By Lauren Hollon Sturdy
Buckner International

BEAUMONT – Each year, Buckner staff in Beaumont think they’ve “seen it all” in the world of gingerbread houses, but every December, competitors prove them wrong.

The annual Gingerbread Competition brings out the artist, eccentric, child or comedian in people, from peaceful, candy-covered winter scenes to a wacky and lifelike representation of a scene from the classic holiday movie Christmas Vacation.

Eighty-four participants entered 31 gingerbread houses in this community-wide competition sponsored by the Golden Triangle Chapter of the Texas Chefs Association and the Lamar University Hospitality Program.

Entries were judged on Dec. 5 based on their degree of difficulty, artistic achievement, work involved, originality and total appearance. Winning entries earned cash prizes, which were sponsored by the Golden Triangle Chapter of the Texas Chefs Association. Other sponsors included Market Basket, Harbor Hospice of Beaumont, Buckner Auxiliary and Mr. and Mrs. EG Cordts.

The gingerbread houses were sold in a live auction on Saturday, Dec. 10 at the McFaddin-Ward Visitor’s Center to raise money for Buckner Children and Family Services in Beaumont. The live auction raised $1,375 in addition to $2,000 donated by sponsors, for a total of $3,375.

This year’s winners were:

High School
1st Place – “Winter Wonderland”– Silsbee High School Culinary Class
2nd Place – “Hansel and Gretal Village” – Silsbee High Sschool Culinary Class
3rd Place – “Smiley Junction” – Silsbee High School Culinary Class

College
1st Place – “Cancun Christmas Vacation Home” - Daisy Rocha
2nd Place – “First Snow at the Ranch” – Tish Chase
3rd Place – “As for Me and My House” – Lois Marie Brumley

Non-Professional
1st Place – “The McFaddin Family’s Farm Barn” – Docent Class of 2009
2nd Place – “That There’s an RV, Clark – Griswold Christmas” – Jennifer Cabrera and Marilyn Smith
3rd Place – “Christmas Past” – Rebekah Stanley

Professional Bakers
1st Place – “A Hee Haw Christmas” – Serafina GiVello
2nd Place – “Dreams Come True” – Elena Herman with Barbara Bunn

Click the first photo below to see a slideshow of the Gingerbread Competition entries.