A blissful day at last weekend’s Yeovil Show in Somerset, England, ended in sadness for Wyke Farms after two prize cheddars were stolen. 

The family-run cheesemakers clinched first and second place in the Vintage Cheddar division for its Ivy’s Secret Recipe Vintage Cheddar and Scrumptious Vintage Cheddar, respectively. The cheeses were left in a tent onsite that night so that visitors could view them the next day.

Instead, bandits broke into the tent and ran off with nearly 90 pounds of cheddar. They even lifted the award certificates, according to a PRI article. No other cheeses were stolen.

“Our vintage cheddar is made to Grandmother Ivy’s recipe and we believe it to be the best quality cheese available,” said Rich Clothier, Wyke Farms managing director in a press release. “A 20 kilogram block of it is extremely tempting!”

The vintage cheddars are valued at more than $1,000 total. Clothier, who is a third-generation cheesemaker, tells The Guardian that it’s possible the precious blocks are abroad by now.

“It’s disappointing. To win the champion and reserve was really nice for us,” Clothier told The Guardian. “It took around a year-and-a-half to make those cheeses. They are among the best we have ever produced.”

Wyke Farms is offering a £500 reward for information that ultimately leads to the recovery of the cheddars or the arrest of the thieves.

Feature Photo Courtesy of Wyke Farms

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.