Blue Jacket Dairy of Bellefontaine brought home several awards during the 2026 Ohio State Fair Cheese Contest, showcasing the quality of locally made artisan cheeses.
The contest was held July 23 at Miceli Dairy Products in Cleveland and was coordinated by the American Dairy Association Mideast.
Cheesemakers from across Ohio competed in a variety of classes, with judges evaluating entries based on flavor, texture, appearance, and overall quality.
Blue Jacket Dairy earned three top-three finishes:
- First Place in the Cheese Curd Class for its Garlic Cheese Curds
- Third Place in the Spreadable Class for its Quark
- Second Place in the Other Mammal Class for its Chevre
The competition featured dozens of entries from cheesemakers across the state.
Pearl Valley Cheese of Fresno was named the contest’s Grand Champion for its Swiss cheese, while Urban Stead Cheese of Cincinnati earned the Reserve Champion title for its Nati Gouda.
The Ohio State Fair Cheese Contest is an annual showcase of Ohio’s dairy industry, recognizing outstanding cheesemakers from across the state in a wide range of traditional and specialty cheese categories.
