Support our Educational Programming
Education Fund fiscally Sponsored by Tiny Seed, Inc.
VCC Educational Programming is fiscally sponsored by the Tiny Seed Project, Inc. 501(c)3. Your donation to our Education Fund is tax-deductible. (Click here to learn more about our partnership with the Tiny Seed Project!)
Vermont Cheese Camps: September 10, 2024
Held at Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home in Manchester
Presented by Vermont Cheese Council as part of Vermont Cheese Week, Cheese Camps are designed for foodies and cheese connoisseurs, meant to delight all the senses! Each camp session includes a cheesemaker panel, cheese sampling and board building, a presentation on the history of cheese, and a dairy tour in the stunning setting of historic Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home. Our Cheese Camps are open to the public; tell all your friends! Proceeds benefit Vermont Cheese Council and our mission to foster the Vermont cheese community.
Vermont Cheese Summit: September 14-15, 2024
Saturday tours around the state; Sunday sampling, education panels, and networking at Basin Harbor Resort in Vergennes
Industry Only: Designed just for wholesale buyers, retailers, and other industry professionals, the Vermont Cheese Summit includes two days of organized creamery visits, educational programs, and one-on-one sampling sessions. Saturday features site visits to cheese producers for an industry-only tour day; see unique spaces first-hand and meet cheesemakers in intimate settings. Sunday at Basin Harbor Resort in Vergennes features two education sessions, an interactive group discussion for our whole community, and time for one-on-one sampling and conversation with Vermont’s cheese producers.
Business Miniversity: Winter 2025
(Virtual/Online)
A business-skills development program designed for cheese producers, farmers, and other specialty food producers. Topics in business management, marketing, team management, project planning, financial projections, strategic development, and more. Twelve 90-minute sessions in total, meeting twice a week for six weeks over winter of 2025. Open to all in the food industry. 2025 dates to be announced; registration opens in autumn 2024.
Artisan Cheesemakers Winter Conference: February 2025
(Virtual/Online)
Plan to join us for our premier educational conference! This virtual two-day event is designed to provide exposure to new ideas and educational experiences for artisan cheesemakers – to help them advance their cheesemaking and business practices, as well as our industry as a whole. While our content focuses on information to support professional cheesemakers, attendance is open to all, including other cheese industry professionals, amateur cheesemakers, the general public, and anyone who wants to dive more deeply into the world of cheese. We encourage anyone curious and interested to explore this event! 2025 dates to be announced; registration opens in autumn 2024.
The Science of Farmstead Cheese
(Online Course, Self-Paced)
Have you ever wondered how milk turns into cheese? How it is that gouda is different from cheddar, when it starts out by being made from the same milk? The answer: It’s all in the science behind cheese! If you make, age, sell, or write about cheese – learning about its underlying science can help you gain a better understanding of how differences in milk, making choices and recipes, aging factors, and more can all be used to manipulate milk into the glorious product we call cheese! And for the cheese lovers out there: If you want to get geeky about it – this is perfect for you! The Science of Farmstead Cheese is a self-paced, fully online class that can help you gain a broader understanding of the science and chemistry of milk and cheese. We worked with Pat Polowski, food and cheese scientist – and teacher of all things cheese science, to create a course that is designed for visual learners!
New Cheesemaker Resource Hub
(Online)
So you want to start a creamery in Vermont? Check out our New Cheesemaker Resource Hub! The hub contains links to information about starting a new business, best practices and regulations in cheese production, market research, production and sales projections, business planning and support, team leadership and management, education and production support, funding resources, and more. Even veteran cheesemakers are sure to find helpful information!
Learn About Our Members
In 2024, Vermont Cheese Council launched a series of interviews with our members. Click the link below to learn more about our cheesemakers!
Check Out Our Reading List
Click the link below to discover books related to the production, history, and industry of cheese and dairy farming.
Learn About the Impact of Dairy in Vermont
Dairy plays an incredible role in Vermont. The value of dairy products sold; wages made by those impacted by dairy; profits that recirculate into and drive the state economy; and benefits to local agriculture, tourism, and real estate together bring $2.2Billion in economic activity to the state of Vermont. Visit our Reports page to learn more.