Well,you have one of our favorite comps near you in Tryon,NC.
The judges do go to school ,to sample and discuss the parameters they should judge each of four categories on, in appearance,tenderness,and taste.
Many major contests,you send a resume of your many contests,and types of contests,Master Judge,and Certified Table Captain,and cook team membership.
Some folks try for years to get selected to judge a particular contest.
As always,taste can be fairly subjective,but the worst of your six scores are thrown out.
In THEORY,with many well traveled judges,you "could be judged,similarly,whether in Kansas City,Mo, or Tryon,NC.
Certainly not perfect,but over the year,the cream does seem to rise to the top.