Fear. Those of us who have been exhibiting for a long time have experienced this in our early years exhibiting. At higher level competitions, we feel it still.

What is fear? In this case, fear is the unknown. Do I know what I'm doing? Are my roses good enough? Oh no! So and so is here. I might as well forget it. Sound familiar? As a new or novice exhibitor, you walk into the show prep area with your roses. Looking around you see other exhibitors getting their roses ready. Do you feel a rush of excitement or do you feel an uneasy feeling of being unsure, fear?

So what do you do about it? Well, experience is the ultimate teacher. What we do to achieve that depends on the amount of work we are willing to put into it.

First, you need to grow good roses. To some it comes easily, others struggle. It's a good idea to get a mentor; joining a local rose society is the first step to finding one. It won't take long to find out who the good rose growers are. Ask questions of these people. I can guarantee most are very willing to share their knowledge and help you become a better grower. But, being a good rose grower doesn't necessarily mean that they are good exhibitors or even like exhibiting. By being a member, you will discover who the exhibitors are in your society. It is these people who will help you fine tune your skills and learn the art of exhibiting. An experienced exhibitor is very knowledgeable as to the ins and outs and the dos and don'ts of preparing and showing your roses. Take time and learn from them. Many long time successful exhibitors still rely on someone more experienced to help or give advice.

You need to show your roses as often as you can. In showing, you will want to look for what good roses look like and what the judges look for in the qualities of a good rose. You need to observe other exhibitors, especially those you feel have superior talent. You can ask a few questions, but not too many as they are trying to enter their own roses and may have their "game face" on. It's important that when you are observing other exhibitors, you don't mentally compare their roses to yours. Invariably, it leads to a self-defeating attitude. Besides, you never know how a judge is going to choose.

It is important to practice at home. Grooming is a sure way to tell an experienced exhibitor from a novice.

Clerking at a show is also a good way to learn. Being with judges as they discuss the qualities of a particular specimen lets you into their thought process. It lets you see what's good, and why. When the show opens, see if you won anything. If so, be happy but humble. If not, take defeat graciously. You never know... the person you just beat might be standing right beside you. Avoid an awkward situation.

Observe the awards table. What varieties won? Do you grow any of those? You need to grow varieties which do well in your area. It does make a difference. What is a good exhibition rose in the Pacific Southwest District might not do well in the Deep South, or any other district. They don't all grow the same everywhere. A successful exhibitor grows multiples of varieties that are consistent winners.

Get to know your roses. All of them are different and not just in their appearance. When looking at two of the same variety can you tell which is best? Does it have a good center? Is the foliage healthy and clean with no damage? Nice straight stem? All these are important things that can be learned whether at home or at a show.

The by-product of all this is gaining the experience you need to be a good exhibitor. Once you feel confident in yourself and your abilities, then that fear we mentioned earlier will begin to fade away. You will begin to look forward to showing your roses and you will know that you have what it takes to be a WINNER.