RIVER FALLS, WI – Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) proudly announced today the direction of $90,000 to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UW-RF) to establish a fund investing in dairy operations, training, and research and development initiatives at the university’s Wuethrich Family/Grassland Dairy Center of Excellence. The donation comes from funds generated by WCMA’s annual Championship Cheese Auction, where members of industry bid on best-in-class cheeses in a shared effort to support the future of dairy processing.
“Through both financial and in-kind contributions, WCMA and its members have been proud to support the next generation of our industry at UW-River Falls. It’s a pleasure to continue our tradition of investing in dairy’s future with this donation. We’re extremely grateful to the generous bidders at our annual Championship Cheese Auction, who have made this effort possible, and to the WCMA Board of Directors for their leadership and vision in the direction of these funds,” said WCMA Executive Director John Umhoefer.
The new Wuethrich Family/Grassland Dairy Center of Excellence Fund aims to enable the UW-RF Dairy Pilot Plant to provide hands-on learning opportunities for students; increase the number and frequency of dairy education and training seminars; and connect dairy processors with production, training, and research opportunities at the plant.
“This generous and meaningful contribution from the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association will have an immediate impact on our plant’s operational success,” said Mike Orth, dean of the UWRF College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. “The infusion of new financial resources will allow us to expand our plant staff and enhance our production, research and development capabilities, all while providing our students with hands-on experiential learning and employment opportunities. In addition, we can strengthen our dairy industry partnerships by offering more training workshops and certification courses featuring the state-of-the-art plant.”
“Throughout our plant renovation process into our full-scale production, the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association and its members have been there for us, providing the crucial investments needed to ensure the facility’s success,” said Rick Foy, UWRF assistant chancellor for University Advancement. “On behalf of our students, faculty and staff, I express deep appreciation to WCMA Executive Director John Umhoefer for leading his organization’s continued and enthusiastic support for the Wuethrich Family/Grassland Center of Excellence. Students and dairy industry professionals alike will benefit from this remarkable investment. Throughout the process, they have been there for us, leading the way with their generous support and industry expertise. We cannot adequately thank them for the transformational gift which ensures not only the completion of the project but the creation of the Wuethrich Family/Grassland Dairy Center of Excellence, the first in northwestern Wisconsin. Students and industry professionals alike will benefit from the educational investments made by our industry partners.”
WCMA’s donation is the latest in the Association’s tradition of investing Championship Cheese Auction funds back into the dairy processing industry through education and development. Altogether, WCMA has invested more than $1.78 million in direct cash investment in industry education, dairy research and students. The next Championship Cheese Auction will take place Wednesday, April 16 at CheeseCon 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin. More details about the event are available at CheeseCon.org.
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