Our fair let's us bring cross birds, because it is more of a backyard bird show, however, this person asked what breed she was, and he replied that he knew for sure that that was what she was. Sizzles can be judged, because they are judged to the Silkie standard except for the feathers.
Everything depends on the lens one is looking through. Via the SOP, pg. 29, "Awarding Prizes at Poultry Shows," #1: "Only such varieties as are recognized and described in the Standard of Perfection are eligible to compete in sweepstakes. This includes all varieties of chickens, turkeys, and waterfowl."
So, the first question is whether or not a show is APA/ABA sanctioned or not. A show that isn't APA/ABA sanctioned can do whatever it wants, but that removes the event from the purview of the APA/ABA. Thus, when one says, "our fair let's us bring cross birds.." one is saying that that particular fair is extra-APA/ABA, and thus the rules of the game do not apply. "Sizzles" are not judged within an APA/ABA context; within an APA/ABA context, they are considered culls.
Now, I'm not saying your fair can't do what it wants; indeed, by all means, have at it. However, an APA/ABA judge is only a judge within the context of the APA/ABA rules, and her/his judgments derive their validity via their proximity to the SOP.
At no point, is a judge responsible to know anything about anything outside of what is required by and described inside of the SOP. Some of the very top judges in America have only a rudimentary understanding of genetics. Understanding genetics and judging by the SOP are not the same thing, nor are they interdependent.
Thus, whoever this judge was, he/she has zero responsibility to this bird within the context of the APA/ABA than to mark it as a DQ, which also goes for sizzles. That's just simple reality. They are DQs. Now, most judges know not to expect the same level of quality and knowledge when judging a non-APA/ABA sanctioned event, because the rules do not apply in the mentality of the exhibitors. However, once that is the case, he or she is just making it up as he goes. Outside of the SOP, there is no basis for judgment outside of opinion, and that opinion might be based on myriad things. It's the perfect environment for someone to become offended because there are no parameters in the first place.
For this reason, there are judges who simply won't judge a non-sanctioned event. One is faced with random "rules" which lack any backing, random point systems not supported by the SOP, birds of pessimal quality that one has to figure out how to say something nice about or there are broken hearts and disappointment to clean up, and then, when it's all said and done, someone with vast knowledge is going to go online and proclaim how underqualified or disappointing they are as a judge because of their failure to recognize the exact nature of a mutt-prodigy of two hatchery birds.
Again, let every fair do as it will and have the fun it wants, but should avoid trash talking a judge for not being hip to one's personal requirements.
