It’s a WISCONSIN SWEEP at the US CHAMPIONSHIP CHEESE CONTEST

Bob Wolter, Business Intermediary

We attended and sponsored the U.S Championship Cheese Contest award ceremony at the KI Center in Green Bay, WI March 9th. There were over 2,300 entrants to the contest this year, an all time record! The judges narrowed them down to the “Top Twenty”.

Wisconsin represented 14 of the “Top Twenty”, an impressive showing indeed. The event was well attended and there were the best cheesemakers in the country in that hall… There were many displays of fabulous tasting cheese available and a great venue to network with our friends in the industry.
Again, the Top three winners were all from Wisconsin!!! Marieke Penterman of Marieke’s Gouda was the second runner up with a score of 98.59 for her Marieke’s Gouda Belegen. First runner up was Terry Lensmire of Agropur Weyauwega with his 2 year old Cheddar, scoring 98.81 and the Winner was Mike Matucheski of Satori, Antigo with his Black Pepper BellaVitano, scoring 99.02.

Since 1981, Wisconsin cheesemakers have had the top cheese at the U.S. Championship 14 times in 19 competitions. The dominance shows that the state continues to grow its Artisan Cheese lines, while maintaining its position as the top cheese producing state in the country, with more than 3 billion pounds made each year.

Wisconsin truly is the Dairy State!