Industry Leaders to be Recognized During 2023 CheeseCon Expo

The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association has chosen 12 individuals to be recognized next year at the CheeseCon Expo in Madison for their outstanding work in the dairy processing industry.

Kerry Henning and Myron Olson will receive the WCMA Life Member Award, which is the group's highest honor. Henning is a Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker and president of Henning Cheese. He helped lead his family's cheese business since the 1980s, which won numerous awards at the U.S. and World Championship Cheese Contests. Olson started Chalet Cheese in the 1970s and has earned three Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker certificates in Baby Swiss, brick, and Limburger. He is also a longtime officer of the WCMA, including a stint as president.

WCMA's newest honor, the Luminary Award, recognizes the contributions of leaders in dairy product sales and marketing; individuals who introduced new concepts, products, or innovative ideas to drive sales in the U.S. or around the world. The 2023 recipients of the Luminary Award are Dennis Kasuboski of Masters Gallery Foods and Stan Woodworth from Klondike Cheese Company.

Bill and Don Mullins, Mullins Cheese; and Jim Sartori, Sartori Company, will be recognized as the Cheese Industry Champions. These are awards that are given to industry leaders who, through their everyday business decisions, have created tremendous opportunity for others.

Distinguished Service Awards will be presented to Debra Cherney of Cherney Microbiological Services, Ltd.and Bob Fassbender from T.C. Jacoby & Company.

The Babcock Award, named for Stephen Babcock, the famed agricultural chemist and University of Wisconsin professor, recognizes the contributions of those in education or affiliate organizations partnering with cheesemakers in the pursuit of dairy industry innovation and excellence, and will be presented to former UW-Extension Expert Dr. Ed Jesse and Dr. Charles White of Mississippi State University in 2023.

And the Vanguard Award is intended to recognize cheesemakers or cheese manufacturing employees whose work helped to blaze new trails in dairy operations. In 2022, this award will be given to Tom Jenny, Carr Valley Cheese; and Dan Stearns, Agropur.

Awards will be presented to all honorees on April 6 at the WCMA Recognition Breakfast at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.