Dairy manufacturers from throughout the state submitted close to 300 entries for the 2011 Wisconsin State Fair Cheese & Butter Contest, which took place June 24 at Wisconsin State Fair Park. The 22 classes were evaluated in such categories as flavor, appearance and texture.
The 2011 Grand Master Cheesemaker, along with this year's other winning cheesemakers, will be recognized during the Blue Ribbon Cheese & Butter Auction on Thursday, Aug. 4 at Wisconsin State Fair Park. The Blue Ribbon Cheese & Butter Auction, which features the sale of the blue-ribbon entries, is a fundraiser for the Wisconsin State Fair Dairy Promotion Board. Auction proceeds fund scholarships for students pursuing dairy-related degrees and support the House of Moo dairy education center, as well as the Wisconsin State Fair Milking Demonstrations.
The top entries in each class include:
Cheddar
David Schmidt, Agropur, Weyauwega, Cheddar, 99.15
Terry Meyer, Land O'Lakes, Kiel, Cheddar, 98.95
Tom Ramsden, Meister Cheese Company, Muscoda, White Stirred Curd Cheddar, 98.85
Colby, Monterey Jack
Scott Barker, Meister Cheese Company, Muscoda, Colby Jack Longhorn, 99.5
Steve Meister, DCI Cheese Company, Richfield, Morel & Leek Jack, 99.25
Al Merten, Land O'Lakes, Kiel, Monterey Jack, 98.8
Swiss Styles
Neal Schwartz, Chalet Cheese Co-op, Monroe, Baby Swiss Wheel, 97.45
Mike Nelson, Chalet Cheese Co-op, Monroe, Baby Swiss Block, 96.85
Sid Cook, Carr Valley Cheese, LaValle, Bahl Baby Swiss, 96.7
Brick, Muenster
Dennis Schliem, Zimmerman Cheese, South Wayne, Brick, 99.5
Matt Erdley, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Brick, 99.45
Ron Bechtolt, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Muenster, 99.4
Mozzarella
Pat Doell, Agropur, Luxemburg, Low Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella, 99.1
Roger Krohn, Agropur, Luxemburg, Low Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella, 99.05
Roger Krohn, Agropur, Luxemburg, Low Moisture Mozzarella, Whole Milk, 98.95
String Cheese
Grant Arneson, Burnett Dairy Co-op, Grantsburg, String Cheese, 99.4
Rob Stellrecht, Burnett Dairy Co-op, Grantsburg, String Cheese, 98.8
Kurt Premo, Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese, Waterloo, Farmers Rope, 98.6
Blue Veined Cheese
Brandon Dehn, BelGioioso Cheese, Green Bay, Creamy Gorgonzola, 98.95
Team Mindoro, Swiss Valley Farms, Mindoro, Gorgonzola, 98.45
Tony Ellis, BelGioioso Cheese, Green Bay, Crumbly Gorgonzola, 98.2
Feta
Jim Demeter, Agropur, Weyauwega, Feta, 99.45
Steve Webster, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Feta in Brine, 98.95
Terry Lensmire, Agropur, Appleton, Feta, 98.65
Flavored Pepper Cheese
Steve Stettler, Decatur Dairy, Brodhead, Pepper Havarti, 99.05
Jeff Wideman, Maple Leaf Cheese Co-op, Monroe, Chipotle Cheddar, 98.45
David Meyer, Lynn Dairy, Granton, Pepper Jack, 98.05
Flavored Soft Cheese
Tony Gessler, Lactalis USA, Merrill, Garlic & Herbs Gourmet Spread, 99.65
Kurt Premo, Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese, Waterloo, Marinated Fresh Mozzarella, 99.6
Adam Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Peppercorn Feta, 99.5
Flavored Semi-Soft Cheese
Joseph Widmer, Widmer's Cheese Cellars, Theresa, Colby With Caraway Seeds, 99.3
Jon Jay Lewis, Valley View Cheese Co-op, South Wayne, Dill Havarti, 99.2
Valley View Cheese Co-op, South Wayne, Dill Havarti, 99.15
Flavored Hard Cheese
Mike Matucheski, Sartori Foods, Plymouth, Balsamic BellaVitano, 98.6
Mike Matucheski, Sartori Foods, Plymouth, Mediterranean Fontina, 98.55
Mike Matucheski, Sartori Foods, Plymouth, Espresso BellaVitano, 98.35
Smear Ripened Cheese
Steve Isley, Emmi Roth USA, Monroe, Raclette, 98.5
Kurt Premo, Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese, Waterloo, Petit Frère, 98.25
Myron Olson, DCI Cheese Company, Richfield, Liederkranz, 98.0
Cold Pack Cheese, Cheese Food
Harold Patzke, Pine River Pre-Pack, Newton, Swiss and Almond Cold Pack, 99.65
Harold Patzke, Pine River Pre-Pack, Newton, Port Wine Cold Pack, 99.6
Phil Lindemann, Pine River Pre-Pack, Newton, Smokey Bacon Flavor Cold Pack, 99.55
Pasteurized Process Cheese, Cheese Food, Cheese Spread
Ken Kreklow, Associated Milk Producers, Portage, Pasteurized Process Swiss American, 99.6
Ralph Schutz, Associated Milk Producers, Portage, Pasteurized Process White American, 99.5
Shawn Schult, Lactalis USA, Merrill, Wee Brie, 99.4
Reduced Fat or Lite Cheese
John Baebler, Edelweiss Creamery, Monticello, Lacey Swiss, 99.1
Jim Demeter, Agropur, Weyauwega, Reduced Fat Feta, 98.65
Margarete Porod, Lactalis USA, Merrill, Garlic & Herbs Light Gourmet Spread, 98.6
Open Class - Soft and Spreadable Cheese
Kurt Premo, Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese, Waterloo, Mascarpone, 99.65
Dave Zielazowski, Lactalis USA, Merrill, Blue Cheese Gourmet Spread, 99.45
Rob Bradley, Family Fresh Pack, Belleville, Garlic and Herb Spread, 99.3
Open Class - Semi-Soft Cheese
Marieke Penterman, Holland's Family Cheese, Thorp, Marieke Gouda Plain Belegen, 99.9
Matt Henze, Decatur Dairy, Brodhead, Havarti, 99.35
Gary Grossen, Babcock Dairy Plant, Madison, Gouda, 99.3
Open Class – Hard Cheese
Steve Bierhals, BelGioioso Cheese, Green Bay, Parmesan, 99.2
Lake Country Dairy, Turtle Lake, Hand-Crafted Asiago, 98.9
Josh Krause, BelGioioso Cheese, Green Bay, Asiago, 98.8
Goat Milk Cheese
Jean Roussard, Montchevre-Betin, Belmont, Crumble Onion & Basil, 99.85
Katie Hedrich, LaClare Farms Specialties, Chilton, LaClare Farms Fresh Chevre, 99.65
Douglas Waechter, Montchevre-Betin, Belmont, Feta, 99.55
Sheep & Mixed Milk Cheese
Mike Matucheski, Sartori Foods, Plymouth, Pastorale Blend, 99.7
Sid Cook, Carr Valley Cheese, LaValle, Cave Aged Marisa, 99.65
Tom Jenny, Carr Valley Cheese, LaValle, River Bend Sheep, 99.15
Butter
John Thompson, Foremost Farms USA, Reedsburg, Salted Butter, 99.35
Mark Wagester, Graf Creamery, Bonduel, Salted Butter, 99.3
Brett Jepson, Foremost Farms USA, Reedsburg, Salted Butter, 99.0
Source: Wisconsin State Fair