Grand Champion and Reserve Champion cheesemakers were announced on Thursday, July 18 at the 2024 Ohio State Fair Cheese Contest, held at Miceli Dairy Products in Cleveland.
The American Dairy Association Mideast, the event coordinator, proudly announced Pearl Valley Cheese from Fresno as the overall Grand Champion for their Swiss cheese. Guggisberg Cheese from Millersburg, Ohio, took home the overall Reserve Champion award for their Ziller.
With 71 entries from cheesemakers across the state, participation reached an all-time high. The winners by classification are as follows:
Swiss Class
- First Place: Pearl Valley Cheese, Fresno, Ohio
- Second Place: Pearl Valley Cheese, Fresno, Ohio
- Third Place: Guggisberg Cheese, Millersburg, Ohio
Other Swiss Class
- First Place: Guggisberg Cheese, Millersburg, Ohio – Ziller
- Second Place: Guggisberg Cheese, Millersburg, Ohio – Rind Swiss
- Third Place: Pearl Valley Cheese, Fresno, Ohio – Lacey Baby Swiss
Mild Cheddar Class
- First Place: Middlefield Original Cheese, Middlefield, Ohio
- Second Place: Urban Stead Cheese, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Third Place: Tri-State Cheese, Hicksville, Ohio
Aged Cheddar Class
- First Place: Middlefield Original Cheese, Middlefield, Ohio
- Second Place: Urban Stead Cheese, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Third Place: Young’s Jersey Dairy, Yellow Springs, Ohio
Surface Mold Bloomy Class
- First Place: Marchant Manor Cheese, Cleveland, Ohio – Lampworth Porcini
- Second Place: Urban Stead Cheese, Cincinnati, Ohio – Camembert
- Third Place: Marchant Manor Cheese, Cleveland, Ohio – Elmstead Ash Triple Cream
Bacteria Ripened Class
- First Place: Black Radish Creamery, Granville, Ohio – Pious
- Second Place: Canal Junction Cheese, Defiance, Ohio – Charloe
- Third Place: Black Radish Creamery, Granville, Ohio – Raclette
Spreadable Class
- First Place: Blue Jacket Dairy, Bellefontaine, Ohio – Fromage Blanc
- Second Place: Urban Stead Cheese, Cincinnati, Ohio – Quark
Cheese Curd Class
- First Place: Young’s Jersey Dairy, Yellow Springs, Ohio – Cajun Curd
- Second Place: Young’s Jersey Dairy, Yellow Springs, Ohio – Italian Curd
- Third Place: Tri-State Cheese, Hicksville, Ohio – Muenster Curd
Open Class – Non-Spicy
- First Place: Marchant Manor Cheese, Cleveland, Ohio – Brighton Blue
- Second Place: Miceli Dairy Products, Cleveland, Ohio – Impastata
- Third Place: Pearl Valley Cheese, Fresno, Ohio – Marbled
Open Class – Flavored
- First Place: Middlefield Original Cheese, Middlefield, Ohio – Dill Pickle
- Second Place: Tri-State Cheese, Hicksville, Ohio – Garlic and Herb
- Third Place: Urban Stead Cheese, Cincinnati, Ohio – Pimento
Open Class – Spicy
- First Place: Middlefield Original Cheese, Middlefield, Ohio – Pepper Jack
- Second Place: Pearl Valley Cheese, Fresno, Ohio – Salsa Jack
- Third Place: Pearl Valley Cheese, Fresno, Ohio – Chipotle
Other Mammal Class
- First Place: Marchant Manor Cheese, Cleveland, Ohio – Shepton Sheep
- Second Place: Blue Jacket Dairy, Bellefontaine, Ohio – Herb Chevre
Judges for the contest included Steve Funk of Nelson-Jameson Inc., Aileen Kacvinsky of Schuman Cheese, Frank McWhirter of Great Lakes Cheese, and Kent Rand of Weiland’s Market.
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