By Times staff
MONROE - The state secretary of agriculture and the secretary of tourism were on hand Tuesday to help introduce the 2014 Cheese Days season.
Ag secretary Ben Brancel told those gathered for the Cheese Days Media Preview that Green County is the only county in the state that saw the number of farms increase between 2007 and 2012. That "shows not only the history, but it shows the current interest" in agriculture today, he said.
Tourism secretary Stepanie Klett commended Monroe for hosting an event on the scale of Cheese Days. She said of her 20 years hosting "Discover Wisconsin" programming, Monroe remains in her top three career highlights. "The spirit in this community - I wish I could bottle it," she said.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of Cheese Days. For the first time, cheesemakers will be included in the opening ceremony on Sept. 19, said Virgil Leopold, a member of the Cheese Days board of directors. There are 12 cheese factories in Green County, and each will be represented during the opening ceremony; in addition, three Lafayette County cheesemakers and Gary Grossen, a Green County resident who is cheesemaker at Babcock Hall at University of Wisconsin-Madison, will be included.
The event introduced media representatives to the festival and included samples of Green County food and beverage products; accordion music and yodeling; and an introduction of Cheese Days royalty and parade marshalls.
Green County Cheese Days is Sept. 19-21 in downtown Monroe. More information is available online at www.cheesedays.com.
MONROE - The state secretary of agriculture and the secretary of tourism were on hand Tuesday to help introduce the 2014 Cheese Days season.
Ag secretary Ben Brancel told those gathered for the Cheese Days Media Preview that Green County is the only county in the state that saw the number of farms increase between 2007 and 2012. That "shows not only the history, but it shows the current interest" in agriculture today, he said.
Tourism secretary Stepanie Klett commended Monroe for hosting an event on the scale of Cheese Days. She said of her 20 years hosting "Discover Wisconsin" programming, Monroe remains in her top three career highlights. "The spirit in this community - I wish I could bottle it," she said.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of Cheese Days. For the first time, cheesemakers will be included in the opening ceremony on Sept. 19, said Virgil Leopold, a member of the Cheese Days board of directors. There are 12 cheese factories in Green County, and each will be represented during the opening ceremony; in addition, three Lafayette County cheesemakers and Gary Grossen, a Green County resident who is cheesemaker at Babcock Hall at University of Wisconsin-Madison, will be included.
The event introduced media representatives to the festival and included samples of Green County food and beverage products; accordion music and yodeling; and an introduction of Cheese Days royalty and parade marshalls.
Green County Cheese Days is Sept. 19-21 in downtown Monroe. More information is available online at www.cheesedays.com.