Vermont Cheese Council upcoming events

Monthly Board Meetings: August (Wednesday, August 19, 2026)

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Remote Video Meeting ID:

http://meet.google.com/rgr-hkex-gqy

Phone Only: (‪US‬)‪+1 513-472-1012‬ | PIN: ‪934 736 982#‬

FDA Food Safety Culture Webinar: The Wrap-Up - Bringing it all Together (Wednesday, September 16, 2026)

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT

The Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness and the U.S. FDA have partnered on a multi-part webinar series focused on advancing food safety culture. As part of the FDA’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety initiative, the series explores how changing beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors can reduce foodborne illness. Featuring experts from both public and private sectors, the webinars highlight the importance of fostering strong food safety cultures and using science-based metrics to assess their effectiveness. The program offers valuable insights for both newcomers and seasoned professionals in the field of food safety.

Hear from FDA and industry leaders who will dive deep into critical aspects of food safety culture, building from basic assumptions which underpin an organization’s food safety work to the messages and programs which support an organization’s food safety culture.

Each webinar will explore a different aspect of Edgar Schein's model of organizational culture building from "Underlying Beliefs," "Espoused Values," and finally "Artifacts." Participants will walk away with actionable strategies to improve their company’s food safety culture, as well as approaches to address common misconceptions that can impact food safety behavior in day-to-day operations.

In today's wrap-up session, "Bringing it all Together," we'll reflect on the key learnings of this series and look towards the future with actionable strategies for positive change.

For more information and to register, visit https://stopfoodborneillness.org/the-fda-alliance-food-safety-culture-webinar-series.

NO SEPTEMBER BOARD MEETING (Wednesday, September 16, 2026)

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT

There is no September Board Meeting due to proximity to our Festival and Cheese Week; the Board resumes its normal meeting schedule in October.

Advanced Cheesemaking Class (Friday, September 25, 2026)

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Three Shepherds Cheese's advanced classes give students the opportunity to improve their cheesemaking skills, learn more about the art of aging, and become more profitable through better packaging and marketing.

Students are encouraged to bring cheeses they are proud of, as well as cheeses that are "works in progress."

This is the opportunity to learn how to make more challenging cheeses such as blue cheeses, bloomy rind cheeses, Alpine cheeses, and other semi-hard and hard cheeses.

One of the highlights of the class is Linda's aging cellar slide show which includes aging cellars from around the world and examples of wanted and unwanted organisms in the aging environment.

Our students have won many awards for their cheeses including some winners in state fairs, the American Cheese Society, and top prizes in their categories in the World Cheese competition!

Cost: $745

For more information and to register, visit http://www.threeshepherdscheese.com/Advanced-Classes.html

Mozzarella & Burrata Cheesemaking Class (Saturday, October 03, 2026)

Sat, 03 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Make the world's most popular cheese - Mozzarella! Spend the day with Three Shepherds Cheese learning the history of cheesemaking, the importance of sourcing the best milk, the secrets of cheese, and how to create some of Italy's best-loved cheeses! You will handcraft pasta filata cheeses (a fancy way of saying stretched cheeses), and make a delicious fresh Ricotta for filling your beautiful pouches of Burrata.

This is a fun class to take with a friend or loved one and enjoy an amazing lunch (with wine!), and take home your own cheese creations.

Cost: $195

For more information and to register, visit http://www.threeshepherdscheese.com/One-Day-Classes.html

One-Day Cheesemaking Class (Sunday, October 04, 2026)

Sun, 04 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Create and take home some of your favorite cheeses to share with your loved ones!

Spend the day with Three Shepherds Cheese learning the history of cheesemaking, the importance of sourcing the best milk, the secrets of cheese, and how to create some wonderful cheeses such as Feta, Ricotta, and Paneer!

Enjoy a beautiful lunch (featuring cheese you made) on the deck while you savor a glass of wine or two!

Cost: $195

For more information and to register, visit http://www.threeshepherdscheese.com/One-Day-Classes.html

Monthly Board Meetings: October (Wednesday, October 21, 2026)

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Remote Video Meeting ID:

http://meet.google.com/rgr-hkex-gqy

Phone Only: (‪US‬)‪+1 513-472-1012‬ | PIN: ‪934 736 982#‬

VCC Budget Meeting (Wednesday, November 18, 2026)

Wed, 18 Nov 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Our Annual Budget Meeting takes place every November in order to pass our Operating Budget prior to the start of our new fiscal year each January.

Join with Google Meet meet.google.com/vtd-ctnz-gre
Join by phone ‪(US) +1 423-430-6480‬ PIN: ‪322 076 083‬#
Budget documents sent around to Principal Members early November in preparation for vote

Questions about the budget meeting should be directed to the VCC Treasurer, Kent Underwood, at kent@vermontfarmstead.com.

Note: There is no Board meeting in November; the VCC Budget Meeting takes the place of the Board meeting.

Monthly Board Meetings: December (Wednesday, December 16, 2026)

Wed, 16 Dec 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Remote Video Meeting ID:

http://meet.google.com/rgr-hkex-gqy

Phone Only: (‪US‬)‪+1 513-472-1012‬ | PIN: ‪934 736 982#‬

2027 US Championship Cheese Contest (Tuesday, March 09, 2027)

Tue, 09 Mar 2027 05:00:00 GMT

The United States Championship Cheese Contest® is the nation’s premier technical cheese, butter, and yogurt competition. Held biennially since 1981, 2025 marked the 22nd edition, hosted by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association. The next United States Championship Cheese Contest will be held March 9-10, 2027 at the Resch Expo in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

For more information, visit https://uschampioncheese.org.