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Matucheski Named 2010 Grand Master Cheese Maker

August 11, 2010

Blue Ribbon Cheese & Butter Auction Raises $28,885

Mike Matucheski, a cheesemaker at Sartori Foods in Plymouth, was named the 2010 Grand Master Cheese Maker during the Blue Ribbon Cheese & Butter Auction held August 5 at Wisconsin State Fair Park. Matucheski, who competed against 20 other blue-ribbon cheese makers for the coveted title, earned the honor for his Rosemary-Olive Oil Rubbed Asiago, which topped the Flavored Hard Cheese Class. This is the second year in a row Matucheski has been named Grand Master Cheese Maker.

Each blue-ribbon entry from the Wisconsin State Fair Cheese & Butter Contest sold during the auction, raising $28,885 for student scholarships and dairy-related promotions at the Wisconsin State Fair. Leading off the auction was 20 pounds of Mautcheski’s award-winning Rosemary-Olive Oil Rubbed Asiago, which sold for $2,550 to Elegant Farmer of Mukwonago. Fifteen buyers supported the auction, which was presented by the Wisconsin State Fair Dairy Promotion Board.

Other auction results include:

Cheddar
Made by: Terry Lensmire, Trega Foods, Weyauwega
Buyer: Cargill, Waukesha
Amount: 42 lbs.
Price per pound: $55
Total sell price: $2,310

Baby Swiss Wheel
Made by: Neal Schwartz, Chalet Cheese Co-op, Monroe
Buyer: Major Goolsby’s, Milwaukee
Amount: 20 lbs.
Price per pound: $25
Total sell price: $500

Garlic & Herbs Gourmet Spread
Made by: Shawn Schult, Lactalis USA, Merrill
Buyer: Ivarson, Milwaukee
Amount: 12 lbs.
Price per pound: $60
Total sell price: $720

Caprimenthe
Made by: Pam Hodgson, Sartori Foods, Plymouth
Buyer: Berenz Packaging, Menomonee Falls
Amount: 22 lbs.
Price per pound: $45
Total sell price: $990

Monterey Jack With Jalapeño Peppers
Made by: David Meyer, Lynn Dairy, Granton
Buyer: Herdeman Corp., Cudahy
Amount: 40 lbs.
Price per pound: $40
Total sell price: $1,600

String Cheese
Made by: Steve Tollers, Burnett Dairy Co-op, Grantsburg
Buyer: Saz’s, Milwaukee
Amount: 10 lbs.
Price per pound: $100
Total sell price: $1,000 

Smokehaus Blue Cheese
Made by: Nelson Schrock, DCI Cheese Company, Richfield
Buyer: DCI Cheese Company, Richfield
Amount: 12 lbs.
Price per pound: $50
Total sell price: $600

Colored American Pasteurized Process Cheese
Made by: Ken Kreklow, Associated Milk Producers, Portage 
Buyer: Danisco USA, New Century, Kansas
Amount: 10 lbs.
Price per pound: $95
Total sell price: $950

Feta in Brine
Made by: Adam Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe
Buyer: DCI Cheese Company, Richfield
Amount: 10 lbs.
Price per pound: $110
Total sell price: $1,110

Extra Sharp Cheddar Cold Pack
Made by: Phil Lindemann, Pine River Pre-Pack, Newton
Buyer: Novak’s Cheese, DePere
Amount: 12 lbs.
Price per pound: $125
Total sell price: $1,500

Casa Bolo Mellage
Made by: Sid Cook, Carr Valley Cheese, LaValle
Buyer: Ivarson, Milwaukee
Amount: 4 lbs.
Price per pound: $230
Total sell price: $920

Smoked Muenster
Made by: Randy Pitman, Mill Creek Cheese, Arena
Buyer: R. Mueller Service and Equipment, Monroe
Amount: 10 lbs.
Price per pound: $105
Total sell price: $1,050

Monterey Jack
Made by: Steve Hobbs, Land O’Lakes, Kiel
Buyer: US Jesco, Carrollton, Texas
Amount: 40 lbs.
Price per pound: $65
Total sell price: $2,600

Mascarpone
Made by: George Crave, Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese, Waterloo
Buyer: Emmi-Roth Kase USA, Monroe
Amount: 4 lbs.
Price per pound: $105
Total sell price: $420

Brie Light
(Cheesemaker donated 10 additional pounds. Lot auctioned off twice.)
Made by: Dan Osterholz, Lactalis USA, Belmont
Buyer: Danisco USA, New Century, Kansas
Amount: 10 lbs.
Price per pound: $40
Total sell price: $400

Made by: Dan Osterholz, Lactalis USA, Belmont
Buyer: Wisconsin Aging & Grading Cheese, Little Chute
Amount: 10 lbs.
Price per pound: $40
Total sell price: $400

Havarti
Made by: Ron Bechtolt, Klondike Cheese Co., Monro
Buyer: Emmi-Roth Kase USA, Monroe
Amount: 10 lbs.
Price per pound: $150
Total sell price: $1,500

Limburger
Made by: Mike Nelson, Chalet Cheese Co-op, Monroe
Buyer: Wisconsin Cheese Mart, Milwaukee
Amount: 3 lbs.
Price per pound: $150
Total sell price: $450

Natural Rind Parmesan
Made by: Mike Matucheski, Sartori Foods, Plymouth
Buyer: Novak’s Cheese, DePere
Amount: 20 lbs.
Price per pound: $190
Total sell price: $3,800

Low Moisture Mozzarella, Whole Milk
Made by: Terry Lensmire, Trega Foods, Luxemburg
Buyer: Wisconsin Aging & Grading Cheese, Little Chute
Amount: 13 lbs.
Price per pound: $150
Total sell price: $1,950

Brick
Made by: Ron Bechtolt, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe
Buyer: R. Mueller Service and Equipment, Monroe
Amount: 10 lbs.
Price per pound: $107.50
Total sell price: $1,075

Salted Butter
Made by: Roy Phillipi, Graf Creamery, Zachow
Buyer: Ivarson, Milwaukee
Amount: 10 lbs.
Price per pound: $50
Total sell price: $500

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The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, a nonprofit organization funded by the state's dairy farmers, promotes the consumption of Wisconsin Cheese and other dairy products.

Contact Info:

Katie Katzman
Wisconsin State Fair Dairy Promotion Board
262-903-6727
Katy Katzman