Correct. There must be a fresh cut to the bud scar, so that it looks green. And it needs to be a clean, not jagged, cut. (If you don't bring a hand pruner, then you can maybe make do with a dog nail trimmer. Try it out beforehand, though.)
I forgot to mention that you shouldn't cut the scape short, either... I don't remember the details, but if it is a tall scape normally, then it should be a tall scape in the display. I very vaguely remember somebody doing something that I thought was shocking (but it was perfectly legal) which may have had to do with using folded paper or cotton balls or something to help secure or fix the scape inside the bottle or whatever the exhibit goes in. (You need to put that cotton or paper or whatever support down into the bottle or whatever so it is out of sight... hopefully someone else will chime in here about that. I've only seen it done once and that was a great many years ago (I have not exhibited in all those years, obviously).)
As you can see, you may as well assemble yourself a small toolkit for all of these grooming gadgets. If you are going to exhibit a lot of entries, then also bring your return-address mail stickers with you - it makes it quicker and easier to fill out each exhibit tag (which has to have your name on it). So bring a pen too...
