SUGARCREEK, Ohio – Guggisberg Cheese Company of Charm, Ohio, squeaked into first place in the overall points standings of the Ohio Swiss Cheese Association’s annual competition to win the overall grand champion cheesemaker honor for 2002.
The last of five contests was held during the Ohio Swiss Festival in Sugarcreek Sept. 27-28.
Cheesemakers Steve Ottiger and Pius Felder of Guggisberg Cheese narrowly edged Richard and Diane Hicks of Ragersville Swiss Cheese by only one point for the title. The Ragersville cheese house will take home the reserve champion honor.
In the final contest, the Guggisberg Cheese entry won first place; Ragersville Swiss Cheese’s entry placed third. The entry from John Fankhauser and Chad Schindler of Broad Run Dairy, Dover, proved to be the spoiler for Ragersville by earning second place in the fifth contest.
Other cheese were entered in the final contest by Steiner Cheese of Baltic and Pearl Valley Cheese of Fresno.
In open class judging, Bunker Hill cheese took a first and third place with its Lacey Baby Swiss and marble cheese. Pearl Valley’s pepper jack entry placed second.
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