears.

Believe it or not, that's all the pictures I took. I was just too busy selling haversacks. When the GLC pictures taken by the club are posted, I will look though them -  I was in several group shots with friends and maybe I can post some of those here.

As for vending, I sold more than half of my haversack inventory and came home with two empty tubs. I am really happy about that. Having said that, I will need to do a lot of sewing to replenish my inventory. However, the holidays are coming and I make a lot of gifts for family and friends and would like to focus my time on that. 

But I am not worried - I will get it figured out and get the gifts done and those haversacks made.