WCMA to Honor Ten Industry Leaders at the 2019 Cheese Industry Conference

WCMA Board of Directors have selected ten industry leaders to be honored with awards at the 2019 Cheese Industry Conference. These awards include the Life Member, Cheese Industry Champions, Distinguished Service, Babcock, and Vanguard awards, at an April 18th recognition breakfast at the conference next year.

Only one WCMA Life Member Award will be distributed, as it is the Association’s highest honor. The award was first offered in 1918, and this year the 87th recipient, John Epprecht, has been announced. It is received only by individuals who have “ played a significant role in the success of the Association through leadership, support, and service to the institution and its activities,” according to the Association in a recent press release.

As Vice President and partial owner of Great Lakes Cheese, Epprecht fostered the tremendous growth of the company which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. As a long-time and extremely active member of WCMS, including member of the Association’s Recognition Committee, Epprecht deserves this accolade for his tireless work to improve the industry.

The remaining awards were won by the following honored industry members:

WCMA Cheese Industry Champions

• Dave Fuhrmann, former President and CEO of Foremost Farms USA
• Lou Gentine, former Chief Executive Officer of Sargento Foods Inc.

WCMA Distinguished Service Award

• Joe and John Koss, retired co-founders of Koss Industrial Inc.
• Ron Kremer, retired National Sales Manager of Beatreme Foods

Babcock Award

• Rusty Bishop, former Professor of Food Science and Director of the Center for Dairy Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Dr. John Lucey, Professor of Food Science and Director of the Center for Dairy Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Vanguard Award

• Dale Baumgartner, retired head cheesemaker at Tillamook Cheese
• Terry Lensmire, Agropur Inc. and second place winner at the U.S. Champion Cheese Contest in 2017

Deli Market News congratulates the ten winners of these prestigious awards, and will provide more news on the 2019 Cheese Industry Conference as April draws near. For additional information on the details of the awards, and more information about the industry members who will be awarded them, please read the WCMA’s full press release.