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Rossard named 2015 Grand Master Cheesemaker

Another successful fund-raising auction at the Wisconsin State Fair on Thursday. The annual Blue Ribbon Cheese and Butter Auction generated $27,935 for student scholarships and dairy promotions at the Wisconsin State Fair.

Jean Rossard, a cheesemaker at Montchevré-Betin in Belmont, was named the 2015 Grand Master Cheesemaker. Rossard earned the coveted title with his Blueberry Vanilla Goat Cheese, the first place entry in the Flavored Goat Milk Cheese Class. His 10-pound entry topped the sale going for $185 per pound.

A total of 28 Wisconsin State Fair Cheese & Butter Contest winners were sold:

Mild Cheddar

• Made by: Jeff Berg, Land O’Lakes, Kiel
• Buyer: Masters Gallery Foods, Plymouth
• Amount: 40 lbs.
• Price per pound: $20
• Total sell price: $800

 

Swiss Wheel

• Made by: Silvan Blum, Chalet Cheese Co-op, Monroe
• Buyer: Saputo Specialty Cheese, Richfield
• Amount: 20 lbs.
• Price per pound: $80
• Total sell price: $1,600

 

Garlic & Herbs Spread

• Made by: Tony Gessler, Lactalis USA, Merrill
• Buyer: Wisconsin State Fair Park Board, West Allis
• Amount: 12 lbs.
• Price per pound: $25
• Total sell price: $300

 Classic Asiago

• Made by: Joel Pagel, Sartori Company, Antigo
• Buyer: Alpma USA, Milwaukee
• Amount: 20 lbs.
• Price per pound: $100
• Total sell price: $2,000

Reserve Blue

• Made by: Team Salemville, Saputo Specialty Cheese, Richfield
• Buyer: WE Energies, Milwaukee
• Amount: 12 lbs.
• Price per pound: $50
• Total sell price: $600

 Pasteurized Process American

• Made by: Process Cheese Team, AMPI, Portage
• Buyer: Wisconsin Aging & Grading Cheese, Kaukauna
• Amount: 10 lbs.
• Price per pound: $45
• Total sell price: $450

 

Pastorale Blend

• Made by: Mike Matucheski, Sartori Company, Antigo
• Buyer: Berenz Packaging, Menomonee Falls
• Amount: 20 lbs.
• Price per pound: $50
• Total sell price: $1,000

 

Aged Brick Spread

• Made by: Joey Widmer, Widmer’s Cheese Cellars, Theresa
• Buyer: Wisconsin Aging & Grading Cheese, Kaukauna
• Amount: 10 lbs.
• Price per pound: $70
• Total sell price: $700

 

Hand-Stretched String Cheese

• Made by: Cesar Luis, Cesar’s Cheese, Columbus
• Buyer: Metcalfe’s Market, Madison
• Amount: 10 lbs.
• Price per pound: $100
• Total sell price: $1,000

 Caraway Brick

• Made by: John (Randy) Pitman, Mill Creek Cheese, Arena
• Buyer: Saz’s, Milwaukee
• Amount: 10 lbs.
• Price per pound: $60
• Total sell price: $600

 

Pleasant Ridge Reserve

• Made by: Andy Hatch, Uplands Cheese, Dodgeville
• Buyer: Dairy Connection, Madison
• Amount: 10 lbs.
• Price per pound: $55
• Total sell price: $550

 

Reduced Fat Mediterranean Feta

• Made by: Jim Demeter, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe
• Buyer: Alpma USA, Milwaukee
• Amount: 10 lbs.
• Price per pound: $45
• Total sell price: $450

 

Brick

• Made by: Gary Grossen, Babcock Hall Dairy Plant, Madison
• Buyer: Rock River Lab, Watertown
• Amount: 11 lbs.
• Price per pound: $75
• Total sell price: $825

 Gouda

• Made by: Brett Krattiger, Maple Leaf Cheese Co-op, Monroe
• Buyer: Dairy Connection, Madison
• Amount: 12 lbs.
• Price per pound: $55
• Total sell price: $660

 

Colby                          

• Made by: Kerry Henning, The Artisan Cheese Exchange, Sheboygan
• Buyer: Ivarson, Milwaukee
• Amount: 12 lbs.
• Price per pound: $60
• Total sell price: $720

 

Extra-Aged Goat Cheese

• Made by: Pam Hodgson, Sartori Company, Plymouth
• Buyer: Nelson-Jameson, Marshfield
• Amount: 20 lbs.
• Price per pound: $50
• Total sell price: $1,000

 

Part-Skim Mozzarella Ball

• Made by: George Crave, Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese, Waterloo
• Buyer: WE Energies, Milwaukee
• Amount: 12 lbs.
• Price per pound: $80
• Total sell price: $960

 

Queso Quesadilla

• Made by: Sam Sweeney, Chula Vista Cheese, Browntown
• Buyer: Nelson-Jameson, Marshfield
• Amount: 10 lbs.
• Price per pound: $135
• Total sell price: $1,350

 

Dill Havarti

• Made by: Ben Workman, Edelweiss Creamery, Monticello
• Buyer: Dairy Connection, Madison
• Amount: 10 lbs.
• Price per pound: $95
• Total sell price: $950

Aged Cheddar

• Made by: Terry Lensmire, Agropur, Weyauwega
• Buyer: Saz’s, Milwaukee
• Amount: 42 lbs.
• Price per pound: $60
• Total sell price: $2,520

Smoked Brick

• Made by: Walter Hartwig, Zimmerman Cheese, South Wayne
• Buyer: Masters Gallery Foods, Plymouth
• Amount: 12 lbs.
• Price per pound: $55
• Total sell price: $660

Feta in Brine

• Made by: Jim Demeter, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe
• Buyer: DSM Food Specialties, Waukesha
• Amount: 10 lbs.
• Price per pound: $100
• Total sell price: $1,000

 Chipotle White Cheddar

• Made by: Heriberto Nickolas, Maple Leaf Cheese Co-op, Monroe
• Buyer: Berenz Packaging, Menomonee Falls
• Amount: 12 lbs.
• Price per pound: $120
• Total sell price: $1,440

Merlot BellaVitano

• Made by: Mike Matucheski, Sartori Company, Antigo
• Buyer: Chr. Hansen, Milwaukee
• Amount: 20 lbs.
• Price per pound: $75
• Total sell price: $1,500

Whipped Cream Cheese

• Made by: Shawn Schult, Lactalis USA, Merrill
• Buyer: Rock River Lab, Watertown
• Amount: 12 lbs.
• Price per pound: $25
• Total sell price: $300 

Havarti

• Made by: Bruce Workman, Edelweiss Creamery, Monticello
• Buyer: Chr. Hansen, Milwaukee
• Amount: 10 lbs.
• Price per pound: $105
• Total sell price: $1,050
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Salted Butter

• Made by: Don Much, Grassland Dairy Products, Greenwood
• Buyer: Ivarson, Milwaukee
• Amount: 10 lbs.
• Price per pound: $110
• Total sell price: $1,100