MILWAUKEE - Area cheesemakers brought home numerous awards, including several Best of Class honors, from the U.S. Cheese Championship this week in Milwaukee.

The contest was held Tuesday through Thursday night.

Named champion at this year's contest was a Swiss wheel from Guggisberg Cheese in Millersburg, Ohio.

Area cheesemakers placing in the 16 finalists of the Championship Round were Luke Buholzer, Klondike Cheese, Monroe, for Odyssey Mediterranean Feta in Brine; Team Edelweiss, Edelweiss Creamery, Monticello, for Dill Havarti; and Lactalis Belmont, Lactalis American Group, Belmont, for Camembert.

The following placed in the top three for their respective cheese categories. A full list of participants can be found online at www.uschampioncheese.org.



Swiss Style Cheese

• Neal Schwartz, Chalet Cheese Co-op, third award, Swiss wheel



Baby Swiss Style

• Jamie Fahrney, Chalet Cheese Co-op, Monroe, Best of Class, Baby Swiss block

• Silvan Blum, Chalet Cheese Co-op, Monroe, third award, Swiss wheel



Feta

• Steve Webster, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, third award, Odyssey Feta



Feta, Flavored

• Luke Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Best of Class, Odyssey Mediterranean Feta in Brine

• Jim Demeter, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, second award, Odyssey Tomato and Basil Feta



Havarti

• Decatur Dairy Team 2, Decatur Dairy Inc., Brodhead, second award, Havarti

• Edelweiss Creamery, Monticello, third award, Havarti



Havarti, Flavored

• Team Edelweiss, Edelweiss Creamery, Monticello, Best of Class, Dill Havarti

• Matt Henze, Decatur Dairy Inc., Brodhead, third award, Havarti Dill



Brick and Muenster

• Walter Hartwig, Zimmerman Cheese, South Wayne, second award, Muenster



Brie and Camembert

• Soft Production Team, Alouette Cheese, Kolb Lena, Lena, Ill., second award, Alouette Special Reserve Brie



Gouda, Aged

• Maple Leaf Shelf Curing Team, Maple Leaf Cheese Co-op, Monroe, Best of Class, Maple Leaf Traditional Gouda



Fresh Hispanic Cheeses (Quesos Frescos)

• W&W Dairy, Monroe, Best of Class, Queso Fresco

• Mexican Cheese Producers, Inc., Darlington, second award, Queso Cremoso Pail



Hard Hispanic Cheeses (Queso Duro)

• Emmi Roth USA, Monroe, Best of Class, Roth GranQueso Reserve

• Mexican Cheese Producers, Inc., Darlington, second award, Queso Cotija Wheel II

• Mexican Cheese Producers, Inc., Darlington, third award, Cotija Wheel



Open Class: Smear Ripened Hard Cheeses

• Chris Roelli, Roelli Cheese Company, Shullsburg, Best of Class, Extra Aged Alpine Cheese

• Emmi Roth USA, Monroe, second award, Roth's Private Reserve



Lowfat Cheeses

• Matt Erdley, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Best of Class, Odyssey Lowfat Feta in Brine

• Steve Webster, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, second award, Odyssey Fat Free Feta in Brine

• Lactalis Belmont, Lactalis American Group, Belmont, third award, Feta Fat Free Chunk



Reduced Sodium Cheeses

• Chad Duhai, Zimmerman Cheese, South Wayne, second award, Reduced Sodium Muenster



Flavored Spreadable Cheeses

• Family Fresh Pack, Monticello, third award, Kelly's Kitchen Cranberry Almond Gourmet Cheese Spread



Flavored Soft Goat's Milk Cheeses

• Camy Berntgen, Montchevre-Betin, Inc., Belmont, second award, Peppadew



Flavored Soft Goat's Milk Cheeses with Sweet Condiments

• Bryan Adams, Montchevre-Betin, Inc., Belmont, Best of Class, Honey Goat Cheese

• Dennis Cardy, Montchevre-Betin, Inc., Belmont, third award, Rondin Honey



Surface (Mold) Ripened Goat's Milk Cheeses

• Tim Pennekamp, Montchevre-Betin, Inc, Belmont, third award, Mini Cabrie



Semi-soft Goat's Milk Cheeses

• Scott Rood, Montchevre-Betin, Inc., Belmont, Best of Class, Crumbled Fresh and Natural Goat Cheese

• Estella Galeas, Montchevre-Betin, Inc., Belmont, second award, Crumbled Plain Tray



Flavored Semi-soft Goat's Milk Cheeses

• Mary Kay VonGlahn, Montchevre-Betin, Inc., Belmont, second award, Pomegranate and Orange Zest

• New Products Team, Alouette Cheese, Kolb Lena, Lena, third award, Chavrie Cucumber and Chives Log



Soft and Semi-soft Sheep's Milk Cheeses

• Landmark Creamery, Albany, Best of Class, Petit Nuage



High protein - cow's milk yogurt

• Adam Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Best of Class, Odyssey Greek Yogurt 10 percent

• Adam Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, third award, Odyssey Greek Yogurt 0 percent