Seventy-five years have passed since Mississippi State University began producing its distinctive Edam cheese.

To celebrate this major milestone, MSU’s Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station will host a celebration on Saturday, April 20, outside the MAFES Sales Store. Refreshments will be served at the free publicevent from 9:30 a.m. to noon.

President Mark Keenum will preside over a cake-cutting ceremony, and MSU staff will distribute commemorative Edam cheese-shaped stress balls and mini graters. Guests will be able to view a new video featuring people who helped shape MSU’s dairy program and a display featuring historic photographs and artifacts related to Edam cheese production.

MSU alumni and fans of the university’s Edam cheese have contributed to a collection of memories involving the distinctive “cannonball” cheese and to a Twitter photo campaign @msstate using the hashtag #SayCheeseState.

Additional celebrations will take place during MSU’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences alumni breakfast and at other times throughout the anniversary year.

For more information about the Edam cheese anniversary, call the MAFES Sales Store at (662) 325-9687 or visit http://www.msucheese.com.