2008 World Championship Cheese Contest
Join the World's Largest International Cheese Contest
27th Biennial World Championship Cheese Contest
Madison, Wisconsin, USA • March 11-13, 2008
Download a flyer describing the 2008 World Championship Cheese Contest 
Cheesemakers and buttermakers from around the world are invited to compete in the 27th Biennial World Championship Cheese Contest.® This contest is an objective assessment of cheeses and butters and awards gold, silver and bronze medals to the finest products in 79 classes.
The World Championship Cheese Contest is hosted by the nonprofit Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association with assistance from dozens of industry volunteers. Since its inception in 1957, the World Championship Cheese Contest has grown rapidly and is now the largest international cheese and butter competition in the world. The most recent Contest in 2006 drew a record-breaking 1,795 entries from 18 nations.
The competition is open to public viewing and will gain national media exposure in the United States. Previous medal winners have built marketing campaigns around their success in this highly competitive contest.
Key contest dates
- Entry Deadline - February 11, 2008
- Entries Delivered - March 5
- Contest Judging - March 11-13
- Awards Banquet - April 24
Awards in 79 cheese and butter classes
The World Championship Cheese Contest is a technical evaluation of cheese and butter by class. The international panel of 22 judges, experts in cheese evaluation, examines entries and deducts points for defects.
Gold medal, Silver medal and Bronze medal winners are decided based on the highest average scores in each class. The Gold medal cheeses from appropriate cheese classes are judged a second time and the cheese which earns the highest average score is named the World Champion.
2008 Innovations
New! Enter as a Team. Entrants will now have the option of listing a single name as cheesemaker or buttermaker, or a group or "team" name. New! Recognition of 4th and 5th Place Winners. In addition to gold, silver and bronze recognitions, entrants earning 4th or 5th place will receive (via mail) a certificate of merit for your achievement.
The World Championship Cheese Contest is an objective, expert evaluation by judges selected from nations around the world. Please join the global community of dairy manufacturers and compete for medals in the world's largest cheese and butter competition. Thank you and good luck!
Live on the Internet
During the judging, March 11-13, check this site for real-time streaming video and digital images from the event. Scores in each class are posted during the contest.
The rapid growth of this competition and innovation among cheesemakers has allowed for the addition of distinct new cheese classes in each biennium. The classes listed below comprise the 2008 World Championship Cheese Contest.
World Championship Cheese Contest® and Contest Logo are protected trademarks and/or service marks of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association.
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