By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
County, Cheese Days get national exposure
Placeholder Image
MONROE - Green County and Cheese Days were highlighted recently in the Los Angeles Times, one of the largest newspapers in the United States.

The Los Angeles Times website, www.latimes.com, has a story with the headline "Wisconsin cheese makers who take the prize," published in its Travel section June 6. The story highlights Bruce Workman, a Master Cheesemaker, of Edelweiss Creamery, Monticello. Workman is noted for his traditional Emmentaler cheese. The story also features a photo of the Historic Cheesemaking Center, Monroe.

Seeing the story prompted one transplanted Monroe native to respond with a letter to the editor praising Green County cheese and Cheese Days.

"I never thought I'd see the day when my little hometown of Monroe, Wis., would be featured in the L.A. Times," wrote Jenny Bochar of Santa Clarita, Calif. Her letter was published June 20.

Bochar, the daughter of Bill and Elaine Bethke, Monroe, moved to California in 1997 after college. But she hasn't forgotten her roots: She wrote she thought "cheese was cheese" until moving to California; now she's homesick for "that delicious Green County Gold."

The story's author Jay Jones "should make a return trip to the area for Monroe's once-every-other-year festival Cheese Days, this year Sept. 17-19, where you can sample cheeses from local cheesemakers at the cheese tent, learn how to dance the polka and milk a cow. I've already booked my plane ticket!" Bochar wrote.

Bochar also told the Monroe Times that her letter helped her connect with another stateline native in the Los Angeles area. A woman from Freeport, now living in West Hollywood, was "so excited about seeing the Monroe article and my letter, she called information for my phone number." The two are trying to meet for a "little hometown chat."

Both the initial story on cheesemakers and Bochar's letter are available online at the Los Angeles Times website. Bill Bethke also said he took a copy of the print story from the Los Angeles Times to the Historic Cheesemaking Center for its archives.

- Mary Jane Grenzow