MONROE - With so many people dressed in their Swiss regalia Monday, Nov. 4 at the Monroe Theatre Guild building, it appeared the 2014 Green County Cheese Days had begun. And indeed, it has.
The Cheese Days Committee kicked off the 100th anniversary of Cheese Days with a celebration of just a taste of what's to come next year: Singing, yodeling, according playing, and, of course, cheese-tasting.
Virgil Leopold, master of ceremonies for the evening event, noted the countdown had begun, with 7,656 hours until opening day.
Cheese Days 2014 is scheduled for Sept. 19 to 21 in downtown Monroe.
Monroe Mayor Bill Ross called the kick-off the best he has ever seen.
"The city is going to do its very best to dress up the city and get ready for the party," Ross told the audience of about 160 people. "When I get dressed up in my Swiss clothes, I always get excited about Cheese Days."
Notable people for 2014 Cheese Days
The honorary representatives for 2014 were announced at the event.
The committee introduced the 2014 parade marshals Jim Bruce and Del Heins.
Bruce and Heins have been friends since 1965, according to Bruce. Heins said he became a part of Cheese Days in 1967 and was never turned loose, after Martha Bernet, a long-time, tireless promoter and volunteer for the event, learned that he played the accordion. The two co-chaired the event in 1976.
Ambassadors for 2014 Cheese Days, Breinne Hendrickson and Sarah Sacker, are past Green County Dairy Queens and both women have agricultural backgrounds.
"Agriculture is a part of our lives, and Cheese Days is an extension of that," Hendrickson said.
Hendrickson is the daughter of Jeff and Kate Hendrickson, Belleville. She is attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison, earning a double major in Dairy Science and Life Science Communications.
"The 100th anniversary will look back on the history of cheesemaking and celebrate that," she said.
Sacker is the daughter of Jim and Sue Sacker, Monroe, and she is employed at Kuhn N.A. She was also a finalist for Alice in Dairyland in 2011.
She said she is passionate about the dairy and agriculture industry.
"I think Cheese Days focuses on that and celebrates it," she added.
King and Queen of Cheese Days 2014 are Diane and Duke Phillips, Monroe. They knew they were chosen King and Queen in April.
"It was a horrible secret to keep," Diane Phillips said.
Diane Phillips has been involved with Cheese Days since the 1970s, when it settled into being a bi-annual event. She was also secretary of the committee for about 10 years,
But it was something she was passionate about, she said, and never bothered to tally up the hours involved with planning the event.
Being involved so deeply, "you learn what makes it work," she said. But it was the people she met and the stories she heard that kept her involved for so long.
"It warms your heart," she added.
Duke Phillips said his wife "certainly deserves this honor."
"And because of her, I'm a king," he added with a smile.
The 2014 logo featuring the Swiss Alps, Swiss cross and Edelweiss flowers, was also unveiled at the celebration. Buttons of the 2014 logo are now for sale.
Retaining tradition
John Bussman, who has demonstrated making Swiss cheese since 1970 on the Square during Cheese Days, has stepped down from his post. Bussman passed his cheese factory, curd cutter and other antique equipment to the Foreign Type Cheesemakers Association, having been given the promise they would carry on the tradition.
"We don't want to miss a beat," said Gary Grossen, a cheesemaker with the association.
Grossen said the time has come for the "next generation of cheesemakers" to take up teaching of the age-old craft.
"The past is in everybody's heart," he added.
The first cheesemaking demonstration at Cheese Days was in 1916.
Coming events
Next year, Wisconsin Secretary of Tourism Stephanie Klett will be the first Limburger Queen in the Cheese Days Parade.
Klett humorously threw her hat into the ring Monday at the event, listing many reasons she was the most qualified candidate for the position - not the least of which is that she "loves Limburger."
The Cheese Days Committee took her up on the offer, and presented Klett with a Limburger-labled crown, an embroidered sash and a bouquet of flowers adorned with after-dinner mints. She was also presented with a decorated, hefty cake of Limburger. She will be supplied with an open convertible for the parade.
Klett was taken aback and asked, "Is this is for real?"
"This is the happiest moment of my life," said Klett, who was Miss Wisconsin in 1992. (See photo of Klett on Page B4 of today's edition.)
SPECIAL COVERAGE
Cheese Days 100th anniversary will get special coverage on "Discover Wisconsin," a travel show featuring the best of Wisconsin tourism. The show is due to air in eight states this weekend, and will play three times between now and September 2014. The show made its Wisconsin premier at the kick-off event. Discover Wisconsin will feature the episode on the front page of its website, DiscoverWisconsin.com, for one week beginning Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Cheese Days Green County is only the fifth event ever to merit an entire half-hour episode on "Discover Wisconsin," according to Greg Smith, managing director. The show began in 1987.
The Cheese Days Committee kicked off the 100th anniversary of Cheese Days with a celebration of just a taste of what's to come next year: Singing, yodeling, according playing, and, of course, cheese-tasting.
Virgil Leopold, master of ceremonies for the evening event, noted the countdown had begun, with 7,656 hours until opening day.
Cheese Days 2014 is scheduled for Sept. 19 to 21 in downtown Monroe.
Monroe Mayor Bill Ross called the kick-off the best he has ever seen.
"The city is going to do its very best to dress up the city and get ready for the party," Ross told the audience of about 160 people. "When I get dressed up in my Swiss clothes, I always get excited about Cheese Days."
Notable people for 2014 Cheese Days
The honorary representatives for 2014 were announced at the event.
The committee introduced the 2014 parade marshals Jim Bruce and Del Heins.
Bruce and Heins have been friends since 1965, according to Bruce. Heins said he became a part of Cheese Days in 1967 and was never turned loose, after Martha Bernet, a long-time, tireless promoter and volunteer for the event, learned that he played the accordion. The two co-chaired the event in 1976.
Ambassadors for 2014 Cheese Days, Breinne Hendrickson and Sarah Sacker, are past Green County Dairy Queens and both women have agricultural backgrounds.
"Agriculture is a part of our lives, and Cheese Days is an extension of that," Hendrickson said.
Hendrickson is the daughter of Jeff and Kate Hendrickson, Belleville. She is attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison, earning a double major in Dairy Science and Life Science Communications.
"The 100th anniversary will look back on the history of cheesemaking and celebrate that," she said.
Sacker is the daughter of Jim and Sue Sacker, Monroe, and she is employed at Kuhn N.A. She was also a finalist for Alice in Dairyland in 2011.
She said she is passionate about the dairy and agriculture industry.
"I think Cheese Days focuses on that and celebrates it," she added.
King and Queen of Cheese Days 2014 are Diane and Duke Phillips, Monroe. They knew they were chosen King and Queen in April.
"It was a horrible secret to keep," Diane Phillips said.
Diane Phillips has been involved with Cheese Days since the 1970s, when it settled into being a bi-annual event. She was also secretary of the committee for about 10 years,
But it was something she was passionate about, she said, and never bothered to tally up the hours involved with planning the event.
Being involved so deeply, "you learn what makes it work," she said. But it was the people she met and the stories she heard that kept her involved for so long.
"It warms your heart," she added.
Duke Phillips said his wife "certainly deserves this honor."
"And because of her, I'm a king," he added with a smile.
The 2014 logo featuring the Swiss Alps, Swiss cross and Edelweiss flowers, was also unveiled at the celebration. Buttons of the 2014 logo are now for sale.
Retaining tradition
John Bussman, who has demonstrated making Swiss cheese since 1970 on the Square during Cheese Days, has stepped down from his post. Bussman passed his cheese factory, curd cutter and other antique equipment to the Foreign Type Cheesemakers Association, having been given the promise they would carry on the tradition.
"We don't want to miss a beat," said Gary Grossen, a cheesemaker with the association.
Grossen said the time has come for the "next generation of cheesemakers" to take up teaching of the age-old craft.
"The past is in everybody's heart," he added.
The first cheesemaking demonstration at Cheese Days was in 1916.
Coming events
Next year, Wisconsin Secretary of Tourism Stephanie Klett will be the first Limburger Queen in the Cheese Days Parade.
Klett humorously threw her hat into the ring Monday at the event, listing many reasons she was the most qualified candidate for the position - not the least of which is that she "loves Limburger."
The Cheese Days Committee took her up on the offer, and presented Klett with a Limburger-labled crown, an embroidered sash and a bouquet of flowers adorned with after-dinner mints. She was also presented with a decorated, hefty cake of Limburger. She will be supplied with an open convertible for the parade.
Klett was taken aback and asked, "Is this is for real?"
"This is the happiest moment of my life," said Klett, who was Miss Wisconsin in 1992. (See photo of Klett on Page B4 of today's edition.)
SPECIAL COVERAGE
Cheese Days 100th anniversary will get special coverage on "Discover Wisconsin," a travel show featuring the best of Wisconsin tourism. The show is due to air in eight states this weekend, and will play three times between now and September 2014. The show made its Wisconsin premier at the kick-off event. Discover Wisconsin will feature the episode on the front page of its website, DiscoverWisconsin.com, for one week beginning Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Cheese Days Green County is only the fifth event ever to merit an entire half-hour episode on "Discover Wisconsin," according to Greg Smith, managing director. The show began in 1987.