GREEN BAY — Wisconsin cheesemakers captured almost half of the awards at the 2019 U.S. Championship Cheese Contest in Green Bay, including first and second runner up.
Wisconsin dominated the competition by sweeping 26 classes and further proved its mastery in many varieties, including aged cheddar. Wisconsin swept the Traditional Waxed Cheddar – Sharp to Aged class; Team Artisan Cheese Exchange won Best of Class for Deer Creek The King, Henning’s Cheese took first runner-up for Two Year Old Cheddar and Springside Cheese claimed second runner-up for Aged Cheddar.
Below are the area cheesemakers who finished top three in their class of the 2019 contest, each listed per class by maker, company, location, score, place and a description or title of the winning product.
Traditional Waxed Cheddar, mild to medium
● Maple Leaf Cheesemaking Team, Monroe, 99.35, Best of Class, English Hollow Cheddar
Marbled Curd Cheese
● Bill Stocker, Shullsburg Creamery, Shullsburg, 99.75, Best of Class, Colby Jack Longhorn
● Bill Stocker, Shullsburg Creamery, Shullsburg, 99.35, Third Award, Colby Jack Mini Horn
Baby Swiss Style
● Nathan Drewes, Chalet Cheese Co-op/Deppeler, Monroe, 98.6, Third Award, 22 lb. Baby Swiss Wheel
Feta
● Steve Webster, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 99.2, Best of Class, Odyssey Feta
● Ron Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 99.15, Second Award, Odyssey Feta
● Steve Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 99.10, Third Award, Odyssey Feta
Brick & Muenster
● Matt Henze, Decatur Dairy Inc., Brodhead, 99.5, Best of Class, Muenster
Havarti
● Decatur Cheesemakers, Decatur Dairy Inc., Brodhead, 99.45, Best of Class, Havarti
● Ron Bechtolt, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 99.3, Second Award, Buholzer Brothers Havarti
Havarti, flavored
● Ben Workman, Edelweiss Creamery, Monticello, 99.10, Best of Class, Sun Dried Tomato and Basil Havarti
● Steve Stettler, Decatur Dairy Inc., Brodhead, 99, Second Award, Havarti with Dill
● Decatur Cheesemakers, Decatur Dairy Inc., Brodhead, 98.95, Third Award, Havarti Dill
Blue Veined Cheeses with Exterior Molding
● Chris Roelli, Roelli Cheese Co., Shullsburg, 98.3, Third Award, RedRock
Brie & Camembert
● Lactalis USA Belmont, Lactalis, Belmont, 99.5, Best of Class, 8oz triple cream
● Lactalis USA Belmont, Lactalis, Belmont, 99.2, Second Award, 8oz Brie
● Lactalis USA Belmont, Lactalis, Belmont, 99.15, Third Award, 2lbs Triple Cream
Smoked Gouda
● Maple Leaf Cheesemaking Team, Maple Leaf Cheesemakers Inc., Monroe, 99.85, Best of Class, Smoked Traditional Gouda
Latin American Standard Fresh Cheeses
● Brian Mundt, Mexican Cheese Producers Inc. (Sigma USA), Darlington, 99.5, Best of Class, Queso Panels Basket 4#
Latin American Style Melting Cheeses
● Sam Sweeney, V&V Supremo Foods/Chula Vista Cheese Co., Browntown, 99.7, Best of Class, Oaxaca Cheese Ball
● Mark Boelk, V&V Supremo Foods/Chula Vista Cheese Co., Browntown, 99.6, Third Award, Chihuahua Cheese
Washed Rind/Smear Ripened Hard Cheeses
● Team Emmi Roth, Emmi Roth, Monroe, 99.85, Best of Class, Roth Pavino Cheese
Open Class: Pepper Flavored Cheese, Medium Heat
● Team Emmi Roth, Emmi Roth, Monroe, 99.3, Second Award, Roth Chipotle Havarti Cheese
Open Class: Flavored Semi-Soft (Semi-Hard) Cheeses
● Maple Leaf Cheesemaking Team, Maple Leaf Cheesemakers Inc., Monroe, 99.15, Third Award, Cowboy Jack
Lowfat Cheeses
● Dave Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 98.5, Best of Class, Odyssey Fat Free Feta
Semi-Soft/Semi-Hard Sheep’s Milk Cheeses
● Landmark Creamery Team, Landmark Creamery Provisions, Belleville, 98.2, Best of Class, Anabasque
Lowfat Yogurt — Cow’s Milk
● Adam Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 97.5, Third Award, Odyssey Lowfat 1 percent Vanilla Yogurt
High Protein Yogurt — Cow’s Milk
● Matt Martin, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 97.2, Second Award, Odyssey Greek Yogurt 2 percent
High Protein Yogurt, Flavored - Cow’s Milk
● Adam Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 98.6, Best of Class, Odyssey Greek Yogurt Vanilla
● Dave Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 98.45, Second Award, Odyssey Greek Yogurt Lowfat Vanilla
● Matt Martin, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, 98.3, Third Award, Odyssey Greek Yogurt Lowfat Blueberry
Open Class Shredded Cheese, Flavored & Unflavored
● Dan Reed, Chula Vista Cheese Co./V&V Supremo Foods, Browntown, 99.3, Second Award, Chihuahua Cheese
Wisconsin cheesemakers secured 168 total awards, including 57 Best of Class awards, 58 First Runner-Up awards and 53 Second Runner-Up awards. 51 Wisconsin dairy companies won one or more awards. Wisconsin cheese and dairy companies that won 5 or more awards include Marieke Gouda, Carr Valley Cheese Company, Klondike Cheese Company, Agropur, Sartori Company, Mill Creek Cheese, Lactalis, BelGioioso Cheese Inc., Foremost Farms USA – Chilton, AMPI, Saputo Cheese USA Inc. and Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese Company.
With a record-breaking 2,555 entries from 35 U.S. states, the U.S. Championship Cheese Contest is the largest technical cheese, butter and yogurt competition in the country. To learn more about award-winning Wisconsin cheeses from this competition and more, visit WisconsinCheese.com.
— The Associated Press contributed to this story.