Blue Ribbon Cheese & Butter auction raises record $56,760

Wisconsin State Farmer

Attendees of the Blue Ribbon Cheese and Butter auction had the opportunity to sample some of the state's best cheese.

WEST ALLIS - Team Lake Country Dairy, from Schuman Cheese in Turtle Lake, was named the 2017 Grand Master Cheesemaker during the Blue Ribbon Cheese & Butter Auction, held August 10 at Wisconsin State Fair Park.

The groups earned the coveted title with Monteau, the first place entry in the Smear Ripened Cheese Class.

Each blue-ribbon entry from the Wisconsin State Fair Cheese & Butter Contest sold during the event, which raised a record-breaking $56,760 for student scholarships and dairy promotions at the Wisconsin State Fair.

Leading off the auction was 20 pounds of Team Lake Country Dairy’s award-winning Monteau, which sold for $1,100 to Chr. Hansen of Milwaukee.

Team Lake Country Dairy, from Schuman Cheese in Turtle Lake, was named the 2017 Grand Master Cheesemaker during the Blue Ribbon Cheese & Butter Auction, held August 10 at Wisconsin State Fair Park.

Auction results

Mild Cheddar — Dan Stearns, Agropur, Weyauwega, buyer Masters Gallery Foods, Plymouth. 42 lbs. at $60/lb. Total $2,520.

Roth Petite Swiss — Marc Druart, Emmi Roth, Monroe, buyer Wells Fargo, Milwaukee. 20 lbs. at $60/lb. Total $1,200.

Odyssey Peppercorn Feta — Steve Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, buyer Emmi Roth, Monroe. 10 lbs. at $100/lb.Total $1,000.

Joan of Arc Wild Berry Vanilla Chèvre — Team Lancaster, Saputo Specialty Cheese, Milwaukee, buyer Rock River Laboratory, Watertown. 10 lbs.at $80/lb. Total $800.

Big Ed’s Smokehouse Gouda — Saxon Creamery Team, Saxon Cheese, Cleveland, buyer Saputo Specialty Cheese, Milwaukee. 12 lbs. at $215/lb. Total $2,580.

Sartori Reserve Chipotle BellaVitano — Mike Matucheski, Sartori Company, Antigo, buyer Berenz Packaging, Menomonee Falls. 20 lbs. at $70/lb. Total $1,400.

Ben Brancel passes out awards during the Blue Ribbon Cheese and Butter action at the Wisconsin State Fair prior to his retirement as secretary of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Pasteurized Process American — Team AMPI, Associated Milk Producers Inc., Portage, buyer Nelson-Jameson, Marshfield. 10 lbs. at $110/lb. Total $1,100.

Dunbarton — Chris Roelli, Roelli Cheese Company, Shullsburg, buyer John Yingling, Mequon. 11 lbs. at $150/lb. Total $1.650.

Dill Havarti — Ron Bechtolt, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, buyer Nelson-Jameson, Marshfield. 10 lbs.at $120/lb. Total $1,200.

String Cheese — Dan Schwind, Baker Cheese Factory, St. Cloud, buyer Masters Gallery Foods, Plymouth. 10 lbs. at $230/lb. Total $2,300.

Caraway Brick — John (Randy) Pitman, Mill Creek Cheese, Arena, buyer Cheese Market News, Madison. 10 lbs. at $75/lb. Total $750.

Black River Blue Cheese — Team Fond du Lac, Saputo Specialty Cheese, Milwaukee, buyer Alpma USA, Milwaukee. 12 lbs. at $80/lb. Total $960.

Odyssey Reduced Fat Feta — Steve Webster, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, buyer Chr. Hansen, Milwaukee. 10 lbs. at $50/lb. Total $500.

Brick — Matt Henze, Decatur Dairy, Brodhead, buyer Kelley Supply, Colby. 10 lbs.at $120/lb. Total $1,200.

Mascarpone — Crave Cheese Team, Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese, Waterloo, buyer Wells Fargo, Milwaukee. 10 lbs.at $140/lb. Total $1,400.

Monterey Jack — Andy Follen, Lynn Dairy Granton, buyer DSM Food Specialties, Waukesha. 40 lbs. at $30/lb. Total $1,200.

Aged Goat Cheese — Katie Fuhrmann & Team LaClare, LaClare Farms, Malone, buyer Dairy Products Marketing, Fond du Lac. 10 lbs. at $290/lb. Total $2,900.

Low Moisture Mozzarella, Whole Milk — Roger Krohn, Agropur, Luxemburg, buyer: Ebert Enterprises LLC, Algoma. 13 lbs. at $100/lb. Total $1,300.

Chihuahua Loaf — Jace Johnsrud, Chula Vista Cheese, Browntown, buyer Masters Gallery Foods, Plymouth. 10 lbs.at $220/lb. Total $2,200.

Blue ribbon cheeses were available for sampling during the Blue Ribbon Cheese and Butter auction at the Wisconsin State Fair.

Marieke Belegen Gouda — Marieke Penterman, Marieke Gouda, Thorp, buyer, Ivarson, Milwaukee. 20 lbs.at $130/lb. Total $2,600.

Aged Cheddar — Jacque Vey, Land O’Lakes, Kiel, buyer Masters Gallery Foods, Plymouth. 40 lbs. at $165/lb. Total $6,600.

Swiss & Almond Cold Pack — Team Pine River, Pine River Pre-Pack, Newton, buyer Saputo Specialty Cheese, Milwaukee. 11 lbs.at $210/lb. Total $2,310.

Feta — Nathan Forseth, Agropur, Weyauwega, buyer DSM Food Specialties, Waukesha. 18 lbs. at $105/lb. Total $1,890.

Roth Sriracha Gouda — Marc Druart, Emmi Roth, Monroe, buyer Wisconsin State Fair Park Board, West Allis. 10 lbs. at $350/lb. Total $3,500.

Sartori Limited Edition Pastorale Blend — Mike Matucheski, Sartori Company, Antigo, buyer West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe, West Allis. 20 lbs. at $260/lb. Total $5,200.

Havarti — Decatur Dairy Cheesemakers, Decatur Dairy, Brodhead, buyer Nelson-Jameson, Marshfield. 10 lbs. at $320/lb. Total $3,200.

Salted Butter — Foremost Farms 3rd Shift, Foremost Farms USA, Reedsburg, buyer Ivarson, Milwaukee. 10 lbs. at $220/lb. Total $2,200.

Emmi Roth cheesemaker Marc Druart's Sriracha Gouda was purchased by the Wisconsin State Fair Park Board, West Allis for $350/lb. for a total of $3,500.