Maybe the reputation of the sim helps too? I'm having the opposite problem. My Global superstar sim is best friends with the judge, but actually has a really bad reputation. I get too many first prize wins with oversized crops as long as it's perfect quality. I'm trying to get the other ribbons for the collection. I don't think this is really a bug, it's more of a tuning issue. It seems to be random and not always the best one wins. That's why there's an option to bribe the judge.
Maybe I'm alone in this, but I want to win without bribing the judge! Plus the one time I tried she didn't go for it haha
