American Cheese Society Announces 2016 Winners

The American Cheese Society’s annual competition brought more than a thousand industry members and peers from around the nation to convene in Des Moines, IA, breaking records for both entries and attendance for this big calendar event.

With more than 1,200 in attendance, some of the highlights of the event included:

• The American Cheese Society awards
• Educational sessions
• Networking opportunities
• Access to some of the latest in cheese products

And when it comes to the latest and greatest, everyone looks to have brought their best to this nationwide conference and contest. 1,843 entries from over 250 companies were entered to win what has been called the "Oscars of Cheeses." 

“Thanks to everyone who joined us for Cheese in the Heartland in Des Moines, as well as all of the sponsors who made this year’s events possible!” ACS announced on its website.

When it came to the final winners, I can only imagine the challenge judges had to face, even coming up with a tie for second and third place in Best of Show.

The final winners for Best of Show were:

• 1st Place: Wisconsin-based Roelli Cheese Company Inc.’s Little Mountain
• 2nd Place (tie): California-based Bleating Heart Cheese’s Buff Blue & Pennsylvania-based The Farm at Doe Run’s St. Malachi Reserve
• 3rd Place (tie): Minnesota-based Caves of Faribault’s Jeffs’ Select Gouda & Vermont-based Murray’s Cheese’s Greensward

You can see the full list of titles and winners by clicking here.

For the first time ever, the next annual American Cheese Society Conference and Competition will be held in Denver, CO, happening this time next year, July 26-29, 2017.

Congratulations to all on a successful event, can’t wait to see what is to come for the 34th annual conference “Cheese with Altitude.”