Arethusa Europa today earned a second consecutive win at the U.S. Championship Cheese Contest, a first in the competition’s history. The aged Gouda, made by Arethusa Farm Dairy in Bantam, Connecticut, bested 2,414 entries with a score of 98.89.
First runner up, which was one hundredth of a point behind is St. Malachi Reserve. This was made by The Farm at Doe Run in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. Lake Country Dairy-Schuman Cheese out of Turtle Lake, Wisconsin was awarded second runner-up, with their Cello Organic Copper Kettle Parmesan. This entry earned a score of 98.81. Lake Country Dairy-Schuman Cheese had 3 cheeses make it into the top 20 of the contest.
“It’s fantastic to place third out of the 2,400 amazing cheeses in the competition,” says Aileen Kacvinsky, the technical service supervisor with Schuman Cheese. “Even the lower ranking cheeses in this competition are amazing.”
A total of 31 U.S. states were represented in the 2025 contest, with entries in 117 classes. With 55 Best of Class finishes, Wisconsin cheese makers earned the most gold medals of any state. They were followed by Vermont with 13 first-place finishes. Idaho finished third with 10 gold medals.
Wisconsin Cheeses In The Top 20
In total, Wisconsin had nine entries in the top twenty and are as follows:
Class 21: Asiago
Cheese Name: Cello Asiago
Maker: Lake Country Dairy
Company: Lake Country Dairy/Schuman Cheese
Location: Turtle Lake, Wisconsin
Class 23: Parmesan
Cheese Name: Cello Organic Copper Kettle Parmesan
Maker: Lake Country Dairy
Company: Lake Country Dairy/Schuman Cheese
Location: Turtle Lake, Wisconsin
Class 29: Havarti
Cheese Name: Buholzer Brothers Havarti Cheese
Maker: Steve Bechtolt
Company: Klondike Cheese Co.
Location: Monroe, Wisconsin
Class 30: Havarti, Flavored
Cheese Name: Buholzer Brothers Dill Havarti Cheese
Maker: Dave Buholzer
Company: Klondike Cheese Co.
Location: Monroe, Wisconsin
Class 36: Edam & Gouda
Cheese Name: Lake Country Dairy Gouda
Maker: Lake Country Dairy
Company: Lake Country Dairy/Schuman Cheese
Location: Turtle Lake, Wisconsin
Class 54: Open Class: Soft Cheeses, Flavored
Cheese Name: BelGioioso Fresh Mozzarella, Fresh Basil, & Garlic Marinated
Maker: Trevor Tilot
Company: BelGioioso Cheese
Location: Denmark, Wisconsin
Class 58: Open Class: Hard Cheeses, Flavored
Cheese Name: Henning’s Cheese Onion and Chive
Maker: Henning Cheese
Company: Henning Cheese
Location: Kiel, Wisconsin
Class 60: Open Class: Smoked Soft & Semi-soft Cheeses
Cheese Name: Blue Spruce Blue
Maker: Carr Valley Cheese Company
Company: Carr Valley Cheese Company
Location: Linden, Wisconsin
Class 87: Soft & Semi-soft Mixed Milk Cheeses
Cheese Name: Mobay
Maker: Carr Valley Cheese Company
Company: Carr Valley Cheese Company
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin
