MONROE - Several area cheesemakers have taken first-place, while several others have placed in the top three in the Wisconsin State Fair's annual cheese and butter contest.
Results of the statewide competition were announced Tuesday.
Steve Stettler, of Brodhead's Decatur Dairy, won first with his Pepper Havarti, scoring 99.05 in the flavored pepper cheese category. John Baebler of Monticello's Edelweiss Creamery also ranked first in the reduced fat or lite cheese group, with his Lacey Swiss scoring 99.1. Neal Schwartz, of Monroe's Chalet Cheese Co-op, also won top honors in Swiss styles, with his Baby Swiss Wheel scoring 97.45. Steve Isley, of Monroe's Emmi Roth USA won first in the Smear Ripened Cheese category, with his Raclette scoring 98.5. Dennis Schliem, of South Wayne's Zimmerman Cheese, won in the brick muenster category with his Brick entry netting a 99.5 score.
Placing second in the open class, semi-soft cheese category was Matt Henze, also of Brodhead's Decatur Dairy, whose Havarti scored 99.35. Jeff Wideman, of Monroe's Maple Leaf Cheese Co-op, also won second in the flavored pepper cheese category, with his Chipotle Cheddar scoring 98.45. Chalet Cheese Co-op's Mike Nelson took second-place honors in Swiss styles, with his Baby Swiss Block scoring 96.85 Also winning second-place, in the brick, muenster group was Matt Erdley, of Monroe's Klondike Cheese Co. His Brick entry scored 99.45. Klondike Cheese Co.'s Steve Webster also took second in the feta category, with his Feta in Brine scoring 98.95. Another second place winner was Adam Buholzer, also of Klondike Cheese Co., whose Peppercorn Feta scored 99.5 in the flavored soft cheese category. Jon Jay Lewis, of South Wayne's Valley View Cheese Co-op, took second in the flavored semi-soft category with his Dill Harvati scoring 99.2.
Klondike Cheese Co.'s Ron Bechtolt took third in the brick muenster group, with his Muenster entry scoring 99.4.
Also winning third in the flavored, semi-soft group was Valley View Cheese Co-op, with a Dill Havarti that scored 99.15.
Dairy manufacturers from throughout the state submitted close to 300 entries for the 2011 Wisconsin State Fair Cheese & Butter Contest, which took place June 24 at Wisconsin State Fair Park.
"The 22 classes were evaluated in such categories as flavor, appearance and texture, according to Katy Katzman, dairy promotion board coordinator for the Wisconsin State Fair.
The 2011 Grand Master Cheesemaker, along with this year's other winning cheesemakers, will be recognized during the Blue Ribbon Cheese & Butter Auction on Thursday, Aug. 4, at Wisconsin State Fair Park.
Results of the statewide competition were announced Tuesday.
Steve Stettler, of Brodhead's Decatur Dairy, won first with his Pepper Havarti, scoring 99.05 in the flavored pepper cheese category. John Baebler of Monticello's Edelweiss Creamery also ranked first in the reduced fat or lite cheese group, with his Lacey Swiss scoring 99.1. Neal Schwartz, of Monroe's Chalet Cheese Co-op, also won top honors in Swiss styles, with his Baby Swiss Wheel scoring 97.45. Steve Isley, of Monroe's Emmi Roth USA won first in the Smear Ripened Cheese category, with his Raclette scoring 98.5. Dennis Schliem, of South Wayne's Zimmerman Cheese, won in the brick muenster category with his Brick entry netting a 99.5 score.
Placing second in the open class, semi-soft cheese category was Matt Henze, also of Brodhead's Decatur Dairy, whose Havarti scored 99.35. Jeff Wideman, of Monroe's Maple Leaf Cheese Co-op, also won second in the flavored pepper cheese category, with his Chipotle Cheddar scoring 98.45. Chalet Cheese Co-op's Mike Nelson took second-place honors in Swiss styles, with his Baby Swiss Block scoring 96.85 Also winning second-place, in the brick, muenster group was Matt Erdley, of Monroe's Klondike Cheese Co. His Brick entry scored 99.45. Klondike Cheese Co.'s Steve Webster also took second in the feta category, with his Feta in Brine scoring 98.95. Another second place winner was Adam Buholzer, also of Klondike Cheese Co., whose Peppercorn Feta scored 99.5 in the flavored soft cheese category. Jon Jay Lewis, of South Wayne's Valley View Cheese Co-op, took second in the flavored semi-soft category with his Dill Harvati scoring 99.2.
Klondike Cheese Co.'s Ron Bechtolt took third in the brick muenster group, with his Muenster entry scoring 99.4.
Also winning third in the flavored, semi-soft group was Valley View Cheese Co-op, with a Dill Havarti that scored 99.15.
Dairy manufacturers from throughout the state submitted close to 300 entries for the 2011 Wisconsin State Fair Cheese & Butter Contest, which took place June 24 at Wisconsin State Fair Park.
"The 22 classes were evaluated in such categories as flavor, appearance and texture, according to Katy Katzman, dairy promotion board coordinator for the Wisconsin State Fair.
The 2011 Grand Master Cheesemaker, along with this year's other winning cheesemakers, will be recognized during the Blue Ribbon Cheese & Butter Auction on Thursday, Aug. 4, at Wisconsin State Fair Park.