Lake Country Dairy awarded 7 medals at World Championship Cheese Contest

TURTLE LAKE — Lake Country Dairy is celebrating its win of seven medals at the World Championship Cheese Contest, including three Best in Class medals for Cello Extra Aged Asiago, Cello Copper Kettle Parmesan, and Black Pepper and Garlic Rubbed Fontal.

The Turtle Lake facility, owned by Schuman Cheese, also brought home silver medals for another wheel of Cello Copper Kettle Parmesan and for Black Pepper and Garlic Rubbed Asiago, and bronze medals for its Cello Asiago and Smoky Pepper Rubbed Fontal.

Lake Country Dairy employees traveled to CheeseExpo in Milwaukee last week to accept their awards.

“We’re making some of the best cheeses in the world, thanks to a high-quality milk supply from our three local farmer patrons and a powerhouse team at the plant wholly dedicated to safety and quality of the highest caliber,” said Gary Gosda, Lake Country Dairy plant manager. “I’m so proud of our 140 employees, from the vat to the packaging line to the office, for what they’ve been able to accomplish together. They’re one of the most talented teams in the cheese industry, and these wins are theirs to relish.”

Lake Country Dairy has been consistently recognized for its excellence in Parmesan cheesemaking, having both swept the class at the 2022 World Championship Cheese Contest and won the class at the 2023 U.S. Championship Cheese Contest, before this year’s success.

Gosda noted the 2024 World Championship Cheese Contest, held March 5-7 in Madison, featured more than 3,300 cheeses, butters, and yogurts evaluated by internationally renowned judges, stiff competition that made Lake Country Dairy’s multiple wins all the more impressive. Entries represented competition from more than 400 dairy processors in 25 countries and 32 American states. Hosted by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, the contest is the largest technical dairy products evaluation event in the world.

“There’s much to celebrate at Lake Country Dairy,” said Gosda. “Beyond our contest wins, we’re proud of the satisfaction our team members get from their work. We’re investing in their ongoing education, sponsoring their participation in Center for Dairy Research technical trainings, leadership classes through WCMA, and even an exchange program with the School of ENILEA Mamirolle France. The Schuman family is a great supporter of the Lake Country Dairy team, trusting we serve our customers with honesty and integrity and providing the resources needed for all of us to shoot for the sky.”