It’s official: Cheese is now Wisconsin’s official dairy product. (We know, we can’t believe this wasn’t already established, either!)

Gov. Scott Walker signed Assembly Bill 73 at Mineral Point Elementary School on Thursday. Back in March, fourth graders there initially proposed giving their beloved curds this official distinction. They gave a presentation to Sen. Howard Marklein and Rep. Todd Novak, who ultimately drafted a bill and presented it to the state legislature. Wisconsin’s Assembly unanimously passed the measure in April, and the Senate followed suit in May. 

“Wisconsin is America’s Dairyland—it’s only fitting we designate cheese as our official state dairy product,” said Walker in a statement. “With this designation, we’re giving cheese the recognition it deserves. Today, we celebrate the efforts of our hard-working dairy farmers and cheese makers, who make all of us proud to live in Wisconsin. And a big thanks to the fourth graders here at Mineral Point Elementary who came up with the idea in the first place. They felt passionately that cheese should be the state dairy product, followed their idea through the legislative process, and helped to make it a reality.”

In addition, Walker declared June as “Dairy Month” throughout the Badger State. There’s a lot to celebrate this month in Wisconsin!

Feature Photo Credit: @GovWalker Twitter

Alyssa Kim

Alyssa is culture's former Web Editor. Raised in Mass., she's excited to be back in her home state after six years of working in journalism and TV production in NYC.