Central WI businesses set to compete at 2026 World Cheese Contest

Judges Cathy Strange of Whole Foods Market (left) and Russell Smith of Dairy Australia evaluate an entry at the 2024 World Championship Cheese Contest. (USA Today via Reuters Connect)

By USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

February 27, 2026

Several dairy manufacturers from central and northern Wisconsin are set to compete in the 2026 World Championship Cheese Contest, which will take place March 3-5 at the Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center in Madison.

Their products are among 3,375 entries across 150 classes of dairy products, according to a community announcement.

The competition is hosted by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association.

7 businesses from Central Wisconsin will compete

The following businesses from north and central Wisconsin are set to compete among dairy processors from 25 countries and 34 U.S. states and territories:

Foremost Farms USA of Marshfield
Lactalis of Merrill and Wausau
Land O’Lakes of Spencer
Lynn Dairy Inc. of Granton
Marieke Gouda of Thorp
Nasonville Dairy of Curtiss and Marshfield
Weber’s Farm Store of Marshfield

There’s a public viewing March 3 and 4

Preliminary rounds of judging are open for public observation on March 3 and 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendance is free, and samples will be available. The announcement of the 2026 World Champion will be livestreamed at 2 p.m. March 5 at WorldChampionCheese.org and Facebook.com/WorldChampionshipCheeseContest, according to the announcement.

“These businesses aren’t just vying for the prestigious title of World Champion. They’re gaining invaluable technical feedback from some of the most respected experts in the world – feedback that makes a better product for their customers. We wish them, and all our competitors, the best in this year’s competition!” said Kirsten Strohmenger, contest director for the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association.

Hosted biennially by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association since 1957, the competition is the largest technical dairy products evaluation in the world.

This story was created by reporter Nida Tazeen, [email protected] , with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.

This article originally appeared on Wausau Daily Herald: Central WI businesses set to compete at 2026 World Cheese Contest

Reporting by Nida Tazeen, Reporter Assisted by AI / Wausau Daily Herald

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect