Wisconsin cheesemakers compete on the world stage in Madison

MADISON, Wis. (WKBT) -- Thousands of dairy products from across the globe -- including several made in western Wisconsin -- are being judged at the World Championship Cheese Contest in Madison.

More than 3,000 entries from 25 countries are vying for top honors at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison.

For Makenzie Skibbie, a volunteer with LaGrander's Hillside Dairy Inc., the event is as exciting as ever.

World Championship Cheese Contest

"It's just so fun coming and seeing all the different kinds of cheeses, dairy products, yogurt, kefir, cream cheese -- there's a new product every year," Skibbie said.

The contest, hosted by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, is the largest technical dairy competition in the world. Judges evaluate each entry for flavor, texture, and appearance -- and the scoring can come down to the smallest details.

"Sometimes a decimal point makes the difference between a gold medal or a silver medal," said Franco Cessa, a judge from New Zealand.

Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association

Behind the scenes, cheesemakers say the hard work starts long before competitors arrive in Madison.

"It's a lot of work -- it's a lot of standing, moving boxes, keeping track, checking them off, making sure everything that's in your palettes is getting judged, nothing's missed, making sure it's in the right category," said Rob Stellrecht, a master cheesemaker with Burnett Dairy Cooperative.

For Stellrecht, the reward comes not just from competition, but from representing Wisconsin's passion for cheese

Burnett Dairy Cooperative

"This is international, so you're competing against the world," he said. "To place in the top three, even the top ten, is amazing -- but the top three is really rewarding."

Winners of the 2026 World Championship Cheese Contest will be announced virtually on the contest's Facebook page Thursday at 2 p.m.

It's just so fun coming and seeing all the different kinds of cheeses, dairy products, yogurt, kefir, cream cheese -- there's a new product every year.

Reading the wider picture

Restaurants live and die on repeat visits, which makes consistency considerably more valuable than any single moment of brilliance.

At a glance

More than 3,000 entries from 25 countries are vying for top honors at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison
For Makenzie Skibbie, a volunteer with LaGrander's Hillside Dairy Inc., the event is as exciting as ever
The contest, hosted by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, is the largest technical dairy competition in the world
"Sometimes a decimal point makes the difference between a gold medal or a silver medal," said Franco Cessa, a judge from New Zealand
Behind the scenes, cheesemakers say the hard work starts long before competitors arrive in Madison

By the numbers

Winners of the 2026 World Championship Cheese Contest will be announced virtually on the contest's Facebook page Thursday at 2 p.m

All told

How this plays out in the dining room will take time to become clear. For now it is a development worth following rather than judging.