The American Cheese Society Judging and Competition, a technical and aesthetic evaluation of American-made cheeses, took place June 3-7, 2024, at the Huntington Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis campus. The 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 2024 competition will be available to cheesemakers in the Award Force platform after the Award Ceremony on July 11th.

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. 

2024 IMPORTANT DATES AND COST

Call For Entries: January 16 – March 22, 2024
Early Bird Pricing: Jan 16 – Feb 16: $75/entry
Regular Pricing: Feb 17 – Mar 22: $100/entry

Competition: June 3 – 7, 2024
Receiving: June 3 – 5
Judging: June 6 – 7

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 product entries in 120 categories in 2023 and awarded 370 medals.

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.