Nancy Pomykal (Justice of the Peace, Pct. 5) has been making Christmas Fruit Cake Cookies since 1983 when she found the recipe in an old magazine. She adjusted the recipe a bit and began making the cookies at Christmas time. Nancy only makes them at Christmas time because they are time consuming, expensive and the ingredients can only be found this time of year. She would give them to family and close friends and everyone loved them.
“Last year when I was walking through the exhibits at the Fair, I got the idea to enter the cookies just to see if I would even place in the competition,” Nancy said. “I would have been happy with 3rd place or honorable mention.”
She had never entered anything in the Fair before this year. She read all the rules and regulations and made the cookies.
“You can imagine my surprise Tuesday night when I checked to see if I had placed. WOW! I was so shocked! First place in cookies and “Grand Champion” over the category. I couldn’t believe it,” she said.
The judges are from out of town and the entries are all anonymous, so Nancy didn’t have an advantage because of her position.
“I figure one reason the cookies are so good is because I’ve had 29 years to perfect them,” Nancy said. “I am flattered and amazed to have won and for the many positive comments I’ve received. I understand all the Port O’Connor entries did quite well. I am so proud of our little community.”