Local cheesemakers earn honors

Tri-County News

Several area cheesemakers took high honors at the 2009 United States Championship Cheese Contest held March 17-19 at the Lambeau Field Atrium, Green Bay.

Twenty-four tasting experts from 12 states evaluated cheese and butters in 64 classes. Gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded for achieving highest scores in their respective classes. A record 1,360 entries from 32 states vied for this year's title.

Expert judges from across the United States tested the flavor, body, texture, salt, color, finish and packaging of each entry. Judges used their trained palates to seek defects in each entry and deduct points from a starting score of 100. Based on the average score given by each judge, cheeses are awarded a Gold, Silver or Bronze medal.

The following three local cheesemakers won gold, silver and bronze medals.

Best of Class, Gold Medalist

Best of Class 37, flavored hard cheeses. Henning Cheese, Inc. Kerry Henning, Kiel, Cheddar daisy with cracked peppercorn, score 99.35.

Second Award, Class Silver Medalist

Second Award, Class 53, hard goat's milk cheeses, Saxon Homestead Creamery, Team Saxon, Cleveland, Wis., LaClare Farm Evalon goat's milk cheese, score 98.95.

Third Award Bronze Medalist

Third Award, Class 8, Monterey Jack, Land O'Lakes Inc. Dale Schmidt, Kiel, Monterey Jack, score 99.75.

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