Mike Matucheski, a cheesemaker at Sartori Company in Plymouth, was named the 2012 Grand Master Cheese Maker during the Blue Ribbon Cheese & Butter Auction, held Aug. 10 at the Wisconsin State Fair. Matucheski, a three-time winner of the coveted Grand Master Cheese Maker title, earned the honor for his Pastorale Blend, the first place entry in the Sheep & Mixed Milk Cheese Class. Matucheski previously earned the title in 2009, also for his Pastorale Blend, as well as in 2010.
Each blue-ribbon entry from the Wisconsin State Fair Cheese & Butter Contest sold during the auction, which raised $34,875 for student scholarships and dairy promotions at the Wisconsin State Fair. Leading off the auction was 20 pounds of Mautcheski' s award-winning Pastorale Blend, which sold for $2,000 to US Jesco of Carrollton, Texas.
Other auction results include:
Mild Cheddar
Made by: Dan Stearns, Agropur, Weyauwega
Buyer: R. Mueller Service & Equipment, Monroe
Amount: 42 lbs.
Price per pound: $120
Total sell price: $5,040
Petite Swiss
Made by: Team Emmi Roth, Emmi Roth USA, Monroe
Buyer: Ivarson, Milwaukee
Amount: 20 lbs.
Price per pound: $100
Total sell price: $2,000
Feta With Basil & Tomato
Made by: Terry Lensmire, Agropur, Weyauwega
Buyer: Cargill, Waukesha
Amount: 13 lbs.
Price per pound: $130
Total sell price: $1,690
Blueberry Vanilla Goat Cheese
Made by: Douglas Waechter, Montchevre-Betin
Buyer: DCI Cheese Company, Richfield
Amount: 10 lbs.
Price per pound: $180
Total sell price: $1,800
Aged Asiago
Made by: Team Almena, DCI Cheese Company, Richfield
Buyer: DCI Cheese Company, Richfield
Amount: 22 lbs.
Price per pound: $70
Total sell price: $1,540
String Cheese
Made by: Steven Tollers, Burnett Dairy Co-op, Grantsburg
Buyer: Saz's, Milwaukee
Amount: 10 lbs.Price per pound: $110
Total sell price: $1,100
Reserve Blue
Made by: Nelson Schrock, Salemville Cheese Co-op, Cambria
Buyer: DCI Cheese Company
Amount: 12 lbs.
Price per pound: $60
Total sell price: $720
American Pasteurized Process Cheese
Made by: John Breene, Dairy Farmers of America, Plymouth    Â
Buyer: Wisconsin Aging & Grading Cheese, Little Chute
Amount: 10 lbs.
Price per pound: $50
Total sell price: $500
Aged Asiago Cold Pack
Made by: Phil Lindemann, Pine River Pre-Pack, Newton
Buyer: Wisconsin Aging & Grading Cheese, Little Chute
Amount: 12 lbs.
Price per pound: $100
Total sell price: $1,200
Queso Fresco Wheel
Made by: Brian Mundt, Mexican Cheese Producers, Darlington
Buyer: Chr. Hansen, Milwaukee
Amount: 16 lbs.
Price per pound: $155
Total sell price: $2,480
Muenster
Made by: Randy Pitman, Mill Creek Cheese, Arena
Buyer: R. Mueller Service & Equipment, Monroe
Amount: 12 lbs.
Price per pound: $100
Total sell price: $1,200
Fresh Mozzarella with Prosciutto & Fresh Basil
Made by: Ben Milquet, BelGioioso Cheese, Green Bay
Buyer: Cheese Market News, Middleton
Amount: 10 lbs.
Price per pound: $105
Total sell price: $1,050
Limburger
Made by: Nathan Leopold, Chalet Cheese Co-op, Monroe
Buyer: R. Mueller Service & Equipment, Monroe
Amount: 10 lbs.
Price per pound: $90
Total sell price: $900
English Hollow Cheddar
Made by: Roger Larson, Maple Leaf Cheese, Monroe
Buyer: Berenz Packaging, Menomonee Falls
Amount: 27 lbs.
Price per pound: $60
Total sell price: $1,620
Reduced Fat Feta
Made by: Steve Webster, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe
Buyer: Ivarson, Milwaukee
Amount: 10 lbs.
Price per pound: $55
Total sell price: $550
Havarti
Made by: Matt Henze, Decatur Dairy, Brodhead
Buyer: Chr. Hansen, Milwaukee
Amount: 10 lbs.
Price per pound: $120
Total sell price: $1,200
Colby Jack Longhorn
Made by: Ryan Sturdevant, Meister Cheese Company, Muscoda
Buyer: Wisconsin Cheese Originals, Oregon
Amount: 14 lbs.
Price per pound: $60
Total sell price: $840
Burrata
Made by: Linda Saurer, BelGioioso Cheese, Green Bay
Buyer: Cargill, Waukesha
Amount: 10 lbs.
Price per pound: $70
Total sell price: $700
Bandaged Billy
Made by: Dave Small, Carr Valley Cheese, LaValle
Buyer: Ivarson, Milwaukee
Amount: 10 lbs.
Price per pound: $40
Total sell price: $400
Low Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella
Made by: Terry Lensmire, Agropur, Luxemburg
Buyer: Wisconsin Aging & Grading Cheese, Little Chute
Amount: 13 lbs.
Price per pound: $45
Total sell price: $585
Cannella BellaVitano
Made by: Mike Matucheski, Sartori Company, Plymouth
Buyer: Riteway Transportation, Richfield
Amount: 20 lbs.
Price per pound: $150
Total sell price: $3,000
Smokehaus Blue
Made by: Nelson Schrock, Salemville Cheese Co-op, Cambria
Buyer: DCI Cheese Company, Richfield
Amount: 12 lbs.
Price per pound: $60
Total sell price: $720
String Cheese With Jalapeño & Habanero Peppers
Made by: Steven Tollers, Burnett Dairy Co-op, Grantsburg
Buyer: Dupont/Danisco, New Century, Kansas
Amount: 10 lbs.
Price per pound: $60
Total sell price: $600
Feta
Made by: Terry Lensmire, Agropur, Weyauwega
Buyer: Chr. Hansen, Milwaukee
Amount: 13 lbs.
Price per pound: $30
Total sell price: $390
Salted Butter
Made by: Team Graf, Graf Creamery, Bonduel
Buyer: Ivarson, Milwaukee
Amount: 10 lbs.
Price per pound: $105
Total sell price: $1,050