Championship Cheese Contests

We're proud to recognize the skill, talent, and passion of women in the dairy processing industry, including those on our Championship Cheese Contest judging team. We thank them for their contributions to the industry's past, present, and future! #InternationalWomensDay

Learn how the year 1868, a swamp flower, and Manolo Blahniks connect to our 2023 United States Championship Cheese Contest winner, Arethusa Farm Dairy, in this feature story from NBC Connecticut. nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/con…

Some of our wonderful skilled, experienced judges journeyed from California, Idaho, and even Texas for this year's Championship Cheese Contest. Others, like David Burk of Marathon Cheese in northern Wisconsin, didn't have quite so far to travel!wjfw.com/news/local/lea…

Dairy manufacturers bring their A-game to every Championship Cheese Contest, but there are some special elements that set the nation's top three cheeses apart. Learn about them in the @gbpressgazette: jsonline.com/story/news/loc…

From Monticello, Wisconsin all the way to Bantam, Connecticut! Read more about Arethusa Farm Dairy Head Cheesemaker Eric Schmid and Europa, the 2023 U.S. Champion Cheese: nbc15.com/2023/02/24/con…

And the winner is...Europa, an Aged Gouda made by Arethusa Farm Dairy in Bantam, Connecticut! Hear from Contest judge Cathy Strange of Whole Foods Market on what made this cheese "heavenly": youtu.be/_dZ-QSp7Jdo

We’re just 20 minutes away from announcing the 2023 U.S. Champion Cheese! Tune back in at 2:00 p.m. (CT) on Facebook or at USChampionCheese.org for the exciting news.

America's Dairyland placed an impressive nine cheeses in the Top 20 at this year's U.S. Championship #CheeseContest. Learn more about them in this article from @madnewsboy at @WiStateJournal: madison.com/news/local/wis…

Congrats to @schumancheese, on placing two cheeses in the Top 20 at the U.S. Championship #CheeseContest! Hear from Plant Manager Gary Gosda about their Organic Copper Kettle Parmesan and Cello Fontal, and what it means to be part of this elite group. youtu.be/fFXQIEdqHFc

Our expert judges have evaluated 2,249 dairy products - including #cheeses from @MariekeGouda in Thorp, #Wisconsin - in the search for the nation's best. Find out who wins the coveted title at USChampionCheese.org at 2:00 p.m. (CT) today! youtu.be/tQejKgGJ3w8

It's almost time! The anticipation is building here in Green Bay, where we'll be livestreaming the announcement of the 2023 U.S. Champion Cheese in just a couple of hours. Make sure to join us at 2:00 p.m. (CT) today at USChampionCheese.org for the exciting reveal!

What do poker chips and cheese have in common? You'll find plenty of both in the Championship Round of judging at the U.S. Championship Cheese Contest! Learn more: youtu.be/fEV4uGbuWGk

It's always wonderful to welcome new judges to the Championship Cheese Contest family. Read more about how our judging teams learn from each other in this great feature from @USATODAY in Green Bay: jsonline.com/story/news/loc…

Breaking news from the U.S. Championship #CheeseContest: the Top 20 cheeses in the nation have been revealed! Congratulations to all. View the full list: wischeesemakersassn.org/news/us-champi…

Here at the Contest, you'll find all generations of the dairy processing community, from industry veterans like Terry Lensmire to the next generation of leaders like Darrell Demeter: nbc26.com/greenbay/chees… #CheeseContest #cheese #cheeselover #cheeseplease

The U.S. Championship #CheeseContest is a family affair. Hear from father-daughter volunteer duo Steve Stettler and Shaya Guilbault of @DecaturDairy about what it's like working alongside family at the Contest! youtu.be/uIOwE3QRU7A

Cheese is in our name, but did you know the U.S. Championship #CheeseContest also includes butter entries? Here, we take an inside look with Dr. Lloyd Metzger of @VQCheese and Anna Ku of @TillamookDairy as they judge an unsalted butter - no toast required. youtu.be/tvRyKqRq78U

Most of us are familiar with cow's milk cheeses, and maybe even goat - but what about sheep? Assistant Chief Judge Mariana Marques de Almeida fills us in on what's special about sheep's milk cheeses and why they've been making a comeback in recent years: youtu.be/bKI0MkRLZn0

Day Two of the Contest calls for something a little different: Washed Rind/Smear Ripened Hard Cheeses! Join us as Jill Allen of @TillamookDairy and Marianne Smukowski explain what makes these wheels so unique: youtu.be/yC8DSzHV25Y #CheeseContest #cheese #cheeselover

What a beauty! Dairy processors from across the country have entered their best cheeses of all shapes, sizes, colors in this year’s U.S. Championship #CheeseContest. We love them all! 🧀💜