Michelle Gravenish is an AKJA Certified judge who has been keeping koi since the early 2000’s. Michelle joined the judging program in 2015. She has also participated in ZNA judging seminars in the US and Japan as well as ZNA enlightenment seminars/weekends to add to her knowledge base.
Michelle has judged koi shows across the United States and throughout the year attempts to attend at least one koi show a month.
Living in Bloomington, Minnesota, she has adapted to the cold winters with a state of the art winter system in her heated 4 car garage that includes a 4500 gallon tank for her larger koi and a 1200 gallon tank for her smaller koi – both with full spectrum lighting, sieves, bead filters and bakki showers. Her two outdoor ponds, an in-ground (3,000 gallon) and an above ground (4,500) have all the bells and whistles also: bead filters, bakki showers, bottom drains and profi-drum filter. Her Koi live in the garage from October through June and enjoy Minnesota sun for 4-5 months.
Michelle’s local club is the Upper Midwest Koi Club (UMKC) and has held positions as President, Vice President and Secretary and managed their website and Facebook page. Michelle has served as Show Chairperson for the UMKC Show over the last few years. Michelle believes in supporting local koi clubs and also holds memberships in ZNA Carolina and NMZNA.
Michelle joined Koi Health Advisor (KHA) program in 2016 to be able to help her fellow Koi hobbyist with Koi health issues.
She co-founded the Koi Keepers of North America Facebook group and serves as an admin.
In real life, Michelle is a Credit Risk Manager for Wells Fargo. In the Koi word, Michelle is a self-described gambler at heart, so her favorite koi variety is Showa. Michelle enjoys raising young showa and growing them out as it is one variety where “you might just get lucky”.
American Koi Judges Association (AKJA) 