BreyerMidwest Open Show Judging Staff!

We are so excited to be bringing the BreyerMidwest Open Model Horse Show back to EquiFest of Kansas!  In our new space at the Maner Conference Center at the Hotel Topeka, we are going to be able to increase the capacity of the show significantly – we are excited to be able to offer 15 full table spots for 2026 and an incredible 86 half tables!  Registrations for ALL BreyerMidwest activities will be open today, October 21, at around 2 pm Eastern time (1 pm Kansas time), so get ready!

Our team of fantastic judges and stewards is looking forward to welcoming you!  This year’s roster includes:

Stephanie Blaylock, Original Finish Regular Run Judge

Steph is a lifelong horse lover and has been a model horse artist for over 25 years! Some of her accolades include designing the horse color for the Breyer Premier Club “Vermeer”, being a finalist and winner in the BreyerFest Best Customs Contest, hosting and judging shows, mentoring youth, and teaching various painting workshops and classes. When she’s not involved in the model horse world, she teaches riding at Girl Scout-owned Circle C Equestrian Center in central NC. She also competes in dressage with her Arabian gelding.

Kerri Gehrmann Johnson, Original Finish Special Run Judge

Kerri has been a model horse hobbyist since 1979, collecting, showing, and painting model horses. She is a past President of NAMHSA and the founder of Great Lakes Congress, Inc., the country’s only 501c3 non-profit organization focused on education about the model horse hobby. Kerri has managed and judged numerous live shows throughout the country, including GLC Live and Stone Horses Country Fair, in addition to judging at North American Nationals multiple times. Her most recent endeavor is Model Horse University, seeking to grow, inspire, and connect hobbyists around the world.

Eleanor Harvey, Collectibility Judge

Eleanor began collecting model horses after years of pleas for a real pony fell on deaf ears. She began showing and judging model horses in the 1980s, focusing on English performance and collectibility. She has attended most BreyerFests since 1993, and judged the Children and Youth shows for many years before becoming co-manager of the shows with her good friend, Kim Bjorgo. When she's not playing with her model horses Eleanor is an art museum curator in Washington, DC, where she organizes exhibitions and writes books about American art.

Jamie Rott, Limited Run Judge

Jamie has been collecting Breyer horses for as long as she can remember, a passion she shares with her family, especially her mom, Yvonne, and daughter, Emily.  Over the years, she has immersed herself in every aspect of the hobby—collecting, showing, and judging.  Jamie has served as the President of Great Lakes Congress (GLC), a model horse organization that hosts six to eight live shows annually, since 2007.  Beyond her love for model horses, Jamie is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Illinois and holds the distinction of being Rockford's first female Water Superintendent in the city’s 100+ year history. 

Heather Jackson-Lain, Original Finish Mini Judge

Heather is an avid model horse collector and enthusiast form Eastern Tennessee. She has been active in many areas of the model horse hobby from showing and collecting to hosting her own live shows. She has been collecting model horses for about 30(ish) years and loves sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm for the hobby with new people - hopefully the next generation of model horse lovers!

Kerry Walsh, Custom Breed Judge

Kerry Walsh is an avid collector and shower from Minnesota. She received her first Breyer when she was four years old and has been collecting ever since.  She found the larger hobby in 1992 through Just About Horses. She collects collected and shown OF, CM, Resin, China and Performance.  She also paints model horses on the side and while she prefers working with pastels she wants to try oil paints.  Outside of the hobby, she does Taekwondo with her two daughters.  She also spends a lot of time shuffling the girls to Cheer and Archery.  When she has down time, she likes to curl up on the couch with her huskies and a good book.

Lesli Kathman, Custom Workmanship Judge

Lesli works as an artist producing custom-glazed ceramics through her company Blackberry Lane. Her real passion, however, is horse color. Her research in this field grew out of a desire to create more detailed, realistic model horses. For the last thirty years, she has written books and taught seminars designed to help others better understand colors and patterns. 

Tiffany Purdy, Performance Judge

Jackie hails from New Jersey where she has been an active hobbyist for over 40 years. She loves performance showing, particularly English disciplines, and judging and is looking forward to seeing your entries!  She cohosts the Mares in Black podcast and the BreyerFest Resin Renaissance show, as well. She has previously co-chaired the North American Nationals as well as other shows. When not model horsing, she can be found fixing broken pets, chasing accordion players with her husband, or prancing about in her elf suit.

Angelo Zunic, Open Show Steward

Angelo is a part-time Colorado artist who specializes in manes, tails, trace clips and everything HAIR. They enjoy customizing OF models and resins alike! Angelo has carved out a niche in the hobby assisting live shows, stewarding, holding workshops and helping artists!   Angelo will be there during the open show on Friday to answer your questions and help horses end up in their correct classes! Feel free to say hi!