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Several area cheesemakers win awards
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By Susan Endres

sendres@themonroetimes.com

MADISON - Local cheesemakers raked in awards at the 2018 World Championship Cheese Contest held this week at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison.

The contest finished Thursday night with the announcement of the World Champion, which was a hard sheep's milk cheese called Esquirrou made in France at Mauleon Fromagerie by Michel Touyarou and imported by Savencia Cheese USA of New Holland, Pennsylvania. The company also owns Kolb-Lena Cheese Co. in Lena.

Beginning on Tuesday, judges evaluated 121 classes of dairy products from 26 nations. Twenty cheeses out of a record 3,402 entries were finalists for the top prize, including a cheddar made by Monroe's Maple Leaf Cheese.

Two years ago, a smear-ripened hard cheese called Grand Cru Surchoix made in Monroe by Emmi Roth USA won the biennial contest.

Below are the area cheesemakers who finished in the top three of their class in the 2018 contest, each listed under the class with the maker or team, company, location, score, award and description of the cheese.



CHEDDAR, AGED ONE TO TWO YEARS

♦ Maple Leaf Cheesemaking Team, Maple Leaf Cheesemakers Inc., Monroe, 99.20, Best of Class, English Hollow Cheddar



BABY SWISS STYLE

♦ Jamie Fahrney, Chalet Cheese Co-op, Monroe, 98.95, Third Award, 40-pound Block Baby Swiss



FETA

♦ Steve Webster, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 99.05, Second Award, Odyssey Feta

♦ Adam Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 98.90, Third Award, Odyssey Feta



FETA, FLAVORED

♦ Justin Lowery, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 99.70, Second Award, Odyssey Tomato and Basil Feta



BRICK, MUENSTER

♦ Dave Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 99.60, Best of Class, Brick

♦ Steve Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 99.50, Second Award, Muenster



HAVARTI

♦ Team Edelweiss, Edelweiss Creamery LLC, Monticello, 99.65, Best of Class, Havarti

♦ Steve Stettler, Decatur Dairy Inc., Brodhead, 99.40, Second Award, Havarti

♦ Ron Bechtolt, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 99.30, Third Award, Havarti



HAVARTI, FLAVORED

♦ Team Edelweiss, Edelweiss Creamery LLC, Monticello, 99.20, Second Award, Havarti Onion

♦ Steve Stettler, Decatur Dairy Inc., Brodhead, 98.95, Third Award, Havarti With Dill



SMOKED GOUDA

♦ Maple Leaf Cheesemaking Team, Maple Leaf Cheesemakers Inc., Monroe, 99.15, Third Award, Aged Smoked Gouda



BRIE

♦ Lactalis, Lactalis, Belmont, 99.55, Best of Class, 2-pound triple cream

♦ Lactalis, Lactalis, Belmont, 99.45, Second Award, 8-ounce brie

♦ Lactalis, Lactalis, Belmont, 99.40, Third Award, 2-pound brie



CAMEMBERT

♦ Lactalis, Lactalis, Belmont, 99.40, Second Award, 2-pound camembert



WASHED RIND/SMEAR RIPENED HARD CHEESES

♦ Team Emmi Roth, Emmi Roth USA, Monroe, 99.40, Third Award, Roth Grand Cru Reserve Wheel



PEPPER FLAVORED MONTEREY JACK, MILD HEAT

♦ Maple Leaf Cheesemaking Team, Maple Leaf Cheesemakers Inc., Monroe, 99.55, Third Award, Twin Grove Chipotle Jack



OPEN CLASS: PEPPER FLAVORED CHEESES, MEDIUM HEAT

♦ Matt Erdley, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 99.05, Second Award, Odyssey Sweet Heat Feta



OPEN CLASS: PEPPER FLAVORED CHEESES, HIGH HEAT

♦ Team Emmi Roth, Emmi Roth USA, Monroe, 98.85, Best of Class Roth Chipotle Havarti Loaf



LATIN AMERICAN STYLE MELTING CHEESES

♦ Dan Reed, Chula Vista Cheese Co./V&V Supremo Foods, Browntown, 99.10, Best of Class, Oaxaca Cheese Ball

♦ Sam Sweeney, Chula Vista Cheese Co./V&V Supremo Foods Browntown, 98.90, Second Award, Oaxaca Cheese Ball

♦ Jeff Mattes, Chula Vista Cheese Co./V&V Supremo Foods, Browntown, 98.85, Third Award, Oaxaca Cheese Ball



LATIN AMERICAN STYLE HARD CHEESES

♦ Team Emmi Roth, Emmi Roth USA, Monroe, 98.45, Third Award, Roth Original GranQueso Wheel



OPEN CLASS: SEMI-SOFT (SEMI-HARD) CHEESES

♦ Alpine Cheese team, Alpine Cheese/Valleyview, South Wayne, 99.20, Best of Class, Butterkase



OPEN CLASS: HARD CHEESES

♦ Team Emmi Roth, Emmi Roth USA, Monroe, 97.70, Second Award, Roth Pavino Cheese Wheel



OPEN CLASS: SMOKED SOFT AND SEMI-SOFT (SEMI-HARD) CHEESES

♦ Maple Leaf Cheesemaking Team, Maple Leaf Cheesemakers Inc., Monroe, 99.45, Best of Class, Smoked Fontina



LOWFAT CHEESES

♦ Steve Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 99.85, Best of Class, Odyssey Low Fat Feta

♦ Steve Webster, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 99.70, Third Award, Odyssey Fat Free Feta



FLAVORED SOFT GOAT'S MILK CHEESES

♦ Team Foecking, Montchevre-Betin Inc., Belmont, 99.35, Second Award, 4 ounces Garlic and Herb Non-GMO

♦ Team Adams, Montchevre-Betin Inc., Belmont, 99.30, Third Award, Rondin Garlic and Herb



FLAVORED HIGH PROTEIN - COW'S MILK

♦ Adam Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 99.60, Best of Class, Odyssey Greek Yogurt Peach

♦ Adam Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 99.50, Second Award, Odyssey Greek Yogurt Vanilla

♦ Steve Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 99.40, Third Award, Odyssey Greek Yogurt Low-fat Peach



OPEN CLASS SHREDDED CHEESE BLENDS, FLAVORED AND UNFLAVORED

♦ Jace Johnsrud, Chula Vista Cheese Co./V&V Supremo Foods, Browntown, 98.75, Third Award, Chihuahua/Oaxaca Blend



PREPARED CHEESE FOODS

♦ Team Brunkow, Brunkow Cheese, Darlington, 99.30, Third Award, Brun-uusto Baked Cheese Original



- The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Law of the Month: Plan ahead to prevent impaired driving this holiday season
December Law of the Month: Impaired driving
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MADISON — December is here, and with it, another season of holiday celebrations. Don’t cut the party short by driving impaired - it is dangerous, reckless and never the only option.

Wisconsin State Patrol’s December Law of the Month brings attention to impaired driving laws and encourages motorists to find safe ways to get to their destinations this holiday season.

“Across the state, Wisconsinites are celebrating the holidays and the end of another year,” Wisconsin State Patrol Superintendent Tim Carnahan said. “We encourage everyone to take responsibility and plan ahead if you plan to celebrate. Designate a sober driver ahead of time, take public transit, or use a rideshare program to keep yourself and others safe on the roads. There is never an excuse for driving impaired.”

On average, someone is injured or killed in an impaired driving crash every two hours in Wisconsin. In 2023, there were over 7,700 impaired driving crashes that claimed the lives of 186 people on Wisconsin roads.


Drive sober: It’s the law

In Wisconsin, drivers are prohibited from operating any vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of more than 0.08. Under Wisconsin’s “not a drop” law, drivers under age 21 are prohibited from having any detectable amount of alcohol in their system. Drivers may not have any illegal drugs in their system when behind the wheel.

Motorists who refuse a blood/breath alcohol test will lose their license for at least one year and may have their vehicle impounded.


Taking action

Wisconsin law enforcement works hard year-round to encourage safe driving and prevent impaired driving.

Over 7,500 law enforcement officers across the state are trained in Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE). This helps law enforcement detect impaired drivers and get them off the road.

With almost 400 Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) across the state, Wisconsin is helping lead the nation in eliminating drug-impaired driving. DREs help prevent tragedies by identifying the signs of drug-impaired driving and securing convictions to keep them off the roads.

The Wisconsin State Patrol is continuing to highlight the danger that impaired driving poses throughout the holiday season with its Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. Running from Dec. 13, 2024, through Jan. 1, 2025, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over is an annual holiday partnership with local law enforcement to keep Wisconsin roads safe and free of impaired drivers.


Stay safe, make smart choices

Driving impaired carries serious consequences. Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) charges can cost you around $10,000. Stay safe and save money on the road this holiday season:

●  Select a sober designated driver ahead of time. If you’re feeling impaired, you are likely over the 0.08 Blood Alcohol Concentration limit and should not drive.

●  Remember you have options: take the bus, call a taxi, use a rideshare or ask a sober friend to drive you home.

●  If you have a friend who is about to drive under the influence, step in. Take away their keys and get them home safely.

●  If it’s your turn to be the sober driver, take that job seriously. 

●  If you suspect a driver is impaired, safely gather as much information as you can about the vehicle, driver and location. Then call 911.

View the December Law of the Month video and news release online: https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/about-wisdot/newsroom/law/lom.aspx.