Milwaukee Area Dairy Manufacturers to Compete in 2026 World Championship Cheese Contest

MADISON, WI – Milwaukee area dairy manufacturers are set to compete for the coveted title of World Champion at the 2026 World Championship Cheese Contest®, set for March 3-5 at the Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Their products are among 3,375 entries across 150 classes of dairy products.

“These businesses aren’t just vying for the prestigious title of World Champion. They’re gaining invaluable technical feedback from some of the most respected experts in the world – feedback that makes a better product for their customers. We wish them, and all our competitors, the best in this year’s competition!” said Kirsten Strohmenger, Contest Director for the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA), proud host of the event.

The following businesses are set to compete among dairy processors from 25 countries and 34 U.S. states and territories:

· Alpinage Cheese LLC of Oak Creek, Wisconsin

· Blakesville Creamery of Port Washington, Wisconsin

· Cedar Valley Cheese, Inc. of Belgium, Wisconsin

· Cesar’s Cheese of Milwaukee, Wisconsin

· Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese of Waterloo, Wisconsin

· Deer Creek Cheese of Sheboygan, Wisconsin

· Great Lakes Cheese of Plymouth, Wisconsin

· Hill Valley Dairy of Milwaukee, Wisconsin

· Lifeway Foods of Waukesha, Wisconsin

· Masters Gallery Foods of Oostburg and Plymouth, Wisconsin

· Old World Creamery of Sheboygan, Wisconsin

· Saputo Cheese USA of Franklin and Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

· Sargento Foods of St. Cloud, Wisconsin

· Sartori Company of Plymouth, Wisconsin

· Weyauwega Cheese of Sheboygan, Wisconsin

· Widmer’s Cheese Cellars of Theresa, Wisconsin

Preliminary rounds of judging are open for public observation on Tuesday, March 3 and Wednesday, March 4 from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Attendance is free, and samples will be available. The exciting announcement of the 2026 World Champion will be livestreamed on Thursday, March 5 at 2:00 p.m. (CT) at WorldChampionCheese.org and Facebook.com/WorldChampionshipCheeseContest.

Hosted biennially by WCMA since 1957, this competition is the largest technical dairy products evaluation in the world. For more information, visit WorldChampionCheese.org.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.