I've noticed the quilts badly placed here sometimes too.
Three years ago the quilt display at State Fair were at eye level in a small pavillion inside a large covered arena.
The next year, the quilts were all hung at LEAST 15 feet over the floor in a foyer gallery of the dining hall. I was stunned not to be able to see the stitching, and got a crick in my neck craning to see them at all.
One reason the judges for the show you mention may be kept a secret, is because maybe that will keep down some shady persuasions by some quilters. Is it possible something like this is going on?
Or maybe it's the other way around, if they always pick the same winners then they don't want to catch flak!
Just guessing.
Maybe the one always-winning quilter is the only good one in the area???
How likely is that I wonder, hmmmm.