Bandera General Store continues scrumptious holiday tradition
A Bandera Christmas created by Laurie Neff won first prize in the gingerbread house contest. BULLETIN PHOTO/ Tracy Thayer
Judges from the Bandera Cowgirls examine the details of A Bandera Christmas. BULLETIN PHOTO/ Tracy Thayer
The Cammack family received second place for their Wizard of Oz scene. BULLETIN PHOTO/ Tracy Thayer
Always happy to help, Bandera Cowgirls (left to right) Karen Baker, Kirsten Hansen and Karen Osman pose with some of the winning entries. BULLETIN PHOTO/ Tracy Thayer
A Bandera Christmas created by Laurie Neff won first prize in the gingerbread house contest. BULLETIN PHOTO/ Tracy Thayer
Maximus Sanchez created a traditional scene with Rudolph and Santa. BULLETIN PHOTO/ Tracy Thayer
The Bandera General Store sponsored its annual gingerbread house contest on a chilly Sunday, Dec. 18, a great example of the old fashioned Christmas festivities in Bandera.
Owners Marcia Kabat and Glen McComb displayed the entries on the old wooden soda counter for shoppers to view.
The entries were colorful creations of holiday vignettes ranging from traditionally- themed entries to historical buildings.
Each entry was required to be completely edible and could not be over 18 inches square.
Judges from the Bandera Cowgirls, Karen Baker, Karen Osman and Kirsten Hansen, examined the holiday entries from every angle. They spent time exclaiming over the details on each entry while looking at the construction and decorations used to portray the scene.
The winning entries used candies, icing, fondant and gingerbread to create mouthwatering treats.
Judge Karen Baker exclaimed, “they are just so talented! I can’t believe these entries were so amazing.”
First place went to Laurie Neff, a local artist and community leader.
Her entry, A Bandera Christmas, showed a farm scene with astounding architectural detail in muted tones. The farmhouse with outbuildings was a beautiful rendition of an old-fashioned Bandera ranch.
Mrs. Neff received a $100 gift certificate to the Bandera General Store.
Second place was a tie between the Cammack family and retired BISD teacher Sara Sandifer coming in neck and neck.
The Cammack family created a vibrant scene from the movie Wizard of Oz, a holiday favorite. Their entry was full of colorful candies. Mrs. Sandifer’s entry was a detailed rendering of the Kronkosky Library on Main Street.
Both second place winners got $50 gift certificates to the Bandera General Store. Third place was awarded to nine-year-old Maximus Sanchez.
Mr. Sanchez created a traditional gingerbread house with all the trimmings. He used several candy figures to give his entry a joyful touch.
He received a $25 gift certificate.
Judge Karen Osman, Marketing Director for the Bandera Cowgirls, said “we love to judge this contest and we hope to do it for many years to come. It’s little things like this that we enjoy doing for the community.”