I remember not long after I started quilting going to the largest quilt show we have here and hoping I would one day be good enough to enter a quilt.
The next day was our class at LQS. Another quilter was asked by the shop owner who had won. She replied, the usual and named a few names.
I have since met one lady and found her most pleasant and willing to share tips & info with us. Another quilter wins consistently but only seems to make quilts to win prizes. No matter how many machines we have we can only use one at a time - sometimes two if the embroidery is intense.
I don't consider it worth my time when the judging seems to be in favor of the same people all the time. I would much rather make charity quilts for children. The thought of brightening some little child's life is worth more than a new machine. I don't really have the room.