The 2025 ACS competition saw 9 Vermont cheesemakers along with two collaborations with Wegmans Food Stores (Rochester, NY) and Murray’s Cheese (New York, NY) awarded 49 ribbons at the American Cheese Society Conference in Sacramento, California.

Awarded Vermont cheesemakers were Boston Post Dairy, Cabot Creamery Cooperative, Fat Sheep Farm, Grafton Village Cheese, Jasper Hill Farm, Shelburne Farms, Spring Brook Farm, von Trapp Farmstead, and Vermont Creamery, including one 2nd Place Best in Show for Jasper Hill Farm’s Withersbrook Blue.

The American Cheese Society (ACS) is the leading organization supporting the understanding, appreciation, and promotion of farmstead, artisan, and specialty cheeses produced in the Americas. Since its founding in 1983, ACS hosts North America’s foremost annual cheese-based educational conference, and world-renowned cheese judging and competition. This year’s event was held in Sacramento, CA, nicknamed The City of Cheese. The conference alternates each year between coasts and the middle of the country. Next year’s ACS event will take place in Louisville, KY on July 7- July 10, 2026.

Fifteen Vermont cheesemakers submitted cheeses for judging at the prestigious competition this year, due in part to the VCC’s program for ACS entry fee reimbursement. The VCC reimburses Vermont cheesemakers for competition entry fees up to a certain amount to support their efforts in showcasing their cheese in a competitive setting, as well as to build support for this important competition. All competitors are given judging notes for their products which are helpful in evaluating the cheeses and in some cases, improving the quality of production of cheeses. The VCC finds this aspect of the competition an invaluable educational tool for its members.

“This year’s ACS Award Recipients make us Vermonters proud,” said Vermont Cheese Council President Andi Wandt. “Our brave little state continues to be a star in the national cheese stage thanks to the passion of these hardworking cheesemakers and farmers.”

Winning Cheeses from Vermont

Ribbon Product Category Organization Location
1st place Clothbound Cheddar Cheddars Grafton Village Cheese Company Grafton, VT
1st place Manchiko Farmstead Cheeses Fat Sheep Farm Hartland, VT
1st place Artisan Greek Feta Feta Cheeses Boston Post Dairy Enosburg Falls, VT
1st place Shelburne Farms 1 Year Cheddar Cheddars Shelburne Farms Shelburne, VT
1st place Couple Soft-Ripened Cheeses Vermont Creamery Websterville, VT
1st place Bijou Goat’s Milk Cheeses Vermont Creamery Websterville, VT
1st place Bayley Hazen Blue by Jasper Hill Farm Blue Mold Cheeses The Cellars at Jasper Hill Greensboro, VT
1st place Little Hosmer by Jasper Hill Farm Soft-Ripened Cheeses The Cellars at Jasper Hill Greensboro, VT
1st place Harbison by Jasper Hill Farm American-Made/International Style The Cellars at Jasper Hill Greensboro, VT
1st place Calderwood by Jasper Hill Farm for Saxelby Cheesemongers American-Made/International Style The Cellars at Jasper Hill Greensboro, VT
1st place Withersbrook Blue by Jasper Hill Farm Flavored Cheeses, Butter, and Cultured Dairy Products The Cellars at Jasper Hill Greensboro, VT
1st place Alpha Tolman by Jasper Hill Farm Washed Rind Cheeses The Cellars at Jasper Hill Greensboro, VT
1st place Vault 5 Cave Aged by Jasper Hill Farm American Originals The Cellars at Jasper Hill Greensboro, VT
1st place Cabot 83% BF (Euro Style Salted Butter) Butters Category Cabot Creamery Cooperative Waitsfield, VT
1st place Cabot 83% BF (Euro Style Unsalted Butter) Butters Category Cabot Creamery Cooperative Waitsfield, VT
1st place Cabot Creme Fraiche Plain Cultured Milk and Cream Products Cabot Creamery Cooperative Waitsfield, VT
1st place Cabot Pepper Jack Flavored Cheeses, Butter, and Cultured Dairy Products Cabot Creamery Cooperative Waitsfield, VT
1st place Cabot Monteray Jack American Originals Category Cabot Creamery Cooperative Waitsfield, VT
1st place Cabot Muenster American Originals Category Cabot Creamery Cooperative Waitsfield, VT
2nd place Shepsog Cheddars Grafton Village Cheese Company Grafton, VT
2nd place Bismark Cheddars Grafton Village Cheese Company Grafton, VT
2nd place Storyteller American Made/International Style Grafton Village Cheese Company Grafton, VT
2nd place Autumn’s Blend American Made/International Style Fat Sheep Farm Hartland, VT
2nd place Mad River Blue Blue Mold Cheeses von Trapp Farmstead Waitsfield, VT
2nd place Withersbrook Blue by Jasper Hill Farm Best of Show The Cellars at Jasper Hill Greensboro, VT
2nd place Sherry Gray by Jasper Hill Farm Soft-Ripened Cheeses The Cellars at Jasper Hill Greensboro, VT
2nd place Cabot Salted Butter Butters Category Cabot Creamery Cooperative Waitsfield, VT
2nd place Cabot Salted Butter Butters Category Cabot Creamery Cooperative Waitsfield, VT
2nd place Cabot 10% Vanilla Greek Yogurt Flavored Cheeses, Butter, and Cultured Dairy Products Cabot Creamery Cooperative Waitsfield, VT
2nd place Cabot French Onion Dip Flavored Cheeses, Butter, and Cultured Dairy Products Cabot Creamery Cooperative Waitsfield, VT
3rd place 2 Year Aged Cheddar Cheddars Grafton Village Cheese Company Grafton, VT
3rd place Truffle Cheddar Flavored Cheeses, Butter, and Cultured Dairy Products Grafton Village Cheese Company Grafton, VT
3rd place Meadow’s Magic Farmstead Cheeses Fat Sheep Farm Hartland, VT
3rd place Tres Bonne Goat’s Milk Cheeses Boston Post Dairy Enosburg Falls, VT
3rd place Ashbrook Washed Rind Cheeses Spring Brook Farm Cheese Reading, VT
3rd place Opa Farmstead Cheeses von Trapp Farmstead Waitsfield, VT
3rd place Unsalted Cultured Butter Butters Vermont Creamery Florida
3rd place Cabot Clothbound Black Label by Jasper Hill Farm Cheddars The Cellars at Jasper Hill Greensboro, VT
3rd place Harbison Mini by Jasper Hill Farm American-Made/International Style The Cellars at Jasper Hill Greensboro, VT
3rd place Willoughby by Jasper Hill Farm Washed Rind Cheeses The Cellars at Jasper Hill Greensboro, VT
3rd place Whitney by Jasper Hill Farm Washed Rind Cheeses The Cellars at Jasper Hill Greensboro, VT
3rd place Cabot Private Stock Cheddar Cheddars Category Cabot Creamery Cooperative Waitsfield, VT
3rd place Cabot Smoky Bacon Cheddar Flavored Cheeses, Butter, and Cultured Dairy Products Cabot Creamery Cooperative Waitsfield, VT
3rd place Cabot Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese Spread / Pine River Cold-Pack, Club, and Cheeses Spreads Cabot Creamery Cooperative Waitsfield, VT
3rd place Cabot Colby Jack American Originals Category Cabot Creamery Cooperative Waitsfield, VT

Additional Collaborations & Original Cheesemaker Recognitions

Ribbon Product Category Organization Location
3rd place 1916 Goat’s Milk Cheeses Wegmans Food Market
(Original Cheesemaker: Vermont Creamery)		 New York
2nd place Sweet 16 American Originals Wegmans Food Market
(Original Cheesemaker: Vermont Creamery)		 Wisconsin
2nd place St. Mark’s Soft-Ripened Cheeses Murray’s Cheese
(Original Cheesemaker: Vermont Creamery)		 New York
1st place Barnstorm Blue Blue Mold Cheeses Murray’s Cheese
(Original Cheesemaker: The Cellars at Jasper Hill)		 New York

VCC Contact: Haley Elkins, haley@vtcheese.com • Andi Wandt, president@vtcheese.com