NEW ULM, Minn. — The cheesemakers of Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) are bringing home the coveted Chairman’s Trophy following the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) Championship Cheese Contest. A hand-crafted Parmesan made at the cooperative’s plant in Hoven, S.D., was named best of class in the Italian division and received the distinction of the contest’s best overall entry.
“Making award-worthy cheese is the daily standard at AMPI,” said Kevin Hageman, a veteran Hard Italian-style cheesemaker who manages the plant where the champion Parmesan was produced. “We don’t make special cheese for contests. This is the quality of product we’re making every day. Our skilled cheesemakers use high-quality milk from AMPI member farms to create superior artisan cheese.”
The South Dakota plant specializes in making 22-pound wheels of Parmesan, Asiago and Romano.
In addition to the competition’s highest recognition, AMPI cheesemakers earned four additional awards at the contest held in conjunction with NMPF’s joint annual meeting with the United Dairy Industry Association and National Dairy Promotion and Research Board in New Orleans, La. A total of 237 entries from cooperatives across the country were submitted for this year’s contest. Cheese made at AMPI plants received the following awards:
First, Processed American Plain – Portage, Wis.
Third, Medium Cheddar – Blair, Wis.
Third, Processed American Plain – Portage, Wis.
Third, Processed American Flavored – Portage, Wis.
“These latest top-three finishes bring AMPI’s total award count in national contests to 21 for 2019,” said Marshall Reece, AMPI’s senior vice president of sales and marketing. “At AMPI, our products come with a Co-op Crafted promise — AMPI family farms care for their land and animals, and partner with skilled craftsmen to make award-winning dairy products for our customers to enjoy.”
About AMPI:
AMPI is headquartered in New Ulm, Minn., and owned by dairy farm families from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota. The cooperative’s award-winning cheese, butter and powdered dairy products are marketed to foodservice, retail and food ingredient customers. The co-op launched its Dinner Bell Creamery brand and accompanying Co-op Crafted promise in 2019, highlighting more than 50 years of dairy farm families partnering with skilled buttermakers and cheesemakers. AMPI members annually market about 5.7 billion pounds of milk generating $1.7 billion in sales.
Caption for photo: A hand-crafted Parmesan produced by AMPI cheesemakers in Hoven, S.D., was named best overall and received the Chairman’s Trophy of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) Championship Cheese Contest in New Orleans, La. Receiving the champion plaque were, from left, AMPI board members Dave Peterson, Boyd, Wis.; Brad Nevin, Rice Lake, Wis.; Tom Jandt, West Salem, Wis.; AMPI Co-President and CEO Donn DeVelder, New Ulm, Minn.; AMPI Chairman of the Board Steve Schlangen, Albany, Minn.; AMPI board members Doug Carroll, Ryan, Iowa; and Dennis Hawkins, Chippewa Falls, Wis.
