A Manitowoc County cheese maker is now considered the best in the state.
Hennings Cheese of Kiel won the 2026 Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker during the Blue Ribbon Dairy Products Auction at this year’s Wisconsin State Fair.
Joshua Hennings’ 18-month Traditional Waxed Cheddar earned an almost perfect score of 99.1 in the aged cheddar category.
Hennings also took home 1st place for their Cheese Curds, 2nd place for their Mango Fire Cheddar, and two 3rd place awards for their Tomato Basil Cheddar and Mild Cheddar.
Co-Owner and Director of National Sales Rebekah Henschel calls earning the Grand Master Cheesemaker award “an incredible source of pride for our entire family and our team,” especially given the number of talented makers.
The cheese company had to compete against 500 entries spanning more than 50 classes of cheese, sour cream, butter, yogurt, and more.
Proceeds from the dairy products auction support scholarships for students pursuing careers in dairy or food science and fund interactive educational exhibits at the state fair.
