In the past, the field of cheesemaking has been a predominantly male. Even though women have played a crucial role from Europe to here in the states like in Wisconsin, the cheese state.
These women have become roll models for girls, taking on the physical challenges involved with cheesemaking and stepping into this male dominated field to become successful entrepreneurs.
Of the over 1,200 active licensed cheesemakers in Wisconsin, there is a definite trend developing of more women starting their own cheesemaking businesses and becoming cheesemakers. From Marieke Penterman, who emigrated to Wisconsin from Holland to start her own dairy farm and began making Dutch-style raw milk gouda, creating a new business, to Pam Hodgson, Wisconsin’s second ever woman Master Cheesemaker and Julie Hook, the only woman to ever win the Wisconsin Cheesemakers World Championship – these notable women are breaking the mold in the world of cheese and shaping American’s modern artisan movement.
There is just too much info to post in one post on these women so I encourage you to check out their pages. From awards, to extensive training these women have earned their spot in this post.
I’ve always waned to try making cheese. It’s definitely a skill that takes a lot of hard work and patience.
What is your favorite kind of cheese?