Press Release

N E W S R E L E A S E FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE UPON RECEIPT – July 31, 2006 CONTACT Noreen Rueckert, Cheese Days Coordinator 608.325.7771 cheesedays@tds.net MONROE, WISCONSIN HOSTS GREEN COUNTY CHEESE DAYS SEPTEMBER 15 – 17, 2006 Monroe, WI – Anyone on a quest seeking the best food fest in the Midwest should be sure to use a pen to mark “Green County Cheese Days, September 15 – 17, 2006” on their calendar. Back in 1914, a group of businessmen in Monroe, Wisconsin decided that if some little town in Illinois could have a festival commemorating sauerkraut, then a celebration based on cheese would be an even better idea. They drove a roadster through the city to publicize the event, with a hand-lettered sign attached to the vehicle proclaiming “FIRST CHEESE DAYS COMMITTEE 1914 – WE STARTED SOMETHING!” And did they ever. Join the festivities this year as Monroe and Green County serve as your hosts for Green County Cheese Days, held downtown on Monroe’s Historic Courthouse Square. In addition to tried and true favorites like the cheese tent, the dairy farm and cheese factory tours, and the authentic Swiss entertainment, this year’s festival schedule also includes some brand new activities. Festival-goers will have a chance to get a “taste of Switzerland” while taking parting in activities sponsored by the Swiss Roots organization. Look for the antique Swiss postal bus on the festival grounds, attend the Swiss Roots Ball at Turner Hall on Friday evening, and visit the Swiss Roots tent for a chance to register online to win plane tickets to Switzerland. New entertainment highlights on the main stage include appearances by Alpine and Western Yodeling Master Kerry Christensen, and a Saturday night street dance to the tunes of Copper Box. Since activities at the festival extend a bit beyond Monroe’s downtown square area, Cheese Days is offering free rides on the Limburger Express Trolley. The trolley will make continuous loops with stops at Joseph Huber Brewing Company, the Cheese Days Arts and Crafts Fair, Turner Hall, and the downtown parking ramp. From the parking ramp, riders can transfer to the Park & Ride Shuttle Bus with parking at Shopko and Wal-Mart. The Cheese Days Hospitality Tent, sponsored by The Swiss Colony in honor of their 80th anniversary, will again offer festival attendees a place to enjoy their lunch or dinner, plus an activity stage featuring a variety of educational and entertaining sessions. On the schedule are beer and cheese tasting and pairing, a chef’s demonstration featuring new varieties of locally made specialty cheeses, a beer and cheese bread recipe contest, wine and cheese tasting and pairing, gingerbread house decorating, a cheesecake contest, special guests, trivia, games, and prizes. A returning favorite in the Hospitality Tent will be Wisconsin’s Biggest Cheese Fondue, prepared on Saturday by Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker Bruce Workman, and New Glarus Hotel Chef Mike Nevil. Despite the festival name and all the wonderful tasting opportunities, Cheese Days isn’t just about food. Other returning crowd-pleasers include the cow milking contest, old time cheesemaking demonstration, arts and crafts fair, vintage car and tractor show, carnival, retail tent with commemorative Cheese Days merchandise, “Berghoff and Blues” with live blues and cool brews at the Joseph Huber Brewing Company, and the “Heart of Cheese Days” exhibit sponsored by Monroe Swiss Singers at Turner Hall. For many visitors, the festival highlight is The Swiss Colony Cheese Days Parade. Held on Sunday, September 17 beginning at 12:30 p.m., this giant extravaganza features bands, drum corps, clowns, and a variety of entertainment. The parade is led of by decorated Brown Swiss cattle, followed by many floats paying tribute to Swiss heritage, cheesemaking, and the dairy farming legacy of Green County. HOSPITALITY TENT HIGHLIGHTS September 15 – 16, 2006 Great Wisconsin Cheese Challenge (similar to Jeopardy – complete with buzzers and electronic scoring) – game provided by Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board Chef Wave Kasprzak from Dining Room at 209 Main in Monticello - cooking demonstration featuring recipes created with new varieties of locally made specialty cheeses Cheese and Beer pairing/samples – locally made cheese paired with beer from New Glarus Brewing Company – presented by Paul Sadosky (Director of Research and Development) and Dave Leonhardi from the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board Fondue demonstration and samples – presented by cheesemaker Bruce Workman and chef Mike Nevil “Introducing Brown Swiss Kase” by Barb Kummerfeldt of Maple Leaf Cheese & Chocolate – cheese made exclusively with Brown Swiss cow milk, paired with appropriate wines Cheese and beer pairing and tasting – locally made cheese paired with beer from Joseph Huber Brewing Company, presented by brewmaster Kris Kalav and Dave Leonhardi from the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board Cheesecake Recipe Contest – sponsored by Dick’s Piggly Wiggly Beer and Cheese Bread Recipe Contest Gingerbread House Decorating for kids – presented by The Swiss Colony Back to Media Page