MADISON, WIS. — Dairy industry experts with backgrounds in cheese grading, dairy science, research and other areas are set to serve as judges at the 2025 United States Championship Cheese Contest.

Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA), which hosts the competition, called the judges an “all-star team” of dairy product aficionados, led by a supervising panel that oversees the evaluation process set for March 4-6 at Resch Expo in Green Bay, Wis.

WCMA said the contest leadership team members, known as the “red hats” for their signature uniforms, will include chief judge Jim Mueller, as well as assistant chief judges Tim Czmowski (ISG Engineering), Stan Dietsche (Oshkosh Cold Storage), Josef Hubatschek (retired from ALPMA), Mariana Marques de Almeida (Ms. J and Co.) and Sandy Toney (Masters Gallery Foods). Additionally, Randy Swensen (Wisconsin Aging & Grading Cheese) will serve as director of logistics, and John Jaeggi (Center for Dairy Research) will join the leadership team for the first time.

In total, WCMA said the judging team is comprised of 38 experts from 15 states. The judges for the 2025 contest are:

• Jill Allen, Tillamook (Oregon)

• Valerie Arechiga, Glanbia Nutritionals (Idaho)  

• Marc Bates, Bates Consulting (Oregon)

• Larry Bell, LBell Consulting (Wisconsin)

• Ted Brown, Cabot Creamery Cooperative (Vermont)

• Kimberlee “KJ” Burrington, American Dairy Products Institute (Wisconsin)

• Dr. Stephanie Clark, American Dairy Products Institute (New Mexico)  

• Benedicte Coude, Ingredion (New Jersey)

• Mirjana Curic-Bawden, Ph.D, Novonesis (Wisconsin)

• Dominique Delugeau, Saputo Cheese USA (Wisconsin)

• Dr. MaryAnne Drake, North Carolina State University (North Carolina)

• Mike Dudas, Schuman Cheese – (New Jersey)

• Chad Galer, Dairy Management Inc. – (Illinois)

• Andy Johnson, Dairy Connection – (Wisconsin)

• Aileen Kacvinsky, Schuman Cheese – (Wisconsin)

• Dr. Kerry Kaylegian, BeSpoke Dairy Training LLC (Pennsylvania)

• Greg Kinate, TC Jacoby & Co. (Wisconsin)

• Kyle Koll, Sargento Foods (Wisconsin)

• Laura Laehn, Masters Gallery Foods (Wisconsin)

• Dr. Susan Larson, Center for Dairy Research (retired, Wisconsin)

• Dr. Carmen Licon, California Polytechnic State University (California)

• Sarah Masoni, Oregon State University Food Innovation Center (Oregon)

• Eric Meredith, Jimbo’s (California)

• Dr. Lloyd Metzger, Valley Queen Cheese (South Dakota)

• Gina Mode, Center for Dairy Research (Wisconsin)

• Mike Pederson, Wisconsin Department, Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (retired, Wisconsin)

• Rob Richter, Great Lakes Cheese (Wisconsin)

• David Satterness, Novonesis (retired, South Dakota)

• Steve Schenkoske, Tosca (retired, Wisconsin)

• Ben Smith, Hilmar (California)

• Dean Sommer, Center for Dairy Research (Wisconsin)

• Gideon St. Aubin, Dairy Farmers of America (Wisconsin)

• Cathy Strange, Whole Foods Market (Texas)

• Suresh Sutariya, IFF (Kansas)

• Don Tribby, IFF (Missouri)

• Eric Vorpahl, Masters Gallery Foods (Wisconsin)

• Julie Winans, Novonesis (Utah)

• Matt Zimbric, Foremost Farms USA (Wisconsin)

WCMA has hosted the biennial US Championship Cheese Contest since 1981. The competition includes classes for cheeses, butters, cultured products and dry dairy ingredients.