The American Cheese Society Judging and Competition, the largest event of its kind for American-made cheeses, will take place June 3-7, 2024, at the Huntington Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis campus. The Annual Judging and Competition (J&C) is now held separately from the Annual Conference, with the Award Ceremony being held during the Conference. You can view previous winners here.
Scores and feedback from the 2023 competition are available to cheesemakers in the Award Force platform.
If you have any questions about entering the ACS Judging & Competition, please don’t hesitate to Contact Us. You may also find your answer(s) in the Frequently Asked Questions.
IMPORTANT DATES
Call For Entries: January 16 – March 22, 2024
- Early Bird Pricing: Jan 16 – Feb 16
- Regular Pricing: Feb 17 – Mar 22
Competition: June 3 – 7, 2024
- Receiving: June 3-5
- Judging: June 6-7
COST
The competition is only available to corporate members of ACS.
- January 16th – February 16th: $75/entry
- February 17th – March 22nd: $100/entry
The ACS Competition shines the spotlight on American cheesemakers by showcasing their talents and work as leaders within the industry, both for their excellent cheesemaking and commitment to food safety. Growing from just 89 entries 37 years ago, the ACS J&C welcomed 1,454 cheeses and cultured dairy products in 120 categories during the 2023 competition and awarded 370 medals.
By hosting the Judging & Competition, ACS shines the spotlight on American cheesemakers by showcasing their talents and work as leaders within the industry, both for their excellent cheesemaking and commitment to food safety. ACS celebrates and respects the craft of every cheesemaker who enters the ACS Judging & Competition. It is the ACS members’ efforts that continue to collectively advance the quality and character of American cheeses.
Note: only ACS organizational members are eligible to submit their cheese into the competition. You can read more and join ACS here.
