Collegiate Dairy Products Evaluation Contest to Celebrate 100th Event in Milwaukee
Collegiate dairy product evaluation teams from across the country will gather in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on April 17 for the 100th Collegiate Dairy Products Evaluation Contest.
At the contest, teams from across the United States will judge six different dairy products – butter, vanilla ice cream, cottage cheese, strawberry yogurt, Cheddar cheese, and fluid milk. Industry experts judge the same products at the contest and the results from the collegiate teams are measured against those of the industry experts to determine winning teams and individuals.
“Students are basically trying to match the scores from the industry experts,” said Brandon Prochaska, lead Cheddar judge and contest board member. “The contest tests their skills but also teaches them.” At the end of the contest, the industry experts’ scores are shared, and students can taste the products again to compare their results to the judges.
The contest is a fixture in the dairy industry, held annually since 1916, only pausing during both World Wars and the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the contest will be held beginning at 9:00 a.m. on April 17 in Milwaukee at the Baird Center. The contest is held in conjunction with CheeseExpo, where more 4,000 cheese industry leaders, suppliers, and marketers gather from all over the world to network, celebrate, and share information about the latest dairy processing insights and technology. CheeseExpo is hosted by the Center for Dairy Research (CDR) and the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA).
The contest is a valuable learning experience for students, and many participants in previous contests have gone on to work in the industry.
“The next generation of professionals are learning this extremely valuable skill and they’re networking with people in the industry; it’s a really valuable opportunity for the students,” Prochaska said. In addition to the contest, students can attend CheeseExpo’s networking events, offering them the chance to build connections within the industry.
Media Welcome
Media are welcome to attend the contest and take photos or video and interview students, coaches, and contest officials. Members of the media who are interested in covering the competition can contact CheeseExpo organizers at events@wischeesemakers.org.
For more information, visit https://dairyproductscontest.org/.
Posted 3/12/2024