MONONA TERRACE | WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CHEESE CONTEST Wisconsin dominates at World Championship Cheese Contest but can a state cheesemaker win best in show Thursday afternoon BARRY ADAMS Mar 5, 2026 Mar 5, 2026 Updated Mar 6, 2026 × Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save As expected, Wisconsin cheesemakers dominated the first two days of competition at the World Championship Cheese Contest.kAmqFE 42? 2 DE2E6 4966D6>2<6C 362E E96 tFC@A62?Dn (6’== 7:?5 @FE %9FCD52J 27E6C?@@? 2E a A]>] H96? E96 36DE :? D9@H :D 2??@F?465 2E |@?@?2 %6CC246]k^AmkAmxE’D 366? `_ J62CD 2?5 7:G6 4@?E6DED D:?46 2 vC2?5 rCF $FC49@:I >256 :? |@?C@6 3J t>>: #@E9 H2D ?2>65 E96 E@A 4966D6] !C:@C E@ E92E[ E96 =2DE E:>6 2 (:D4@?D:? 4966D6 E@@< E@A 9@?@CD H2D :? `hgg[ H96? s2=6 ~=D@? @7 vC2?ED3FC8’D qFC?6EE s2:CJ r@@A6C2E:G6 :? ?@CE9H6DE6C? (:D4@?D:? H@? 7@C 2 DEC:?8 4966D6]k^Am People are also reading… Lake Geneva receives update on Hillmoor Zone 1 project New Lake Geneva event a celebration of America's 250th anniversary Work begins on project to honor Dungeons & Dragons co-founder Gary Gygax Lake Geneva approves dining facility for Bible camp Incumbent faces former council member for District 3 seat Riga-Tony’s serves Italian with style, fun and flair Look Ahead: Happy Easter in Lake Geneva! Plus a best-selling author visit & local live music Judge orders Trump to halt White House ballroom construction unless Congress OKs it Milwaukee Brewers use 6-run 8th inning to power past Tampa Bay Rays Brewers finally announce cable, satellite TV channels for broadcasts Riga-Tony’s serves Italian with style, fun and flair Pam Bondi, Trump loyalist who oversaw Justice Department upheaval, is out as attorney general Student shoots a teacher at Texas high school before fatally shooting self, authorities say Look Ahead: Buggin' Out on balloons in Williams Bay plus tributes to Pink, Carole King in Lake Geneva Journalist from Madison area kidnapped in Iraq kAm|2C:6<6 !6?E6C>2?[ 2? 2H2C5\H:??:?8 4966D6>2<6C 7C@> %9@CA :? ?@CE96C? (:D4@?D:?[ E@@< 7:CDE 2?5 D64@?5 A=246 :? E9:D J62C’D 7=2G@C65 v@F52 42E68@CJ[ A=2465 7:CDE :? D6>:\D@7E 4966D6 2?5 925 2 D64@?5\A=246 7:?:D9 :? D>@<65 v@F52[ 7:?:D9:?8 369:?5 2 4966D6>2<6C 7C@> E96 }6E96C=2?5D]k^AmkAm“xE’D 2 G6CJ E@F89 4@>A6E:E:@?] *@F’C6 562=:?8 H:E9 D@>6 6IEC2@C5:?2CJ 4966D6>2<6CD 7C@> 2== @G6C E96 H@C=5 E92E 92G6 86?6C2E:@?D @7 E649?:BF6D[” !6?E6C>2? E@=5 E96 (:D4@?D:? $E2E6 y@FC?2= :? a_`e] “qFE J@F 86E 2 <:4< @FE @7 :E] p?5 :7 J@F H:? D@>6E9:?8[ :E’D 2 EC6>6?5@FD 9@?@C]”k^Am kAm|:4926= $AJ496C[ 2 $H:DD 4966D6>2<6C[ 92D H@? 36DE :? D9@H 7@FC E:>6D[ :?4=F5:?8 :? E96 =2DE E9C66 4@?E6DED] ~? %F6D52J[ 96 D4@C65 2 hh]cad @FE @7 `__ H:E9 9:D vCFJèC6 >256 2E 9:D |@F?E2:? s2:CJ uC:EK6?92FD :? q6C?[ $H:EK6C=2?5]k^Am kAmpE E96 a_ac 4@?E6DE[ $AJ496C H@? H:E9 w@C?32496C[ 2 D6>:\92C5 4@H’D >:=< 4966D6[ H9:49 D4@C65 2 hh]ed @? E96 7:CDE 52J @7 E96 4@?E6DE 2?5 D4@C65 2 hg]hfe 2>@?8 E96 E@A a_ E@ H:? 36DE :? D9@H]k^AmkAmqFE D6G6C2= @E96C 4966D6D D4@C65 9:896C E92? $AJ496C’D vCFJ6C6 :? E9:D J62C’D 4@?E6DE[ :?4=F5:?8 2?@E96C 7C@> q6C?[ 2 H2D965 C:?5^D>62C\C:A6?65 D6>:\92C5 4966D6 7C@> uC@>286D $A:6=9@76 E92E D4@C65 2 hh]d] p H2D965 C:?5^D>62C\C:A6?65 92C5 4966D6 7C@> ~E9>2C !:49=6C 2?5 %62> :? pFDEC:2 D4@C65 2 hh]fd H9:=6 2 qFCC2E2 7C@> r2=23C@ r966D6 :? t2DE w2G6?[ r@??64E:4FE[ D4@C65 2 hh]f]k^Am kAmp 92C5 D966A’D >:=< 4966D6 2865 @G6C e >@?E9D 925 E96 9:896DE D4@C6 @7 E96 4@>A6E:E:@?] ':?46?E q@FDBF6E @7 E96 pv~&# 4966D6 4@>A2?J :? w6=6EE6[ uC2?46[ 925 2 ?62C\A6C764E hh]h]k^Am kAm%9C66 4966D6D D4@C65 2 hh]g] %96J H6C6 2? p=A:?6 4966D6 >256 :? $H:EK6C=2?5 3J |:7C@>2 &$p &C?äD4j 2 {2 '2BF:E2 "F6D@ uC6D4@ 7C@> s2:CJ u2C>6CD @7 p>6C:42 :? w@FDE@?[ %6I2Dj 2?5 2 DFC7246\C:A6?65 >:I65\>:=< 4966D6 7C@> %96 u2C> 2E s@6 #F? :? r@2E6DG:==6[ !6??DJ=G2?:2[ H9:49 A=2465 E9:C5 @G6C2== :? E96 a_ac 36DE @7 D9@H 4@>A6E:E:@?]k^Am kAmu@C (:D4@?D:? 4966D6>2<6CD[ E96C6 H6C6 cf 7:CDE\A=246 7:?:D96D @FE @7 E96 `d_ 42E68@C:6Dj cb D64@?5\A=246 2H2C5D 2?5 ce E9:C5\A=246 7:?:D96D] $E2E6 4966D6>2<6CD 2=D@ DH6AE E96 E@A E9C66 DA@ED :? aa 42E68@C:6D[ :?4=F5:?8 2865 496552C @7 >@C6 E92? a J62CD[ H2I65 496552C[ >@KK2C6==2[ D966A’D >:=< 4966D6 H:E9 3=F6 >@=5[ 2?5 D9C65565 xE2=:2? 4966D6]k^Am kAmx? 7=2G@C65 76E2[ E9C66 4966D6>2<6CD 7C@> z=@?5:<6 r966D6 :? |@?C@6 DH6AE E96 42E68@CJ[ H9:=6 s642EFC s2:CJ ?62C qC@59625 DH6AE E96 E@A E9C66 DA@ED :? w2G2CE: 2?5 7=2G@C65 w2G2CE:] s642EFC 2=D@ 925 E96 E@A 4966D6 4FC5[ H9:=6 }2D@?G:==6 s2:CJ ?62C rFCE:DD :? r=2C< r@F?EJ 925 E96 E@A 7=2G@C65 4966D6 4FC5]k^Am kAmx? 7=2G@C65 3FEE6C[ p??2 {2?5>2C< @7 {2?5>2C< rC62>6CJ :? !2@=: E@@< 7:CDE[ 7@==@H65 3J y6??:76C ~C492C5 @7 #@J2= vF6C?D6J rC62>6CJ :? r@=F>3FD[ H9@ A=2465 D64@?5[ H9:=6 w2?D6?VD $F82C $924< :? (6DE3J A=2465 E9:C5]k^AmkAm%96 H:??6CD @7 6249 4966D6 42E68@CJ H:== 36 ;F5865 282:? @? %9FCD52J E@ 56E6C>:?6 E96 E@A a_ 4966D6D 367@C6 E96 E@A E9C66 4966D6D 2C6 2??@F?465 2E a A]>] %96 6G6?E :D ?@E @A6? E@ E96 AF3=:4 3FE H:== DEC62>65 =:G6 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^H@C=5492>A:@?4966D6]@C8Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDA2?m9EEADi^^H@C=5492>A:@?4966D6]@C8k^DA2?mk^2m]k^Am Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Judging a Swiss Gruyère at the World Championship Cheese Contest Once pig feed, whey now one of the stars of the World Championship Cheese Contest This year’s contest has seven categories dedicated to whey products as the demand for protein continues to rise. See an expert judge an 80-pound wheel of Swiss Gruyere in Madison See how a judge from the French Alps and another from San Diego work to judge a colorful wheel. Wisconsin cheesemakers shine in first day of World Championship Cheese Contest Wisconsin cheesemakers dominated the first day of the World Championship Cheese Contest, but the Swiss and Austrians have positioned themselve… Longtime judge who elevated Wisconsin cheese contest into worldwide event is remembered Bill Schlimsog, who died last month at 98 years old, helped grow both the World and U.S. championship cheese contests to what they are today. Video: World Championship Cheese Contest underway at Monona Terrace The 37th biennial World Championship Cheese Contest kicked off Tuesday morning at Monona Terrace. The event features 3,375 entries in 150 cate… Video: Cheese isn’t all that’s being judged at the World Championship Cheese Contest Whey is in high demand and also has more categories at the World Championship Cheese Contest. 5 things to know about the World Championship Cheese Contest in Madison The biennial event begins Tuesday at Monona Terrace and has 3,375 entries from around the world. Historic cheese company seeks more success at World Championship in Madison Henning Cheese was established in 1914 and is now expanding into Southeast Asia and the Middle East with its cheese made in Manitowoc County. See an expert judge an 80-pound wheel of Swiss Gruyere in Madison See how a judge from the French Alps and another from San Diego work to judge a colorful wheel.
Once pig feed, whey now one of the stars of the World Championship Cheese Contest This year’s contest has seven categories dedicated to whey products as the demand for protein continues to rise.
See an expert judge an 80-pound wheel of Swiss Gruyere in Madison See how a judge from the French Alps and another from San Diego work to judge a colorful wheel.
Wisconsin cheesemakers shine in first day of World Championship Cheese Contest Wisconsin cheesemakers dominated the first day of the World Championship Cheese Contest, but the Swiss and Austrians have positioned themselve…
Longtime judge who elevated Wisconsin cheese contest into worldwide event is remembered Bill Schlimsog, who died last month at 98 years old, helped grow both the World and U.S. championship cheese contests to what they are today.
Video: World Championship Cheese Contest underway at Monona Terrace The 37th biennial World Championship Cheese Contest kicked off Tuesday morning at Monona Terrace. The event features 3,375 entries in 150 cate…
Video: Cheese isn’t all that’s being judged at the World Championship Cheese Contest Whey is in high demand and also has more categories at the World Championship Cheese Contest.
5 things to know about the World Championship Cheese Contest in Madison The biennial event begins Tuesday at Monona Terrace and has 3,375 entries from around the world.
Historic cheese company seeks more success at World Championship in Madison Henning Cheese was established in 1914 and is now expanding into Southeast Asia and the Middle East with its cheese made in Manitowoc County.
See an expert judge an 80-pound wheel of Swiss Gruyere in Madison See how a judge from the French Alps and another from San Diego work to judge a colorful wheel.
