In the course of this interminable explanation of how dog shows work, I've made some references to ring stewards. This part explains the purpose of these unheralded, but important workers at a show.
A ring steward is a sort of judge's assistant, helping keep the proceedings moving efficiently and taking a big load off the judge's shoulders. A good steward can make a judge's assignment go more quickly while a bad one only adds to his headaches. A judge with a full assignment of 175 dogs has a long day even if he judges at the recommended rate of 25 dogs an hour. Calling each class in would add a lot to the day. Exhibitors need their armbands given to them as well. I can assure you that not 1 in 10 of them knows enough about their entry to come up and request their armbands by referring only to the armband number. That's where stewards come in. They do the tasks that it would be burdensome for a judge to assume.
Stewards are frequently volunteers from the show-giving club, frequently doing the job for nothing except lunch. There are a number of professional stewards clubs who can be contacted to supply stewards for very large shows or for clubs with few members unable to staff the rings. When we lived in Texas, my lovely bride and I were members of the Mission City Stewards Club of San Antonio and we're currently members of the North Coast Stewards Club of Ohio.
Stewards have to be in good standing with the AKC and familiar with ring procedures. If they are also showing that day, they cannot work with the judge or judges of the breeds they're showing, nor with the judges of those variety groups, nor with the Best in Show judge. There is usually one steward per ring, though more lavish clubs can afford to have two stewards per ring, one who sits outside the ring to hand out armbands, the other inside to work with the judge.
When I'm a steward I have a lot of things to do during the day. I have to make sure I help the judge run the ring the way he wants: calling the class in in catalog order or not, as the judge wants; indicating where they should line up when they come in; laying out the proper ribbons and trophy cards by the judge's book; asking the winning exhibitors to show the judge their armband numbers so he can record them; making sure that he has whatever refreshment he wants during the day.
Judges sometimes make mistakes as well. A dog may be marked as absent when he isn't or the judge may write the wrong number for a placement in his book. The most common mistake is forgetting to hand out Reserve Winners. I'm a kind of check on that. I might be wrong, but at least a mistake isn't allowed to stand. William Bergum came to judge the ring I was stewarding. He dropped his book on the table and told me I had two important jobs: getting the classes into the ring and making sure his book was marked correctly.
I'm the person who also communicates with the show announcer when we need a photographer at a break in the proceedings or when ring cleanup is needed or if the show superintendent has to be called. At the breaks I'll go around the ring and pick up small pieces of debris - hair balls, pieces of bait, paper - that may distract a dog as it makes its way around the ring.
I also work with the exhibitors, principally by handing out their armbands, but in other ways as well. I call the classes into the ring in a loud voice. Not for nothing am I known as "The Human Public Address System." Exhibitors frequently are yakking at ringside instead of paying attention to what's going on, so they have to know when they should come in.
Exhibitors frequently want information about the what's going on as well. I answer questions like what class is in the ring at the moment, how many dogs or bitches have picked up their armbands, whether the major held, or whether the judge working fast or slow. The proper answer to the last question is not, for example, "He's fast today," which is an opinion, but "He's ahead of schedule," which is a fact.
If someone shows up late while their class is being judged or if they want to change handlers, I go up to the judge between examinations and say "Late arrival?" or "Change of handler?" As his response is usually affirmative, I then indicate to the interested party outside the ring that it's all right to come in the ring.
It's not a very strenuous job, but it's one that requires attention to detail, a pleasant demeanor and a helpful attitude. Exhibitors are frequently in a hurry or flustered. I try to help as far as my job allows. If they have to change dogs between classes and are having trouble putting on their armband I'll step out to help them get it on. Questions from exhibitors and spectators are answered as completely as I can. In short, I try to make the show a bit better for everyone.
No one ever got rich by being a ring steward, but it's a pleasant and productive way to spend the day. I'm assured of having a chair - hard to come by at a show - and I get to say "Bitch" as loudly as I want to.