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Johanna Rosson, an RPTA major at WIU, created a witch gingerbread house that will be raffled off at the Haunted Corn Maze at Horn Field Campus, Friday, Oct. 31.
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Rosson's gingerbread creation for HFC's Haunted Corn Maze, Oct. 31. Rosson put more than 30 hours work into the gingerbread house.
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Haunted Corn Maze and Gingerbread Witch House to Scare Up Some HFC Fun

October 27, 2008

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MACOMB, IL -- You don't want to get into a gingerbread house throwdown with Johanna Rosson, a recreation, park and tourism administration (RPTA) major at Western Illinois University. Just ask Bobby Flay, star of the Food Network show "Throwdown with Bobby Flay."

Last year, Flay challenged Rosson on his Food Network show, and Rosson won. Rosson's gingerbread talent enabled her to beat Flay, and in the process showcased her gingerbread abilities to a national audience. But frosting it out with Flay was not Rosson's first foray into the limelight. Her gingerbread expertise was also featured in the 2005 premier issue of the "Cooking with Paula Deen" magazine, which she now contributes to frequently.

This year at WIU's Horn Field Campus (HFC), you'll get to see in person -- and maybe even win -- the master gingerbread-house maker's work at HFC's annual Haunted Corn Maze from 8-11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31.

For one of her classes focusing on RPTA programming, Rosson agreed to conjure one of her amazing gingerbread creations. The house Rosson made especially for HFC's annual event took her about 30 hours and incorporates -- in keeping with the Halloween theme -- a witch.

"I have a vision before I start on a house, and with this one, I decided to actually make the house the witch," she said.

From three sides, the house looks like any other typical gingerbread house -- edible candies and other goodies decorating the façade, a walkway made with dark chocolate M&Ms, even a pretzel log pile set adjacent to the chimney stack (also made from M&Ms and other candies). But on one side of Rosson's gingerbread house, a large green face -- half-encircled by an almost life-size gummy snake and decked out with a long red candy tongue, gummy eyeballs and black licorice hair -- dominates the creation.

Stretching out from the side of the house into the garden, through a Rice Krispie-based gateway and ending just under a sign that says, "Welcome Children," the witch's tongue serves as a walkway for wayward gingerbread juveniles.

"The sign beckons the children in," Rosson said with a grin. "From the front, the witch is disguised by the Rice-Krispie gate, which is adorned with candy hearts and other treats, but once they enter the garden, they are in the witch's lair."

Rosson's creation will be raffled at this year's HFC Haunted Maze event. According to Mindy Pheiffer, program coordinator at HFC, raffle proceeds will benefit community programming at HFC.

Raffle tickets are $1 each and can be purchased from 8-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-5 p.m. Oct. 27-Thursday Oct. 30 and from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Friday Oct. 31 at The Macomb Eagle, 210 S. Randolph St. Monday. Tickets will also be on sale at Nostalgia and at Vintage Accents, located on Macomb's courthouse square, as well as at Horn Field Campus Friday, Oct. 31. The drawing will be held at 10 p.m. in Horn Lodge, and the winner doesn't need to be present to win.

In addition to checking out Rosson's gingerbread creation, HFC Halloween fans will be able to wander through the haunted corn maze, with scare sites provided courtesy of RPTA students. Activities for younger children who may not want to enter the haunted maze will include stories, treats and other activities.

Cost is $5 for ages 13 and older and $2 for children ages 6 to 12 (children five and under will be admitted free). Children 12 years of age and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Groups are welcome. The group rate is $2 per person for groups of 15 or more.

Horn Field Campus is located south of Macomb on China Road. From South Johnson Street (past Macomb High School), turn right on China Road and follow the road one-quarter of a mile to the Horn Field Campus entrance. Parking will be permitted on the Horn Field Campus lot.

For more information or to request accommodations due to a disability, contact the Horn Field Campus office at (309) 833-5798.

Posted By: Teresa Koltzenburg (WIUNews@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing