Syracuse, New York is the site of the American Dairy Goat Association’s annual cheese and body products competition held October 3-4, 2022. Judges for this year’s Cheese competition are Dr. Kerry Kaylegian of Penn State and Brian Schlatter of Hudson, NY.

Dr. Kaylegian is an Associate Research Professor at Penn State, focusing on providing technical support to the dairy industry and participating in outreach programs focused on the safety and quality of dairy products. She is on the Board of Directors for the American Cheese Society and Collegiate Dairy Products Evaluation Contest. Brian Schlatter is a cheesemaker in New York, currently with FROMAGEX.

The annual competition is open to anyone who makes cheese or body products with goat milk from North America. The cheese competition offers both amateur and commercial divisions. Entries must be received by September 15, 2022, and Product must be received at the judging location by October 2, 2022 at 3 pm.

Commercial cheese entries should include three cheeses or product in the form in which it is commercially sold; one product without packaging or any identifying material to be judged. The two remaining products will be displayed and served at the Cheese and Body Products Awards Reception held Wednesday, October 5, 2022. Include promotional material or placards with product for display.

A cheese maker will be considered commercial if they have been legally selling their product for a minimum of six months at the time of entry. Minimum scores are required to earn awards and half point scoring is allowed to reduce the need for tie breakers.

More information about the contests, along with an entry form and rules, can be found at www.convention.adga.org.