Cass Clay/AMPI, Hoven, SD was selected as the Cheese and Butter Grand Champion and Purity Dairies, Nashville, Tenn., was selected as the Grade A & Ice Cream Grand Champion of the World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest. 

This year’s contest, sponsored by the Wisconsin Dairy Products Assn., received a record number of 589 entries for cheese, butter, fluid milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, ice cream, sour cream, sherbet, buttermilk, sour cream dips, whipping cream, dried whey and creative/innovative products from throughout the United States. 

“It is extremely gratifying to see how dairy manufacturers have embraced this contest,” says Brad Legreid, executive director of WDPA. “Due to the tremendous support from dairy companies throughout North America, the World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest has averaged an amazing 40% annual rate of growth over its first seven years. This is a phenomenal level of growth for a relatively new contest. This growth is a direct reflection of the high level of interest that dairy processors have in entering the only judging contest of its kind in North America. Because this contest is all encompassing, dairy manufacturers have the unique opportunity to compete in a prestigious, all-dairy national contest.”

Judging was held on August 25 at UW-Madison’s Babcock Hall and August 26-27 at the Madison Area Technical College Culinary School. These locations proved to be very successful venues for the contest judging. 

“MATC and UW were very supportive of this contest,” Legreid said. “By having the judging at the MATC Culinary School, over 70 chef-trainees were afforded the unique opportunity to closely observe and interact with the contest judges throughout the day.”

On September 29, the contest’s auction will be held at World Dairy Expo in Madison, at which time all category first-place winners will be auctioned off. A portion of the proceeds from the contest auction will be used to fund the Dr. Robert Bradley Scholarship Fund, which will be awarded annually to a deserving student pursuing a career in the dairy industry. The auction will begin at 5 p.m. and will feature Doug Wilson, Cooperative Resources International, as the auctioneer. 

For more information on the contest and auction please call 608/836-3336.