Cheese Days
Cheese Days is Friday, Sept. 14 to Sunday, Sept. 16. A special preview section was included in the Saturday, Sept. 8 edition of The Monroe Times. For more information, see www.cheesedays.com
MONROE - Around Green County, people refer to time in Cheese Days years.
Once every two years, the county plays host to thousands of cheese lovers from the area and afar, and many of those visitors are "dignitaries" - Cheese Days kings and queens and princesses and princes, Fairest of the Fair, Alice in Dairyland, government officials and, of course, lords of it all, the retired cheesemakers.
Such a gathering of prominent and noteworthy public figures requires due reception fit for a king, and that's where Fran Albright comes in to help.
Albright has been the parade dignitaries' receptionist for "ten Cheese Days."
She takes her job in stride.
"It's not a big deal," she said. "We have a reception committee, well ... I'm the committee. I get about five people to help me."
In years past, Albright had been involved in the large county programs, such as Fairest of the Fair and Dairy Queens. But now, at age 77, she likes contributing to Cheese Days and said she enjoys her work as the dignitary receptionist for Cheese Days.
"I'm not too old to do what I'm doing, but I'm too old to do anything else," she laughed.
What the humble Albright is doing is relegating honor where honor is due, especially in this land of cheese.
Albright and her volunteer committee, which sometimes includes drafted relatives, set up tables and serve the drop-in dignitaries a light breakfast at the fairgrounds on Cheese Days Sunday before the parade kicks off. The fruit, donuts, coffee and juice are provided by the Cheese Days committee.
The largest group of appreciative dignitaries is the retired cheesemakers, who are "always there," Albright said.
"They really like it," she said. "Some of them don't get to see each other except every couple of years."
As many as 20 cheesemaker retirees drop by the dignitary lounge on parade morning. Many of them are past the age of 70, and some are even pushing past their 90th year, according to Albright.
In those two hours preceding the Cheese Days parade finale, the history of Green County cheesemaking and the epitome of Cheese Days sit on fold-out chairs around a table, covered with a white cloth and decorated with flowers, and chat.
"Sometimes, it's a bit hard to get them to stop talking and get on their float," Albright said.
Albright doesn't remember who the dignitary receptionist before her was, and with a bit more thought, she wondered if there even was a dignitary reception. Today, we couldn't think of there not being one. Where would all the old pillars of cheesemaking gather before the parade?
Once every two years, the county plays host to thousands of cheese lovers from the area and afar, and many of those visitors are "dignitaries" - Cheese Days kings and queens and princesses and princes, Fairest of the Fair, Alice in Dairyland, government officials and, of course, lords of it all, the retired cheesemakers.
Such a gathering of prominent and noteworthy public figures requires due reception fit for a king, and that's where Fran Albright comes in to help.
Albright has been the parade dignitaries' receptionist for "ten Cheese Days."
She takes her job in stride.
"It's not a big deal," she said. "We have a reception committee, well ... I'm the committee. I get about five people to help me."
In years past, Albright had been involved in the large county programs, such as Fairest of the Fair and Dairy Queens. But now, at age 77, she likes contributing to Cheese Days and said she enjoys her work as the dignitary receptionist for Cheese Days.
"I'm not too old to do what I'm doing, but I'm too old to do anything else," she laughed.
What the humble Albright is doing is relegating honor where honor is due, especially in this land of cheese.
Albright and her volunteer committee, which sometimes includes drafted relatives, set up tables and serve the drop-in dignitaries a light breakfast at the fairgrounds on Cheese Days Sunday before the parade kicks off. The fruit, donuts, coffee and juice are provided by the Cheese Days committee.
The largest group of appreciative dignitaries is the retired cheesemakers, who are "always there," Albright said.
"They really like it," she said. "Some of them don't get to see each other except every couple of years."
As many as 20 cheesemaker retirees drop by the dignitary lounge on parade morning. Many of them are past the age of 70, and some are even pushing past their 90th year, according to Albright.
In those two hours preceding the Cheese Days parade finale, the history of Green County cheesemaking and the epitome of Cheese Days sit on fold-out chairs around a table, covered with a white cloth and decorated with flowers, and chat.
"Sometimes, it's a bit hard to get them to stop talking and get on their float," Albright said.
Albright doesn't remember who the dignitary receptionist before her was, and with a bit more thought, she wondered if there even was a dignitary reception. Today, we couldn't think of there not being one. Where would all the old pillars of cheesemaking gather before the parade?