🩵🩷 BVG Live! 2026 🩷🩵

This past weekend, I returned to BVG Live, held in Jackson, Michigan. The show is sponsored by the Breyer Value Guide website, and is held annually in April. I've attended this show once before, in 2023, but I had conflicts in 2024 and 2025 that prevented me from coming back again until this year. It's a lovely show, with a nicely broken down class list that splits traditional and classic Breyers based on run type: Regular Run, Special Run, and BreyerFest Special Run, just like BreyerFest does. Additionally, none of the Breyer classes are double judged for collectability, that is split out into its own division. This makes the class sizes much more manageable for the judges!

I actually ended up with a rare organizational mistake this year - I totally forgot my collectability documentation! Luckily, because the classes were double judged and I was only showing two horses in the actual collectability section, I really only needed to jot down the type of run each horse was on their card, and only for the traditionals since all the minis showed together. If I had to forget my collectability doc, this was definitely the show to do it!

Part of the draw for attending BVG Live this year was that all of the judging spots were filled, and I wouldn't have to judge. This meant I could get more of my own models out on the table without worrying about my judging commitments. Another part of the draw was getting to see some of my Canadian model horse friends - one is very good at persuasion! I had also fully planned on making the trek to Michigan by myself, but then roughly two weeks before the show my friend Amanda (of Riker's Den) posted in a group chat that she was also looking for a show this spring where she wasn't judging. The conversation went a little something like:

Me: You should come to BVG with me

Amanda: When and where

Me: Two weeks, in Michigan

Amanda: Sold

We are very easily persuaded! So I swung by her house on my way Friday night, we loaded her ponies in my car, and off we went to Michigan! Our hotel was across the street from a Culvers, so we hustled to get there in time for dessert, since neither of us took additional time off work to make the trip.

The show went well! A couple of horses got their second NAN card (which qualifies them for NAN to me personally), and I even came home with a rosette for a reserve sectional. The classes were tough, and I got quite a few lower placings, so I'm happy with how the herd did. I was more excited to cheer on my friends, who had a few horses go overall reserve champion! After the show we headed to Olive Garden with our Canadian friends for dinner, which was such a fun time. I know I say it every time, but the sense of community around the model horse hobby is one of the things I value most about it.

Speaking of, I'd be remiss to not shout out a good hobby deed I found myself a part of. My wonderful friend Heather B. contacted me a few months ago asking if I'd be going to BVG this year. At this point, I was still on the fence. She was looking for someone to be part of a driving leg to transport a few large chinas from a seller to a buyer. The chinas were huge, and neither wanted them to ship lest they get damaged. Heather was part of the chain to get them there, and was looking for someone to get them to Michigan. A few weeks later, I told Heather I'd be going to BVG and could take the chinas with me. Heather picked them up from the seller, met me the Thursday before BVG for dinner and hobby talk to drop off the chinas, and I loaded them in my car the next day. I passed them off to friends at BVG who were the next leg, and they dropped them off with the buyer the next day. It was really fulfilling to see how this hobby rallies to help each other.

Overall, I had a wonderful time at BVG Live. I'd definitely like to go back again, but we'll see how the schedule works out next year!

The Champions and NAN Qualifiers: