Dairy manufacturers from throughout the state submitted a record number 411 entries for the 2018 Wisconsin State Fair Dairy Products Contest, which took place June 21 at Wisconsin State Fair Park. The contest featured 37 classes, including new divisions for yogurt and sour cream.
The 2018 Grand Master Cheesemaker, Grand Champion Butter, Grand Champion Yogurt and Grand Champion Sour Cream will be announced at the Blue Ribbon Dairy Products Auction on Thursday, August 9 at Wisconsin State Fair Park. The Blue Ribbon Dairy Products Auction 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:
Mild Cheddar
Timothy Stearns, Agropur, Weyauwega, cheddar cut from 640, 99.200
Dan Stearns, Agropur, Weyauwega, cheddar cut from 640, 99.100
Terry Lensmire, Agropur, Appleton, cheddar cut from 640, 98.850
Aged Cheddar
Luke Kopecky, Land O’Lakes, Kiel, aged cheddar, 98.850
Maple Leaf Cheesemakers, Maple Leaf Cheese, Monroe, English Hollow, 98.500
Jon Metzig, Union Star Cheese, Fremont, 16-month white cheddar, 98.250
Colby, Monterey Jack
Bill Stocker, Shullsburg Creamery, Shullsburg, colby jack longhorn, 98.650
Scott Barker, Cedar Grove Cheese, Plain, marbled colby, 98.550
Bill Stocker, Shullsburg Creamery, Shullsburg, monterey jack block, 98.050
Swiss Styles
Shullsburg Team, Prairie Farms, Shullsburg, baby swiss wheel, 99.500
Josh Johnson, Chalet Cheese Co-op, Monroe, whole milk baby swiss, 99.250
Richard Buss, Chalet Cheese Co-op, Monroe, whole milk baby swiss, 98.600
Brick, Muenster
John (Randy) Pitman, Mill Creek Cheese, Arena, brick, 99.650
Steve Stettler, Decatur Dairy, Brodhead, brick, 99.325
John (Randy) Pitman, Mill Creek Cheese, Arena, muenster, 99.200
Mozzarella
Ben Shibler, Ron’s Wisconsin Cheese, Luxemburg, mozzarella whips, 99.600
Ben Miller, Foremost Farms USA, Richland Center, mozzarella part skim, 98.950
Foremost Farms USA, Chilton, low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella, 98.850
String Cheese
Cesar Luis, Cesar’s Cheese, Random Lake, Cesar’s Hand Stretched String Cheese, 99.650
Cesar Luis, Cesar’s Cheese, Random Lake, Queso Oaxaca Hand Stretched String Cheese, 99.600
Tim Entringer, Baker Cheese Factory, St. Cloud, string cheese, 99.350
Blue Veined Cheese
Team Seymour, Great Lakes Cheese, Seymour, gorgonzola, 97.850
Team Seymour, Great Lakes Cheese, Seymour, blue cheese, 97.800
Mike Berg, Lake Country Dairy-Schuman Cheese, Turtle Lake, gorgonzola, 97.750
Feta
Steve Buhlozer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Odyssey Feta in Brine, 99.500
Brian Jackson, Nasonville Dairy, Marshfield, feta in brine, 99.150
Tim Kempf, Agropur, Weyauwega, feta, 98.950
Flavored Pepper Cheese
John (Randy) Pitman, Mill Creek Cheese, Arena, chili pepper muenster, 99.150
Sam Sweeney, Chula Vista/V&V Supremo, Browntown, Chihuahua Cheese With Jalapeno Peppers, 99.100
Tim Pehl, Chula Vista/V&V Supremo, Browntown, Chihuahua Cheese With Jalapeno Peppers, 99.000
Flavored Soft Cheese
George Crave, Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese, Waterloo, marinated fresh mozzarella, 99.250
Steve Webster, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Odyssey Peppercorn Feta, 98.700
Courtney Schreiner, Lactalis USA, Merrill, Rondele Garden Vegetable Gourmet Spread, 98.550
Flavored Semi-Soft Cheese
Anthony Johnson, Foremost Farms USA, Clayton, natural flavor provolone, 99.050
Team Lake Country Dairy, Lake Country Dairy-Schuman Cheese, Turtle Lake, Mayan Cocoa Rubbed Fontal, 98.950
John (Randy) Pitman, Mill Creek Cheese, Arena, caraway brick, 98.900
Smoked Cheese
Maple Leaf Cheesemakers, Maple Leaf Cheese, Monroe, aged smoke traditional gouda, 99.750
Larry Harris, Meister Cheese, Muscoda, Kindred Creamery Smoked Cheddar, 99.400
Larry Harris, Meister Cheese, Muscoda, Kindred Creamery Smoked Cheddar, 99.250
Flavored Hard Cheese
Mike Matucheski, Sartori Cheese, Antigo, Sartori Reserve Black Pepper BellaVitano, 99.750
Mike Matucheski, Sartori Cheese, Antigo, Sartori Reserve Rosemary & Olive Oil Asiago, 99.550
Mike Matucheski, Sartori Cheese, Antigo, Sartori Reserve Chipotle BellaVitano, 99.400
Smear Ripened Cheese
Team Lake Country Dairy, Lake Country Dairy-Schuman Cheese, Turtle Lake, Altu, 99.650
Team Lake Country Dairy, Lake Country Dairy-Schuman Cheese, Turtle Lake, Monteau, 99.575
Team Emmi Roth, Emmi Roth, Monroe, Roth Grand Cru Surchoix Wheel, 99.450
Cold Pack Cheese, Cheese Food
Team Pine River, Pine River Pre-Pack, Newton, swiss & almond cold pack, 99.000
Team Pine River, Pine River Pre-Pack, Newton, aged asiago cold pack, 98.900
Team Pine River, Pine River Pre-Pack, Newton, garlic & herb cold pack, 98.700
Pasteurized Process Cheese, Cheese Food, Cheese Spread
Slice Team, Associated Milk Producers, Portage, pasteurized process American swiss slices, 99.650
Slice Team, Associated Milk Producers, Portage, pasteurized process American cheese slices, 99.500
Cheese Team 1, Gilman Cheese Corporation, Gilman, 98.800
Reduced Fat or Lite Cheese
Anthony Johnson, Foremost Farms USA, Clayton, reduced fat provolone, 98.900
Luke Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Odyssey Reduced Fat Peppercorn Feta, 98.250
Adam Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Odyssey Reduced Fat Feta, 98.150
Open Class – Soft and Spreadable Cheese
Team Lake Country Dairy, Lake Country Dairy-Schuman Cheese, Turtle Lake, Cello Mascarpone, 99.250
George Crave, Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese, Waterloo, mascarpone, 98.800
John Slawinski, Clock Shadow Creamery, Milwaukee, ricotta, 97.500
Havarti
Adam Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Buholzer Brothers Havarti, 99.100
Dave Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Buholzer Brothers Havarti, 99.050
Matt Henze, Decatur Dairy, Brodhead, havarti, 98.900
Flavored Havarti
Ron Bechtolt, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Buholzer Brothers Dill Havarti, 98.450
Steve Stettler, Decatur Dairy, Brodhead, havarti with Mediterranean herb, 98.425
Steve Stettler, Decatur Dairy, Brodhead, havarti with dill, 98.350
Open Class – Semi-Soft Cheese
Gary Grossen, Babcock Hall Dairy Plant, Madison, gouda, 99.700
Saxon Cheese, Cleveland, aged butterkase, 99.450
Maple Leaf Cheesemakers, Maple Leaf Cheese, Monroe, aged traditional gouda, 99.400
Open Class – Hard Cheese
Team Lake Country Dairy, Lake Country Dairy-Schuman Cheese, Turtle Lake, traditional romano, 99.300
Team Emmi Roth, Emmi Roth, Monroe, Roth Grand Cru Original Wheel, 99.225
Team Emmi Roth, Emmi Roth, Platteville, Roth Grand Cru Reserve Block, 99.125
Flavored Goat Milk Cheese
Doug Waechter, Saputo/Montchevre, Belmont, cranberry/cinnamon, 99.475
Katie Fuhrmann and Team LaClare, LaClare Farms, Malone, fresh goat cheese with honey, 99.450
Katie Fuhrmann and Team LaClare, LaClare Farms, Malone, blueberry vanilla fresh goat cheese, 99.375
Natural Goat Milk Cheese
Pam Hodgson, Sartori Cheese, Plymouth, Sartori Limited Edition Extra-Aged Goat, 99.650
Aaron Peper, Cedar Grove Cheese, Plain, chevre, 99.350
John Loy, Clock Shadow Creamery, Milwaukee, chevre, 99.100 (tie)
Aurelien Jolly, Saputo/Montchevre, Belmont, plain, 99.100 (tie)
Latin American Cheese
Andy Rufener, Chula Vista/V&V Supremo, Browntown, Chihuahua cheese, 98.950
John (Randy) Pitman, Mill Creek Cheese, Arena, queso para fundir, 98.925
George Crave, Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese, Waterloo, Oaxaca, 98.900
Sheep & Mixed Milk Cheese
Anthony Hook, Hook’s Cheese Company, Mineral Point, Little Boy Blue, 99.750
Anthony Hook, Hook’s Cheese Company, Mineral Point, Ewe Calf to be Kidding Blue Cheese, 99.100
Katie Fuhrmann, Eckerman Sheep Company, Antigo, Ewemazing, 99.050 (tie)
Katie Fuhrmann, Eckerman Sheep Company, Antigo, Lovely Lamb, 99.050 (tie)
Salted Butter
Dan Stolte, Foremost Farms USA, Reedsburg, salted butter 1st shift, 99.375
Diana Seep, Foremost Farms USA, Reedsburg, salted butter 2nd shift, 98.875
Team Chaseburg, CROPP Cooperative, LaFarge, organic pasture butter, 98.550
Unsalted Butter
Roy Philippi, Graf Creamery, Bonduel, unsalted cow’s milk butter, 98.200
Team Chaseburg, CROPP Cooperative, LaFarge, organic cultured butter, 98.050
Team Chaseburg, CROPP Cooperative, LaFarge, organic European cultured butter, 97.900
Flavored High Protein Yogurt
Adam Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Odyssey Pomegranate Acai Yogurt, 99.700
Adam Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Odyssey Peach Yogurt, 99.650
Steve Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Odyssey Vanilla Yogurt, 99.600
Unflavored High Protein Yogurt
Adam Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Odyssey Greek Yogurt, 99.600
Adam Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Odyssey 2% Greek Yogurt, 99.450
Ryan O’Donnell, Westby Co-op Creamery, Westby, Kalona Super Natural Organic Greek Yogurt, 99.100
Open Class – Flavored Yogurt
Yodelay Yogurt, Madison, Yodelay Rhubarb Swiss Yogurt, 99.900
Yodelay Yogurt, Madison, Yodelay Tart Cherry Swiss Yogurt, 99.800
Yodelay Yogurt, Madison, Yodelay Raspberry Swiss Yogurt, 99.650
Open Class – Unflavored Yogurt
George Roehrig and Team LaClare, LaClare Farms, Malone, plain goat milk yogurt, 99.500
Team Schrieber, CROPP Cooperative, LaFarge, organic grass milk plain yogurt, 99.200
Drinkable Cultured Products
Ryan and Josh Heiman, Nasonville Dairy, Marshfield, raspberry flavored kefir, 99.800
Ryan and Josh Heiman, Nasonville Dairy, Marshfield, vanilla flavored kefir, 99.700
Yodelay Yogurt, Madison, Yodelay Rhubarb Swiss Yogurt, 99.550
Open Class – Flavored Sour Cream
Ryan O’Donnell, Westby Co-op Creamery, Westby, Westby Co-op Creamery French Onion Dip, 99.650
Ryan O’Donnell, Westby Co-op Creamery, Westby, Westby Co-op Creamery Organic French Onion Dip, 99.350
Open Class – Unflavored Sour Cream
Michael Godfrey, Mexican Cheese Producers, Darlington, La Chona Crema Natural, 99.800
Adam Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Odyssey Sour Cream, 99.600
Michael Godfrey, Mexican Cheese Producers, Darlington, FUD Crema Natural, 99.550
Low Fat Sour Cream
Adam Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Odyssey Reduced Fat Greek French Onion Dip, 99.800
Adam Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Odyssey Reduced Fat Greek Sour Cream, 99.650
