MADISON, WIS. – When the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association auctioned off gold medal cheeses from this year’s World Championship Cheese Contest, it raised $333,125.

The April 13 auction, a part of CheeseExpo 2022 in Milwaukee, was sponsored by Chr. Hansen. The money raised will go toward WCMA’s industry education and scholarship programs, championship cheese contests and university dairy training centers

“This year’s record-breaking auction reflects the generosity and forward thinking of the dairy processing industry,” said WCMA executive director John Umhoefer. “We’re grateful to this year’s bidders and honored to provide opportunities for the growth and advancement of the industry’s most valuable asset: its people.”

This year’s auction featured 86 gold medal cheeses from the 2022 World Championship Cheese Contest. The cheeses were auctioned off in 41 lots.

A total of 29 nations were represented in the 2022 World Championship Cheese Contest. The United States led the pack with 94 Best in Class finishes. Cheesemakers from Switzerland took home 10 gold medals, while the Netherlands finished with seven.

The following companies placed winning bids during the auction at CheeseExpo:

Milk Specialties Global

DSM Food Specialties USA, Inc.

DR Tech, Inc.

Great Lakes Cheese

Masters Gallery Foods, Inc.

Nelson-Jameson, Inc.

Decatur Dairy, Inc. & Guggisberg Cheese

Ivarson, Inc.

APT, Inc.

Loos Machine & Automation

Oshkosh Cold Storage

TC Transcontinental

Kelley Supply, Inc.

ProActive Solutions USA, LLC

Dairy Connection, Inc.

Hydrite

Vivolac Cultures Corporation

T.C. Jacoby & Co.

Emmi Roth

Wisconsin Aging & Grading Cheese, Inc.

Custom Fabricating & Repair, Inc.

Chr. Hansen, Inc.

Food Safety Net Services

ALPMA

Wabash

Novak’s Cheese of Wisconsin, Inc.