PHOENIX — Team Menomonie from Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, Menomonie, Wisconsin, was awarded top honors at the
National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) 2024 Dairy Product Contest, winning the Chairman’s Award for its Garden Vegetable with Sweet Basil Rub cheese.
The contest awards were announced this week during NMPF’s 2024 Joint Annual Meeting with the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board and United Dairy Industry Association, held here Oct. 20-23. The contest is open to cooperative members of NMPF.
The contest’s Reserve Chairman Award went to Upstate Farms (O-AT-KA Milk Products), Upstate Niagara Cooperative Inc., Batavia, New York, for its Salted Butter, which also was named the contest’s Best Butter.
For category awards, Best Cheddar was given to the Chateaugay Cheese Team of Agri-Mark Inc., Chateaugay, New York, for its Mild Cheddar. Best Italian went to Bryan Allen (Clayton Team) of Foremost Farms USA, Richland Center, Wisconsin, for his Provolone Non-Smoked with Lipase 4-inch round Vat #13.
Kemps Chive cottage cheese from Dairy Farmers of America, De Mars, Iowa, won Best Cottage Cheese. Best Yogurt was awarded to the Cabot Culture Plant, Agri-Mark Inc., Cabot, Vermont, for 10% Plain Greek Yogurt.
Winners in each class included:
• Mild Cheddar
First: Chateaugay CheeseTeam, Agri-Mark Inc., Chateaugay, New York, Mild-Ch
Second: Middlebury Cheese Team, Agri-Mark Inc., Middlebury, Vermont, Mild-M
Third: Dillon Sylla, Associated Milk Producers Inc., Blair, Wisconsin, Colored Milk Cheddar
• Medium Cheddar
First: Tillamook Team, Tillamook County Creamery Association, Tillamook, Oregon, Medium White Cheddar
Second: Tillamook Team, Tillamook County Creamery Association, Tillamook, Oregon, Medium Yellow
Third: Jacque Vey, Land O’Lakes Inc., Kiel, Wisconsin, Cheddar- Medium
• Sharp Cheddar
First: Middlebury Cheese Team, Agri-Mark Inc., Middlebury, Vermont, Sharp Vermont-M
Second: Cabot Cheese Team, Agri-Mark Inc., Cabot, Vermont, Sharp Vermont-C
Third: Ankit Patel, Land O’Lakes Inc., Kiel, Wisconsin, Cheddar- Sharp
• Extra Sharp Cheddar
First: Tillamook Team, Tillamook County Creamery Association, Tillamook, Oregon, Makers Reserve Extra Sharp White Cheddar 2019
Second: Tillamook Team, Tillamook County Creamery Association, Tillamook, Oregon, English Style Sweet Cheddar
Third: Tillamook Team, Tillamook County Creamery Association, Tillamook, Oregon, Makers Reserve Extra Sharp White Cheddar 2014
• Mozzarella
First: Hailey Boland, Foremost Farms USA, Richland Center, Wisconsin, LMPS 3
Second: Hailey Boland, Foremost Farms USA, Richland Center, Wisconsin, LMPS Vat 10
Third: Appleton Team, Foremost Farms USA, Appleton, Wisconsin, LMPS 2
• Provolone
First: Bryan Allen (Clayton Team), Foremost Farms USA, Clayton, Wisconsin, Provolone Non-Smoked w/Lipase 4” RND Vat #13
Second: Bryan Allen (Clayton Team), Foremost Farms USA, Clayton, Wisconsin, Provolone Smoked w/Lipase 4” RND Vat #16
Third: Bryan Allen (Clayton Team), Foremost Farms USA, Clayton, Wisconsin, Provolone Non-Smoked w/Lipase 4” RND Vat #11
• Hard & Mold Ripened Italian
First: Francisco Zepeda, Prairie Farms Dairy Inc., Faribault, Minnesota, AmaGorg Gorgonzola
Second: Team Mindoro, Prairie Farms Dairy Inc., Mindoro, Wisconsin, Pasteurized Blue Cheese
Third: Francisco Zepeda, Prairie Farms Dairy Inc., Faribault, Minnesota, St. Petes Select - Blue Cheese
• Natural
First: Steve Voss, Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI), Sanborn, Iowa, Monterey
Second: Team Menomonie, Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, Menomonie, Wisconsin, Colby-Jack
Third: Chateaugay Cheese Team, Agri-Mark Inc., Chateaugay, New York, Muenster
• Swiss
First: Francisco Zepeda, Prairie Farms Dairy Inc., Faribault, Minnesota, 44° North Rinded Swiss
Second: Luana Plant, Prairie Farms Dairy Inc., Luana, Iowa, Baby Swiss
Third: Luana Plant, Prairie Farms Dairy Inc., Luana, Iowa, Swiss
• Processed American Plain
First: Team Loaf, Land O’Lakes Inc., Spencer, Wisconsin, American Extra Melt
Second: Loaf Team, Bongards Creameries, Norwood, Minnesota, Processed American Deli Loaf
Third: Team Loaf, Land O’Lakes Inc., Spencer, Wisconsin, LOL Yellow American Loaf
• Processed American Flavored
First: Team Loaf, Land O’Lakes Inc., Spencer, Wisconsin, Extra Melt With Jalapenos
Second: Loaf Team, Bongards Creameries, Norwood, Minnesota, Processed American Deli Loaf w/ Jalapeno Peppers
Third: Chateaugay Cheese Team, Agri-Mark Inc., Chateaugay, New York, Horseradish
• Hot or Spicy Flavor
First: Dena Boiteau, AMPI, Jim Falls, Wisconsin, Habanero Cheddar
Second: Cabot Cheese Team, Agri-Mark Inc., Cabot, Vermont, Habanero-C
Third: Team Menomonie, Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, Menomonie, Wisconsin, Habanero Ghost Jack- HOT
• Unique or Mild Flavor
First: Team Menomonie, Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, Menomonie, Wisconsin, Garden Vegetable with Sweet Basil Rub
Second: Justin Larson, Bongards Creameries, Perham, Minnesota, Cheddar Parm
Third: Team Menomonie, Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, Menomonie, Wisconsin, Pepperoni with Marinara Rub
• Open Class
First: Luana Plant, Prairie Farms Dairy Inc., Luana, Iowa, Cream Cheese
Second: Vermont Creamery, Land O’Lakes Inc. Websterville, Vermont, Crème Fraîche
Third: Luana Plant, Prairie Farms Dairy Inc., Luana, Iowa, Neufchatel
• Reduced Fat
First: Bryan Allen (Clayton Team), Foremost Farms USA, Clayton, Wisconsin, Provolone Reduced Fat Smoked w/Lipase 4” RND Vat #29
Second: Hailey Boland, Foremost Farms USA, Richland Center, Wisconsin, GLSCH Vat #16
Third: Hailey Boland, Foremost Farms USA, Richland Center, Wisconsin, GLSCH Vat #22
• Cottage Cheese
First: Wichita Culture Team, Prairie Farms Dairy Inc., Wichita, Kansas, 4% Small Curd
Second: Kemps, Dairy Farmers of America, Le Mars, Iowa, Regular Large Curd 4%
Third: Quincy Team, Prairie Farms Dairy Inc., Quincy, Illinois, 4% Small Curd
• Reduced Fat Cottage Cheese
First: Igich Hugo, Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. Chandler, Oklahoma, 2% Cottage Cheese
Second: Wichita Culture Team, Prairie Farms Dairy Inc., Wichita, Kansas, 1% Small Curd
Third: Aaron and Juan, Prairie Farms Dairy Inc., Kansas City, Missouri, 2% Small Curd
• Flavored Cottage Cheese
First: Kemps, Dairy Farmers of America, Farmington, Minnesota, Chive
Second: Kemps, Dairy Farmers of America, Farmington, Minnesota, Mixberry
• Natural Cheese Snack
First: Cut & Wrap Team, Agri-Mark Inc., Cabot, Vermont, Pepper-Jack Cracker Cut
Second: Shullsburg Cheese Plant, Prairie Farms Dairy Inc., Shullsburg, Wisconsin, Shullsburg Creamery Mixed Cheddar Curds
Third: Cut & Wrap Team, Agri-Mark Inc., Cabot, Vermont, Colby- Jack Cracker Cut
• Processed Cheese Snack
First: Team Custom, Land O’Lakes Inc., Spencer, Wisconsin, Extra Melt Yellow Cheese Sauce
Second: Team Custom, Land O’Lakes Inc., Spencer, Wisconsin, Extra Melt White Cheese Sauce
Third: Team Loaf, Land O’Lakes Inc., Spencer, Wisconsin, Golden Velvet Yellow Spread
• Yogurt - Flavored
First: Wichita Culture Team, Prairie Farms Dairy Inc., Wichita, Kansas, Blueberry
Second: Wichita Culture Team, Prairie Farms Dairy Inc., Wichita, Kansas, Black Cherry
Third: Quincy Team, Prairie Farms Dairy Inc., Quincy, Illinois, 1% Peach
• Yogurt - Greek Plain
First: Cabot Culture Plant, Agri-Mark Inc., Cabot, Vermont, 10% Plain Greek Yogurt
Second: Wichita Culture Team, Prairie Farms Dairy Inc., Wichita, Kansas, Plain
Third: Cabot Culture Plant, Agri-Mark Inc., Cabot, Vermont, 2% Plain Greek Yogurt
• Yogurt - Greek Flavored
First: Upstate Farms, Upstate Niagara Cooperative Inc., West Seneca, New York, Blueberry Greek Nonfat Yogurt
Second: Upstate Farms, Upstate Niagara Cooperative Inc., West Seneca, New York, Strawberry Greek Nonfat Yogurt
Third: Cabot Culture Plant, Agri-Mark Inc., Cabot, Vermont, 10% Vanilla Greek Yogurt
• Butter - Salted
First: Upstate Farms (O-AT-KA Milk Products), Upstate Niagara Cooperative Inc., Batavia, New York, Salted Butter
Second: 3rd Shift, Foremost Farms USA, Reedsburg, Wisconsin, Salted
Third: California Dairies Inc., Fresno, California, 85% European Style, Salted
• Butter - Unsalted
First: Upstate Farms (O-AT-KA Milk Products), Upstate Niagara Cooperative Inc., Batavia, New York, Unsalted Butter
Second: 2nd Shift, Foremost Farms USA, Reedsburg, Wisconsin, Unsalted
Third: Kellers Creamery, Dairy Farmers of America, Winnsboro, Texas, 80% Unsalted Breakstones
• Butter - Flavored
First: Amy Sellner, AMPI, New Ulm, Minnesota, Bourbon Butter
Second: California Dairies Inc. Fresno, California, Spreadable Butter with Olive Oil.
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