On February 8, members of the BVA Louisiana/Mississippi (LA/MS) Regional Group gathered at Blind Grace, a nonprofit organization that holds summer camps for visually impaired children in Lafayette, Louisiana. The occasion was the organization’s third annual Gumbo-Jambalaya-Pastalaya Cook-Off.

The event was originally scheduled for January 25, but due to the rare winter blizzard in southern Louisiana previously reported in BVA Happenings (10 inches of snow and temperatures down to 4 degrees), it was postponed until February 8 when the skies were clear and temperatures reached 80 degrees.

For the second year in a row, members of LA/MS BVA Regional Group entered teams in the Cook-Off.  There were four teams that included LA/MS members: BVA member Francis Arceneaux, his wife Lynette, daughter Linda, and her husband; BVA member Gary Schoelerman, his wife Marelle, and Holly Huval with the Breaux Bridge Lions Club; BVA member James Yaeger, his wife Tammy, his brother-in-law Jason Lopez, and the latter’s wife Tonia, who together are professional cook-off contestants traveling throughout the state competing in various events; and LA/MS Secretary Shawntina Gibson, her friend who is a professional chef at one of Lafayette’s popular restaurants, and many friends from the Lafayette Lions Club. 

“In 2024, the LA/MS teams took first and third place, but unfortunately this year the same teams were shut out, even though some brought in professional ringers,” said Gary Schoelerman. “The teams all thought they had finished fourth, and James thought he had won the People’s Choice, mainly because he bribed more people than Shawntina, but they lost out to an exotic Jambalaya with squirrel meat and pineapple!”

According to Gary, despite not placing in the top four this year, the contestants had a great time and vowed to be back next year to win. The LA/MS banners, the Bronze and Acrylic Braille Flags, and BVA brochures attracted many of the visitors and other contestants. 

“Everyone was fascinated by the Braille Flags, but the question asked most was how blind people cook Gumbo over an open flame,” said Gary. “Of course, we answered that it is done very carefully.”

During the awards ceremony, BVA members presented an Acrylic Flag and plaque to the Affiliated Blind of Louisiana (ABL), a residential blind rehabilitation center located in Lafayette. Directors Chavonne and Lynn Blanchard were there to accept the flag. Many of the LA/MS Regional Group members are alumni of ABL. The flag was sponsored by the Breaux Bridge Lions Club, the Vietnam Veterans of America Lafayette Chapter 162, and the BVA regional group.

“One of the cook-off visitors came by with his daughter and wanted to meet the veterans with sight loss because he is a Vietnam Veteran and losing his sight;” said Gary. “He was given the number of the BROS (Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist) and will join BVA as soon as he can!”