Gingerbread labor with a sweet reward

Grafton High School students in teacher Brenda Stielow’s Advanced Foods class, with the assistance of several architecture students, took second place in a recent gingerbread house competition sponsored by the Kohler Foundation.

“This was our first year doing this, so we were really surprised,” Stielow said. “It’s good for the kids to compete because the more they do this, the more comfortable they will feel. It will give them more experience.”

More than 8,500 visitors at the Waelderhaus museum in Kohler judged about 15 gingerbread houses submitted by high schools throughout the state. The Grafton team’s submission was called “Hallmark’s Christmas Magic in the Woods.”

“I’m not actually sure what they were judged on, but it was based on the total tally of votes. We’ll take the recognition any day,” Stielow said, laughing.

“Excluding glue and toothpicks, everything used to construct the gingerbread house had to be edible. Ours was 100% edible because we didn’t use any glue or toothpicks.”

Architecture students Mick Houston, Alexander Mietkowski and Jamie Kretlow —  who are in teacher Kevin Gain’s technical education class — helped design and construct the house with culinary students Abbey Cameranesi, Breanna Austin and Ava Govek.

This is the second time in as many years Govek received recognition for her culinary skills. Last year, she and two other students took first place out of 77 entries for their lasagna rolls recipe in the Whipping Up Wellness state competition held by the Department of Public Instruction.

“We hope to place again this year, and we’re working on our recipes now,” Stielow said .

The students found out Jan. 6 that they placed second in this year’s gingerbread competition. Stielow said they will receive a check for $250, which will be used for class resources.

“I already treated the students to a bagel breakfast, and the rest of it will go back into the culinary account for the supplies we use,” she said.