Many, many congratulations to Katie Hedrich of LaClare Farm in Chilton, WI www.laclarefarm.com for walzing off with a very well deserved first prize at the US Championship Cheese Contest in Green Bay, WI today with their cheese Evalon. www.culturecheesemag.com/evalon

The Hedrich family have played a key role in helping to improve standards for dairy goats and goat milk in Wisconsin over many years. As well as raising and milking their own dairy goats, Katie’s parents, Larry and Clara created and help operate a successful dairy goat co-operative that has greatly helped a number of producers, as well as raise awareness of goat dairying in what was traditionally a cow dairy state.

A few short years ago,when I first met the Hedrichs, LaClare began a collaboration with nearby Saxon Creamery to produce a cheese made excluively from their own goat’s milk – the happy result being Evalon.

Simultaneous to the creation of Evalon at Saxon Creamery, the Hedrich’s long-term view is to build their own creamery, education center and store. This plan is progressing well and is certainly helped by the fact that Larry & Clara have several extremely talented offspring, all of whom have complimentary skill sets and are keen to play a role in the future business.

Big thumbs up also to Sartori for taking the 1st runner up prize for their Parmesan and also to Marieke Penterman of Holland’s Family Farm, Thorp, Wi for their Aged Gouda which took 2nd runner up.