MONROE - There's a lot that goes on during Cheese Days, from singing to parades, but the main reason for the biennial festival is to celebrate cheese and its importance to the Green County area.
Steve Stettler of Decatur Dairy in Brodhead, and Mike and Audry Einbeck, who own Regez Cheese and Paper Supply in Monroe, will receive awards for their work in the cheese industry. The awards will be presented at the Cheesemaker and Cheese Days Royalty Ball at 8 p.m. Saturday at Turner Hall.
Stettler, who has been a cheesemaker since 1973, received the highest average score for his Muenster cheese for the last two county fairs. At the 2010 cheese auction at the Green County Fair, his Muenster cheese sold for $1,000 a pound.
Stettler will receive the Grand Champion Cheesemaker award. This is the second time in a row Decatur Dairy has been honored with the award at Cheese Days.
"We're trying pretty hard to put out the best products," Stettler said.
Stettler said the award shows that good things are happening at the cheese factory and that the farmers support the co-op.
Decatur Dairy has won numerous awards over the past 10 years, according to the cheese factory's website, decaturdairy.com. The co-op has won awards on both the national and international stage.
Stettler is proud of the co-op's accomplishments.
"There are so many master cheesemakers around here, it's tough to win," he said.
The Einbecks, who have owned Regez Cheese and paper Supply since 1985, will receive the "Big Cheese" award for their years of service to the dairy industry.
Mike joined the company in 1964 and he and Audry bought the business in 1985.
Regez Cheese and Paper Supply worked closely with local cheese factories to supply the items needed to package cheese.
"Mike and Audry are great people who have done a great service to the cheese industry," Stettler said of the Einbecks.
Audry said the couple was surprised to learn they were being honored. She said the company's success can be attributed to the support its received from area cheesemakers.
"The cheesemakers in Green County are very loyal," Audry said.
Steve Stettler of Decatur Dairy in Brodhead, and Mike and Audry Einbeck, who own Regez Cheese and Paper Supply in Monroe, will receive awards for their work in the cheese industry. The awards will be presented at the Cheesemaker and Cheese Days Royalty Ball at 8 p.m. Saturday at Turner Hall.
Stettler, who has been a cheesemaker since 1973, received the highest average score for his Muenster cheese for the last two county fairs. At the 2010 cheese auction at the Green County Fair, his Muenster cheese sold for $1,000 a pound.
Stettler will receive the Grand Champion Cheesemaker award. This is the second time in a row Decatur Dairy has been honored with the award at Cheese Days.
"We're trying pretty hard to put out the best products," Stettler said.
Stettler said the award shows that good things are happening at the cheese factory and that the farmers support the co-op.
Decatur Dairy has won numerous awards over the past 10 years, according to the cheese factory's website, decaturdairy.com. The co-op has won awards on both the national and international stage.
Stettler is proud of the co-op's accomplishments.
"There are so many master cheesemakers around here, it's tough to win," he said.
The Einbecks, who have owned Regez Cheese and paper Supply since 1985, will receive the "Big Cheese" award for their years of service to the dairy industry.
Mike joined the company in 1964 and he and Audry bought the business in 1985.
Regez Cheese and Paper Supply worked closely with local cheese factories to supply the items needed to package cheese.
"Mike and Audry are great people who have done a great service to the cheese industry," Stettler said of the Einbecks.
Audry said the couple was surprised to learn they were being honored. She said the company's success can be attributed to the support its received from area cheesemakers.
"The cheesemakers in Green County are very loyal," Audry said.