Lynn Dairy, Inc., near Granton, took "Best of Class" in the United States Championship Cheese $ Contest March 5 and 6 in Green Bay in the Lambeau Field Atrium.
The award was for mild cheddar cheese zero to three months old. There were 54 entries in the class. Dave Lindgren, master cheese- maker and plant manager, and the rest of the team at Lynn Dairy were able to outscore the AMPI team from Jim Falls. Lynn Dairy scored 98.55 points out of 100 while AMPI scored 98.25.
The U.S. Championship Cheese Contest happens every other year and is in its 20th year. It alternates with the World Championship,; which is held at the same location.
The U.S. Championship has 116 competition classes - which include pretty much any type of cheese one can think of. There are also some more unique classes, like for whey proteins, cheese spreads and even yogurt and butter.
Lynn Dairy submitted several cheeses to the U.S. Championship this year, but the mild cheddar was the only one to place in the top three for its class.
"It starts with good quality products," said Lindgren. "Then we have a quality process for making the cheese, all the way to molding and packaging."
This year's winning cheese was made six to seven weeks ahead of time, said Lindgren. Judges score each cheese on body, texture, appearance, and of course, flavor.
Lindgren said that Lynn Dairy has won multiple awards grew up in Loyal and started working for Lynn Dairy in 2003. He now lives in Marshfield.
Lindgren and a line super-visor will travel to the 2019 Cheese Industry Conference in Madison April 17 and 18. The event will include a convention, awards ceremony and banquet where they will be recognized for their award-winning cheese.
Lynn Dairy was not the only local entity receiving an award at the 2019 convention. The Marieke Gouda team from Marieke Gouda in Thorp earned first run- - ner-up for U.S. Champion Cheese with its Marieke Gouda Premium cheese. Also, the Marieke Gouda team from Holland's Family Cheese in Thorp earned second runner-up in the same competition for its Marieke Gouda Overjarige.
