WEST ALLIS — Dairy manufacturers from throughout the state submitted over 500 entries for the 2025 Wisconsin State Fair Dairy Products Contest, which took place June 19 at the Wisconsin State Fair Park. The contest featured over 50 classes for cheese, sour cream, butter, yogurt, milk and custard.
The 2025 Grand Master Cheesemaker, Grand Champion Butter, Grand Champion Yogurt, Grand Champion Sour Cream, Grand Champion Milk and Grand Champion Custard will be announced at the Blue Ribbon Dairy Products Auction on Thursday, August 7 at The Wisconsin State Fair Park. The Blue Ribbon Dairy Products Auction is a fundraiser for the Wisconsin State Fair Dairy Promotion Board. Auction proceeds fund scholarships for students pursuing dairy-related degrees and support the board’s interactive educational exhibits at Wisconsin State Fair Park.
Among local cheesemakers with top-three finishes are Klondike Cheese Co. (Monroe), Emmi Roth (Monroe) Decatur Dairy (Brodhead), V&V Supremo Foods (Browntown), Mexican Cheese Producers (Darlington) and Roelli Cheese Co. (Shullsburg). Master Cheesemaker Chris Roelli of Roelli Cheese is the great-grandson of Swiss-born cheesemaker Adolph Roelli, who immigrated to Shullsburg in the early 1900s.
Local Top Three entries include:
Brick, Muenster
1. Ty Saglam, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Buholzer Brothers Brick, 99.100
2. Ron Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Buholzer Brothers Muenster, 98.950
3. Decatur Cheesemakers, Decatur Dairy, Inc., Brodhead, Muenster, 98.900
Feta
1. Kristi Wuthrich, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Odyssey Feta in Brine, 98.940
Flavored Pepper Cheese
2. Dan Reed, V&V Supremo Foods, Browntown, Chihuahua Cheese with Jalapeno Peppers, 98.935
Flavored Soft Cheese
1. Justin Lowery, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Odyssey Tomato & Basil Feta in Brine, 99.750
Smear Ripened Cheese
1. Team Emmi Roth-Monroe, Emmi Roth, Stoughton, Roth Grand Cru Original Wheel, 99.525
Reduced Fat or Lite Cheese
1. Steve Webster, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Odyssey Reduced Fat Feta in Brine, 99.600
2. Ron Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Odyssey Reduced Fat Mediterranean Herb Feta in Brine, 99.345
3. Matt Erdley, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Odyssey Reduced Fat Tomato & Basil Feta in Brine, 99.090
Havarti
1. Brett Riese, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Buholzer Brothers Havarti, 99.000
2. Dave Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Buholzer Brothers Havarti, 98.900
Flavored Havarti
1. Steve Stettler, Decatur Dairy Inc., Brodhead, Havarti Dill, 99.700
3. Decatur Cheesemakers, Decatur Dairy Inc., Havarti Dill, 99.400
Open Class — Hard Cheese
1. Chris Roelli, Roelli Cheese Co., Cheddar with sparse blue veins, 99.250
Latin American Cheese
1. Mexican Cheese Producers, Darlington, 4/4 Panela, 99.590
2. Steve Middendorf, V&V Supremo Foods, Browntown, Queso Oaxaca, 99.530
Unflavored Cheese Curds
1. Decatur Cheesemakers, Decatur Dairy Inc., Brodhead, White Curd, 99.540
2. Matt Henze, Decatur Dairy Inc., Brodhead, White Curd, 99.375
Flavored Cheese Curds
3. Matt Henze, Decatur Dairy Inc., Brodhead, White Dill Garlic Curd, 99.045
Flavored High Protein Yogurt
1. Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Odyssey Vanilla Greek Yogurt, 99.850
2. Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Odyssey Peach Greek Yogurt, 99.800
Unflavored High Protein Yogurt
1. Klondike Cheese, Monroe, Odyssey Labneh, 99.650
2. Klondike Cheese, Monroe, Odyssey Greek Yogurt, 99.475
Open Class — Flavored Yogurt
1. Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Odyssey Whole Vanilla Yogurt, 99.600
2. Klondike Cheese Co., Odyssey Whole Peach Yogurt, 99.000
Open Class — Unflavored Yogurt
1. Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Odyssey Whole Fat Yogurt, 99.650
Open Class — Flavored Sour Cream
1. Mexican Cheese Producers, Darlington, Jalapeno Sour Cream, 99.800
2. Mexican Cheese Producers, Darlington, Chipotle Sour Cream, 99.650
Open Class — Unflavored Sour Cream
1. Mexican Cheese Producers, Darlington, Cultured Sour Cream, 99.800
2. Mexican Cheese Producers, Darlington, Acidified Sour Cream, 99.700
3. Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Odyssey Sour Cream, 99.550
Low Fat Sour Cream
1. Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Odyssey Reduced Fat Greek Mediterranean Feta Dip, 99.800
2. Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Odyssey Reduced Fat Greek French Onion Dip, 99.775
3. Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Odyssey Reduced Fat Greek Tzatziki Dip, 99.700
