Sark sparks gold!

Hoard’s Dairyman Farm Creamery’s Sark Butterkase cheese won its category for semi-soft cheeses at the United States Championship Cheese Contest.

This month, the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association hosted their 22nd United States Championship Cheese Contest (USCCC) in Green Bay, Wis.

As the nation’s premier technical cheese, butter, and yogurt competition, the USCCC honors the best of entries from within a variety of categories, from mild cheddar to mixed milk cheeses and everything in between.

This year, there were 2,250 entries from 31 states. Each cheese began the competition with 100 points and was evaluated by expert judges based on its flavor, body, texture, color, finish, packaging, and other relevant attributes. Any defects resulted in a docking of points.

Based on these criteria, deserving cheeses in each class received a gold, silver, or bronze award.

Hoard’s Dairyman Farm Creamery’s Sark won “Best in Class” (Gold) for semi-soft cheeses, with 99.25 points.

Made in Monticello, Wis., by cheesemaker Bruce Workman, this Butterkase cheese is named for the isle of Sark, a self-governing, no-cars-on-the-road island that lies in the English Channel just off the coast of Guernsey island — where Guernsey cows like those of the Hoard’s Dairyman Farm herd originated.

Dubbed “the jewel of the Channel Islands,” the isle of Sark offers views as sublime as its honorary cheese’s decadent taste and texture. (Charcuterie and a red eye to go, please?)

In the USCCC’s Havarti category, Hoard’s Dairyman Farm Creamery’s Island Havarti snagged spot number 5 out of 17 with a score of 99.5.

Taking home the champion trophies in first, second, and third place were Arethusa Farm Dairy, The Farm at Doe Run, and Lack Country Dairy/Shuman Cheese, respectively.

The United States Championship Cheese Contest has run biennially since 1981 and will return in 2027 for more cheese-tastic contests, awards, and celebrations.