Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board continued its long-standing American Cheese Society winning streak at the annual competition in Providence, Rhode Island. They captured more awards than any other state for the eleventh consecutive year. This year’s competition garnered 101 ribbons for America’s Dairyland, including two Best of Show awards.
Wisconsin cheesemakers, along with the state’s butter and yogurt makers, claimed 28 percent of all awards bestowed, including 22 first place ribbons, 39 second place and 38 third place. With these wins, Wisconsin cheesemakers swept five categories: American Originals – Brick Cheese; American Originals Original Recipe – Open Category; Italian Type Cheeses – Grating Types; Flavored Cheeses – International-Style with Flavor Added; and Flavored Cheeses – Sheep Cheese with Flavor Added. Wisconsin cheesemakers also dominated the awards for cow’s milk cheeses, winning 33 percent of all awards with 77 total ribbons.
Two Wisconsin cheesemakers tied for a second place Best of Show. Cheesemaker Katie Fuhrmann and the team at LaClare Farms Specialties, LLC won for their Standard Market Cave Aged Chandoka, and Emmi Roth USA took home the award for their Roth’s Private Reserve.
Thirty-one Wisconsin companies received one or more awards at the competition, and several Wisconsin cheesemakers had outstanding performances, including Hidden Springs Creamery and Lactalis American Group, each claiming nine ribbons, Klondike Cheese Co., winning eight ribbons, and six companies brought home five ribbons each: Emmi Roth USA, Arthur Schuman Inc., Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese, LLC, CROPP Cooperative/Organic Valley, Hook’s Cheese Company, Inc., and Sartori Company.