IDFA staff traveled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, last week to join around 3,500 cheese industry leaders, suppliers and marketers attending the International Cheese Technology Expo, a biennial event hosted by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association and the Center for Dairy Research. IDFA exhibited at the show to bring greater exposure to the IDFA brand and share more about the association’s member benefits with a broader audience.
“IDFA offers a wealth of services for dairy companies and their suppliers that are not available anywhere else,” said Cindy Cavallo, IDFA director of membership. She mentioned several examples, including expertise on dairy policy issues, food safety guidance and compliance, international trade and standards, crisis management, as well as training programs and directories of members.
IDFA’s booth also demonstrated its economic impact tool, Dairy Deliverssm, which showcases the economic contributions of dairy foods manufacturers in the United States.
Joining Cavallo at the expo were Neil Moran, senior vice president of finance, administration and trade show; and John Allan, vice president of regulatory affairs and international standards.
Dairy Product Evaluation Contest
IDFA presented awards to winners in the co-located 96th Collegiate Dairy Products Evaluation Contest. IDFA is a longtime supporter and former host of the contest, which gives students the opportunity to showcase their dairy product evaluation skills and prepare for careers in the industry.
The Dairy Recognition and Education Foundation, overseen by IDFA, offers awards to the several winning students who are majoring in dairy processing technology, agri-business or food science and their coach.
All Products Winners
The University of South Dakota State University took honors as the winner of the all products team category, followed by Clemson University and the University of Tennessee.
In the All Products individual undergraduate category, Megan Struss of South Dakota State University won first place, Kaylie Senn of Clemson University earned the second-place award and Greg Reeter of South Dakota State University won third place.
Taylor Harper of the University of Missouri won first in the All Products individual graduate student category.
Product Category Winners
First-, second- and third-place winners were named in each of the six product categories. The undergraduate winners are:
Milk
- First place: Jonathan Dillard, Clemson University
- Second place: Kaylie Senn, Clemson University
- Third place: Megan Struss, South Dakota State University
Butter
- First place: Greg Reeter, South Dakota State University
- Second place: Anna Hemenway, South Dakota State University
- Third place: Allison Shaunak, University of Tennessee
Yogurt
- First place: Kaylie Senn, Clemson University
- Second place: Greg Reeter, South Dakota State University
- Third place: Anna Hemenway, South Dakota State University
Cheddar Cheese
- First place: Reanna Cummings, University of Tennessee
- Second place: Emily Kirisits, University of Missouri
- Third place: Sarah Hansen, Iowa State University
Ice Cream
- First place: Kaylie Senn, Clemson University
- Second place: Caroline Cate, University of Tennessee
- Third place: Jonathan Counts, University of Idaho
Cottage Cheese
- First place: Reanna Cummings, University of Tennessee
- Second place: Sarah Hansen, Iowa State University
- Third place: Caroline Cate, University of Tennessee
The graduate student winners are:
Milk
- Jaya Bangade, University of Minnesota
Butter
- Melanie Franks, Cornell University
Yogurt
- Trenton Kerley, University of Tennessee
Cheddar Cheese
- Ana Karina Garcia, California Polytechnic State University
Ice Cream
- Ahmed Hammam, South Dakota State University
Cottage Cheese
- Sonali Raghunath, University of Minnesota
To learn more about the competition, visit www.dairyproductscontest.org.
For more information, contact Neil Moran, IDFA senior vice president of finance, administration and trade show, at nmoran@idfa.org.