Congratulations to the recipients of this year’s Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery Scholarships. The goal of this program is to provide scholarships to members of our cooperative’s families who wish to continue their post high school education in Agriculture at a two-year technical school or a four-year university.

Join us for deep fried at these events:

Barron County - June 1 Picknell Family Farm, 790 6 1/2 Avenue, Prairie Farm, WI ‘ Dunn County - June 8 Alfalawn Farm, N2859 290th St., Menomonie, WI With the recent for their restaurants’ kitchens. But acquisition of Wohlt that’s just not realistic for most restaurants. Showdown in Town - June 8 Creamery we've found Pierce County Fairgrounds, Ellsworth, WI Enter our kind of processed cheese—the kind we make Allen Croes Korlen Dittrich Kristi Getschel ourselves educating at Wohlt Creamery. What makes these gourmets labor Goodhue County - June 14 employees, customers, Schrimpf Family Farm, 35939 205th Ave, Goodhue, MN to make their own small batch , and the and the general public qualities that made the processed cheeses of the past Pepin County - June 15 about the nuances of so desirable, is being created at our New London plant R. Green Acres, W8667 Raethke Lane, Pepin, WI processed cheese. in a small-batch, high quality, and flavorful way, Pierce County - June 15 For many, processed earning a reputation in the restaurant and food service Peterson Family Dairy, W10322 State Rd 29, River Falls, WI cheese is the smooth and industry.

Buffalo County- June 22 velvety orange cheese, Just like when cows are bred to possess ideal Acorn Ridge Dairy, W890 Schoepps Valley Rd, Cochrane, MN sometimes perfectly cut characteristics, we can do the same by combining

into squares and Jarek Nelson Lindsey Skogen Wabasha County Family Night on the Farm - June 20 various cheese varieties to create custom blends that wrapped in plastic Stelling Farms, 62851 305th Ave., Millville, MN ideally match our customers’ cheese needs. For sleeves--The cheese your mom used when making example, our proprietary EZ Melt recipe is ideal for We wish you all much success PLUS... St. Croix County Farm Days - August, 17 grilled cheese sandwiches. in your future careers! Minglewood Dairy, Deer Park, WI making sauces that are smooth, creamy, and flavorful. A recent Thrillest.com article, "The Rise, Fall, and From a cheese that melts perfectly atop a burger, to a Comeback of ", shared how these cheese that has the ideal stretch for a pizza, each of singles were a luxury food item--from the shape to the our processed cheese formulas can meet a different flavor to the convenience, they were perfect in every customer need. way. Soon these pre-cut packaged cheeses were no But that’s not all! Having the ideal melt-ability or longer just for the elite and could be found in nearly elasticity doesn’t mean anything if it doesn’t taste every household regardless of income level. great. Wohlt cheese can offer the characteristics However, with today's many cheese choices, it seems prized by discerning restaurant chefs while also Mom's kind of processed cheese has fallen out of offering quality flavor profiles and consistency. That’s favor. Americans are becoming more health-conscious important for the and are avoiding all things "processed" opting for restaurant and food service whole and real ingredients and items they perceive as industry where an item healthier. According to the Thrillest.com article, needs to be replicated "Instead of optioning for the once-desired American exactly the same each and 232 North Wallace Street cheese, everyone now seems to have a negative every time. Ellsworth, WI 54011 opinion on the flimsy, bright orange squares." As processed cheese (715) 273-4311 But maybe the consumer just doesn’t know what makes its comeback, Wohlt

www.ellsworthcheese.com they’re missing? The article also included the stories of ensures we’re perfectly two burger chefs who value the quality of processed positioned to make the cheese and have turned to making their own, most of increased market combining cheese varieties to create the perfect demand. At Ellsworth Cooperative Cream- ery, it all starts at the farm. We look to our producers and require they meet strict quality standards. By Paul Bauer, CEO, Manager We recognize and reward their [email protected] efforts by naming our top three It’s hard to believe need to make or purchase to get the farm Quality Award Winners. where we are to- most from the members’ milk. It’s a tight race each year, and day compared to a we’re happy to announce our We continue to explore what that may year ago. The 2018 winners. be, whether it’s through by-product cheese markets processing or better cheese making are acting normal. equipment. The more equipment, pro- We do not have cesses, and space we have the more We’re counting the days until the surplus milk flood- we can then turn those into new prod- Terry Thompson, Warren Johnson, Martin Hallock, Angela Bocksell, Scot Meyer, Randall Festival on June 21- ing the state. ucts. New products create new reve- Demulling, Daniel Rosen, Adam Place, Alan Sigurdsen. 22! It’s amazing to see the crowds Butter Fat and nue for the cooperative. protein in milk are Our Board of Directors shares a big member must be a master at relation- that turn out to celebrate the As an example we will be installing an coming down in comparison to the last responsibility as they guide our coop- ships and teamwork, as well as a long- squeaky white morsels that make option to make a stand-up retail curd three years. Weather in the first quar- erative into the future and safeguard term visionary. Yes, it's a position our cooperative so proud. Last bag. This will help reach the markets ter froze sales lowering the number of the legacy of our founders and patron fraught with as many challenges as year’s event was attended by that don’t have peg board space. We orders. farm families. rewards. 30,000 people—6X the attendees FIRST PLACE: Berktold Farm, Lake are also looking to place 20-two oz. of the previous year! City, MN What has been working well for us curd packages in a bulk bag for retail The list of responsibilities for these We wish to welcome our newest The event offers amazing expo- since 2014? I would say we picked a sales in club stores. To assist with the posts are extensive and include the board members, who were elected to sure for our product and Wiscon- course of action and stayed closed to year-end rush we will be using our willingness to learn about finance, ac- their posts during March's Annual sin’s cheese industry. Of course that action plan. Our goal has been to rapid pack machine to package fudge counting, labor negotiations, produc- Meeting, as well as acknowledge and cheese curds are the starring transition to value added cheese to more efficiently for Christmas gift box- tion and manufacturing processes, and thank our current board members for food, but there’s also a real dairy get the most value from the members’ es. This complimentary product will be more. In addition, a successful board their continued hard work. ice cream tasting, milk & cookie milk. That is still true, but the way we gas-flushed so it can be made ahead of pairing, and a Block Party that will get there may be different than what I time while maintaining a fresh flavor. Curds Coming Soon! give attendees the opportunity to envisioned in 2014. Expanding and offering more options Our cheese curd wagon has a dent! taste a variety of With the addition of Wohlt Creamery allows us to deliver more choices to But we’re not going to let a little dam- cheeses all with a unique “claim we are able to balance barrel cheese the consumer and food service. SECOND PLACE: LNB Farms, Barron, age from a shed collapse stop us! Re- to fame”! WI. against our own needs to pursue the Where we are having problems is on pairs are taking place and it’s still our These and other events are de- highest value for milk. Normally, we the international side. The tariffs on goal to be deep frying cheese curds signed to create engagement with would need to keep making so many products going to China are hurting for customers out in front of the our target market. Festival plan- barrels to meet our customers’ needs, sales and profits. We have decreased Creamery in Ellsworth Thursday ners are adapting to accommo- regardless of if we made the best mar- the amount of sales to China and hope through Sunday beginning Memorial date the larger crowds. The ex- gin. Now we can balance to reach the to have those pick up once the trade Sec. Brad Pfaff Visits Day Weekend! Be sure to enjoy a boat panded footprint brings the festi- higher margin of either selling milk or issues are resolve. We are also looking Ellsworth... or two on your next visit! val even closer to our doorstep! making barrel cheese. We get an add- to expand in countries where we cur- Paul Bauer serves on the Wisconsin ed bonus if we short the market on rently ship product. However, it will So come for a good time, and to Department of Agriculture, Trade and barrels, causing the price to go up and take some additional certification to satisfy your cheese curd cravings! Consumer Protection (DATCP) board THIRD PLACE: Maple Leaf Acres, Elk thus raising the price for all our prod- expand into those countries. In addition to natural cheese with the goal of being a leading voice Mound, WI ucts. We are learning to use all the curds, we’ll also be deep frying Our cooperatives’ options are not lim- tools at our disposal to make higher in the industry. He invited Brad Pfaff, the cinnamon sugar curds that ited, rather we need to define what Secretary-designee of DATCP, to Ells- Congratulations and thank you to margins with the milk we have. everyone loves so much, as well provides the best return —short and worth to tour our creamery last month these winners, and the dedication as Jalapeno Bacon curds! Details So what is next? The next step for us is long term—to the members. That will and to discuss solutions for challenges of all our family farms, for produc- about the event can be found to explore what additional tools we be our focus going forward. facing our state's dairy farmers. ing milk of the highest quality! online at CheeseCurdFestival.com.