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Giving the Art of Cheesemaking its Much-Deserved Flowers

The State of Wisconsin has successfully earned a grand total of 92 awards in 52 different classes at the 2024 American Cheese Society Competition Awards Ceremony held in Buffalo, NY. In case you weren't aware, the American Cheese Society Conference and Competition has risen up in credibility and prestige on the back of its rigorous judging process, which evaluates cheeses based on flavor, texture, aroma, and appearance.

Keeping that in mind, several Wisconsin-based companies were recognized for their cheesemaking skill, beginning from Pleasant Ridge Reserve from Upland's Cheese in Dodgeville, WI, who was deemed to have one of the Top 10 cheeses in the entire North America. Next up, we have Klondike Cheese Company of Monroe, WI, a company that literally secured 15 different awards for its labneh, various feta varieties, smoked gouda, tzatziki dip, as well as for its brick and muenster. Then, there was BelGioioso, of Green Bay, WI, BelGioioso, of Green Bay, WI stood out at the event, thanks to its Italian-style cheeses that enabled the company to bring home 14 awards.

Joining the same would be Marieke Gouda, of Thorp, WI. This particular company was bestowed with six cheesemaking honors for cheeses judged in areas like Dutch-style, international-style, and cold-pack cheese classes.

Moving on, Schuman Cheese/Lake Country Dairy of Turtle Lake, WI, as well as Pine River Pre-Pack of Newton, WI also won five awards apiece for their top-notch cheesemaking quality. Another major winner at the 2024 American Cheese Society Competition Awards Ceremony was Henning's Cheese of Kiel, WI, who would earn four accolades. In fact, made by the second-generation Joshua Henning, their 17-month and 23-month-old cheddars received second and first awards, respectively.

We are exceptionally proud of our cheesemakers and their outstanding achievements at the American Cheese Society Conference and Competition, said Chad Vincent, CEO, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin. These awards not only recognize the hard work and dedication of the cheesemakers, but also highlight the state's commitment to producing exceptional cheeses of a vast assortment of types and styles.

Among other winners, we had Landmark Creamery, LLC with three awards.

The ceremony saw two awards each going to the likes of Arena Cheese, Cedar Grove Cheese, Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese, Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, Kingston Cheese Cooperative, Renard's Cheese/Rosewood Dairy, Sartori Company, The Artisan Cheese Exchange, Widmer's Cheese Cellars, Inc., and V&V Supremo Foods. Apart from that, one award each also went to brands, such as Chalet Cheese Coop, Emmi Roth, Hill Valley Dairy, Hook's Cheese Company, Inc., Nasonville Dairy, Inc., and Organic Valley.

Having talk about the winners, we must now touch a little about the culture of cheesemaking in Wisconsin state. You see, the tradition of cheesemaking in the area began almost 180 years ago, even before Wisconsin was recognized as a state of its own. As of today, the state turns nearly 90% of its cow milk into cheese, giving its line-up of more than 1,200 cheesemakers a chance to pass on old-world traditions, while simultaneously adopting modern innovations in cheesemaking craftsmanship. This is also a big reason why Wisconsin crafts today more than 600 varieties and styles of cheese.