Something unusual happened during the holiday season last year. The Great Bend Cookie Contest was held and perennial powerhouse Forever Young (Kids Resale), located at 1101 Main Street, was not among the top-three finishers. Up until that time, store owner Betty Hazlett prided herself on being among the top-three bakers, since entering the contest for the first time in 2020. She even reigned as champion two consecutive years when the unusual thing happened.

To set the baking universe right again, Hazlett re-introduced her winning cookie from two years ago, a Snickerdoodle with Cream Cheese Frosting, and she happily claimed the Great Bend Cookie Contest Champion crown, once again.

“Last year, I didn’t think I was going to win, but I figured I’d surely be in the top three, so I was disappointed when that didn’t happen,” said Hazlett. “It feels really good to be back as cookie champion, especially by bringing back our crowd favorite. People want me to bake and sell more of these cookies to them; that’s how good they are.”

The 17th Annual Great Bend Cookie Contest was held in downtown Great Bend on Nov. 29 during a windy and cold Small Business Saturday. Forever Young led the cookie judges voting with 53 votes. Rosewood Furniture Gallery finished runner-up with 29 votes, serving its Christmas Cookie. Third place with 23 votes went to Kustom Floor Designs, serving its Apple Fritter Cookie.

Around Halloween, Hazlett made her decision to bake her Snickerdoodle again for this year’s contest. She then snagged an extra advantage by bringing back her veteran baking team of daughters Rachelle Hapes and Tara Hazlett. They prepared and froze the dough a few weeks earlier, then on “Bake Friday” the skilled team baked and frosted Snickerdoodles for 5 1/2 hours.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s been really fun to do this every year,” said Hazlett. “It’s become tradition. My family enjoys getting together and baking. Some years it gets hectic when we don’t know what cookie we’re baking. It was much easier this year, though, because we’ve baked this cookie before.”

In what has become a post-Thanksgiving tradition, more than 200 cookie judges donated at least $5 for a cookie bracelet, which allowed them to visit 10 Great Bend businesses and taste cookies before voting on their favorite one. This year, $1,020 was raised and went to the Community Food Bank of Barton County to help feed those in need during the holiday season and beyond.

Businesses participating in this year’s Great Bend Cookie Contest with Forever Young, Rosewood Furniture Gallery (Cookie Headquarters) and Kustom Floor Designs were The Beauty Bar Salon; Buckle; Happy Girl Flower Shop; Heart of Kansas/Ms. Pretty Pickles; Rosewood Bargain Barn; The Wright Place; and Rosewood Wine Cellar.

According to Great Bend Cookie Contest organizers, bragging rights for “best cookie” are a fun part of the event, but the true impact is reflected on the proceeds raised to help those in need, within the community.

“It was great seeing the variety of cookies baked for this year’s contest, and a special congratulations to Forever Young for earning the Cookie Champion title with their delicious Frosted Snickerdoodle, said Anna Hammond, business development director for Rosewood Services. “I am very appreciative of all the businesses participating in the cookie contest this year. Despite the wintry weather, we had a great turn-out of judges and shoppers for this year’s contest. We are especially grateful to be able to donate all the proceeds to the Food Bank of Barton County during this holiday season.”

As part of activities wrapped into Small Business Saturday, cookie contest businesses also donated prizes, which were awarded to cookie contest participants that afternoon with a Facebook Live drawing following the contest.

Besides delicious cookie and fun prizes, Hazlett said the annual event always brings shoppers to Forever Young, with several of them visiting her store for the first time.

“It was stronger sales than usual for us this year,” Hazlett said about Small Business Saturday. “I imagine that crowds for shopping would have been sparse otherwise, because it was so cold and windy on that day. But people were in here shopping, as well as participating in the cookie contest. I like the contest because it’s always good for business on that day. And it always brings in people who haven’t been here before. We’ll definitely be doing the contest again next year, but with a different cookie.”