Wisconsin Dairy History
Humble Beginnings
Cheese is invented as a means of preserving animal milk in times of hardship. Simply put, the good bacterial components of cheese prevent spoilage by bad bacteria and mold. ( I Love Cheese!)
Ancient Desserts
Ice storage allows the Persians to begin making frozen desserts, which is believe to have included a form of ice cream. ( Saffron and Rose)
Cheese Pioneers Settle Wisconsin Territory
One of the earliest cheese makers in Wisconsin, Charles Rockwell, begins producing cheese in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. ( WI Historical Society)
Wisconsin Becomes a (Wheat) State
Wisconsin drafted a state constitution which was approved and finalized March 29, 1848. At this time the primary agriculture product in the state was wheat. ( WI Historical Society)
Chester Hazen founds first Cheese Factory
Facing social headwinds, Chester Hazen founds Wisconsin's first cheese manufacturer. At this time dairy production was considered to be the chore of the housewife and not the farmer. ( WI Historical Society)
Dairy Centrifuge - A World Revolution
German inventor Antonin Prandtl revolutionizes the dairy industry by inventing the centrifuge, allowing dairy producers to separate cream from milk on a large scale. That same year French chemist Louis Pasteur invented 'Pasteurization', a process for eliminating bacteria from food and beverages. ( Marshall Scientific)
Dairyman's Association Founded
William Dempster Hoard founds the Dairyman's Association, dedicated to the marketing and education of dairy makers throughout the state. ( WI Historical Society)
Give a Brick
John Jossi invents brick cheese which is crafted using bricks to press the curds before being left to rest in a warm room where the cheese develops a tangy flavor. ( Widmer's Cheese Cellars)
Sundae Morning
Ed Berner, owner of a soda shop in Two Rivers, Wisconsin invents the ice cream sundae. Other states have made claims to this historic invention but Two Rivers is the only one recognized by the National Register of Historic Places. ( Roadside America)
Dairy Makes the News!
William Dempster Hoard founds Hoard's Dairyman which quickly becomes the leading dairy newspaper in the country. This same year, Colby cheese is invented by Joseph F. Steinwand in Colby, Wisconsin. ( WI Historical Society)
Dairy Dynasty Replaces a Dying Industry
Due to economic instability with wheat prices and soil quality, Wisconsin Governor William Dempster Hoard encourages local farmers to begin pursuing dairy farming, after winning election earlier that year. ( PBS)
Overwhelming Majority
90 percent of the farms in Wisconsin are raising dairy cows, producing milk for the proliferating co-operative creameries being opened in rural areas across the state. ( WI Historical Society)
Dairy Industry Booms
Between 1900 and 1910, cheese production increases by 86% and butter production increases by 70%, fueled by the natural climate that produces hearty dairy cows; rain, good soil, and high quality forages. ( Wisconsin Economic Development)
Wisconsin Earns the Cheese Head
Cheese production has increased so quickly that Wisconsin is now the number one producer of cheese in the country. ( Project Wisconsin)
Cows by the Millions
By this year, the number of dairy cows in Wisconsin has increased to 1,460,000. ( Simon Street Free Press)
Wisconsin Becomes the Dairy State
Dairy production has continued to expand and becomes the leading dairy state in the nation. ( Project Wisconsin)
Grading not Grating
Wisconsin becomes the first state to grade cheese quality. This system is used to determine how quality a cheese is when matched to the standard of its variety. ( Chortek Business Advisors)
Cheese Up, Creameries Down
Annual cheese production increases to 363,000,000 pounds while many creameries are forced to consolidate and close down due to the economic turmoil during the Great Depression. ( History of Cheese)
Spread it don't forget it!
"Cold pack" cheese, a combination of different cheeses, cream, and seasoning, is developed by Hubert Fassbender during the great depression as a spreadable snack in Wisconsin taverns. ( Cheese Professor)
Cheese Production Doubles
Annual cheese production increases to 591,000,000 pounds. ( History of Cheese)
Consolidation
During the later years of the 20th century, cheese and milk prices were subject to extreme market volatility caused by numerous factors such as market manipulation and government programs. What resulted was the consolidation of many cheese producers in the state and the closure of many creameries. ( National Cheese Exchange)
Preserving a Legacy
University of Madison develops a master cheesemaker program, leading to the revitalization of the great craft of cheese making. The first graduation was held in 1997. ( Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker Guide)
Rebuilding a Diverse Industry
Herb Kohl helps develop the Dairy Business Innovation Center, leading to the founding of dozens of new cheese factories in the state. ( Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Limburger Lives On
Chalet Cheese Co-operative in Monroe, Wisconsin becomes the only remaining producer of limburger cheese in the country. ( Wisconsin Cheese)
Wisconsin, Dairyland
Wisconsin currently offers more than 600 varieties of cheese - double the number of varieties from California - and earns more titles in competitions than any other region in the world. The state converts roughly 90% of its milk into cheese and produces over 3 billion pounds annually. Wisconsin continues to produce other dairy products as well; on average Wisconsin produces 350 million pounds of butter and 572,000 gallons of ice cream every year. The entire Wisconsin dairy industry accounts for about $52.8 billion dollars in annual revenue. Wisconsin is the only state that requires all cheese production to be overseen by a licensed cheesemaker. ( Up North Wisconsin)