Vermont Cheese Council upcoming events

Monthly Board Meetings: May (Wednesday, May 20, 2026)

Wed, 20 May 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#‬

ACS Judging & Competition 2026 (Thursday, May 21, 2026)

Thu, 21 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

The ACS Competition shines the spotlight on American cheesemakers by showcasing their talents and work as leaders within the industry, both for their excellent cheesemaking and commitment to food safety. Growing from just 89 entries years ago, the ACS J&C welcomed 1,592 cheeses and cultured dairy product entries in 123 categories in 2025 and awarded 407 medals.

Visit https://www.cheesesociety.org/competition/judging-and-competition-2026 for more information.

Artisanal Cheesemaking Class (Friday, May 22, 2026)

Fri, 22 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Come spend three days in Three Shepherds Cheese's unique facility in beautiful Vermont! Learn the art of turning milk & salt into a stunning variety of cheeses. Students will make seven different cheeses, learn the recipe differences if you are using cow, goat, sheep or water buffalo (lucky you!) milk, and the importance of raw milk.

Plus, you will have the opportunity to visit one of the top five farmer's markets in New England with over 65 vendors, and enjoy a wonderful Saturday evening dinner featuring delicious local & organic food & beverages.

At the end of the class you will be able make (and understand) any cheese recipe!

Cost: $595

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

Mozzarella & Burrata Cheesemaking Class (Monday, May 25, 2026)

Mon, 25 May 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

FDA Food Safety Culture Webinar: Understanding Artifacts (Wednesday, June 03, 2026)

Wed, 03 Jun 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 session, "Understanding Artifacts," we'll help you spot key indicators for success as we break down green flags as seen through food safety culture artifacts.

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

Monthly Board Meetings: June (Wednesday, June 17, 2026)

Wed, 17 Jun 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#‬

Global Agritourism Congress (Tuesday, June 23, 2026)

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

The inaugural Global Agritourism Conference will be held in Scotland in 2026 and will be a showcase of the diversity and growth of the global agritourism sector with data, research, policy and personal stories providing a unique international learning opportunity for an anticipated 1,000 delegates.

The Global Agritourism Conference will provide an opportunity for:

inspiration from keynote speakers
farmers, economic development professionals, researchers, supply chain representatives and other interested parties from every continent to apply to speak at the event to share their learnings and experiences
first-class networking and business development
new knowledge and insights about the sector from across the globe
a range of Scottish cultural activities to be enjoyed throughout the programme
enjoying the best of Scotland's farm and fishing produce during every meal

The annual Scottish Agritourism Conference which has been running for five years and attracts three hundred delegates, will be integrated into the 2026 global event.

The Scottish Government has committed £150,000 to support the delivery of a memorable and high-quality conference, highlighting both their support for the sector and the importance they place on hosting this conference in Scotland.

For more information, visit https://www.globalagritourismconference.com.

International Cheese & Dairy Awards and Expo (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

The International Cheese & Dairy EXPO is the UK’s premier business event for the cheese and dairy industry. With over 200 exhibitors, a strategic knowledge program, curated networking zones, and two awards ceremonies, the EXPO is designed to be a platform for progress.

Held in conjunction with the world-renowned International Cheese & Dairy Awards, this event unites innovation, expertise and commercial opportunity under one roof.

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Dairy CONNECT™ provides the theme for the 2026 EXPO.

Each of the pillars links to exhibition zones, stage content, awards and partner activities:

Networks & Collaboration – Focused on partnerships, trade bodies, packaging, and supply chain services.
Environment & Sustainability – Showcasing climate leadership, circular packaging, and regenerative farming.
eXperience & Engagement – Exploring brand storytelling, retail design, consumer trends, and marketing innovation.
Upskilling & Culture – Addressing leadership, training, diversity, and organisational change.
Systems & Supply Chain Excellence – Presenting tech for logistics, traceability, automation, and crisis resilience.

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Founded in 1897, the International Cheese & Dairy Awards (ICDA) remains the benchmark for product excellence. Judged independently by 250+ experts, the ICDA includes:

Supreme Champion Cheese & Dairy Product
UK & Overseas Champions
Retailer Awards by category
Cheeseboard and Accompaniment Awards
Special Recognition Trophies

Entries open January 2026. Judging takes place 25 June. Winners are announced at the industry’s most respected awards ceremony on 26 June.

For more information, visit https://www.internationalcheesedairyexpo.com.

Mozzarella & Burrata Cheesemaking Class (Saturday, June 27, 2026)

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

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, June 28, 2026)

Sun, 28 Jun 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

2026 Summer Fancy Food Show (Sunday, June 28, 2026)

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

The Summer Fancy Food Show in NYC is the industry's premier product discovery event, offering a curated showcase of high-quality, artisan products in more than 40 categories—and an invaluable preview of where consumers' needs, wants, and values are headed. From today's demands for gluten-free and vegan alternatives to emerging trends like swicy drinks to protein-centric snacks, this Show has it all.

Be there to experience the future of food with thousands of your peers in the incredible specialty food community. Whether you're a retail or foodservice buyer, distributor, broker, or manufacturer, you'll build new connections and strengthen existing ones over three days of delicious discovery, fruitful networking, and inspiring opportunities.

For more information, visit https://www.specialtyfood.com/fancy-food-shows/summer.

ACS 2026 Annual Conference (Tuesday, July 07, 2026)

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Save the Dates! Stitched Together By Cheese: The 2026 American Cheese Society Annual Conference will be held in Louisville, KY on July 7-10. Full details are yet to be announced, but keep an eye on https://www.cheesesociety.org for updates.

Monthly Board Meetings: July (Wednesday, July 15, 2026)

Wed, 15 Jul 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#‬

Artisanal Cheesemaking Class (Friday, July 24, 2026)

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

At the end of the class you will be able make (and understand) any cheese recipe!

Cost: $595

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

Cheesemaking Boot Camp (Friday, July 24, 2026)

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Three Shepherds Cheese's Cheesemaking Boot Camp combines the Artisanal Cheesemaking Class with the Advanced Cheesemaking Class.

Artisanal Cheesemaking: Enjoy three fun-filled days immersed in the fascinating world of cheese with our Artisanal class! You will learn the principles of great cheesemaking as we make at least seven different cheeses and focus on topics such as milk sources and how to assess milk quality, hygiene and sanitation, microbial cultures and rennet, proper equipment, the magic of cheese aging, cheese and wine pairing, salting and brining, cheese marketing, and much more. Included in all classes is lunch each day, an extensive cheese tasting, our complete artisan cheesemaking manual with recipes, and an extensive resource section which will guide you to all the necessary tools and information to make wonderful cheese! In order at ensure plenty of hands-on experience, each class is limited to 10 students.

Advanced Cheesemaking: The Advanced class takes what is learned in our Artisanal class to the next level. We concentrate on more complex varieties of cheeses (i.e., bloomy rind cheeses, blue cheeses, hard-pressed cheeses, as well as washed rind cheeses) and explore the intricacies of aging and ripening in transforming a cheese into a truly memorable food experience by going more in-depth into the science and practical application of successful cheese aging techniques. Detailed cheese marketing strategies will also help you sell your cheese at the best venues and for the highest returns. As in our Artisanal and Specialty classes, you will get lunch each day, enjoy several cheese tastings and wine and beer pairings, and receive an expanded cheesemaking manual with lots of recipes. In order to ensure plenty of hands-on experience, each class is limited to 10 students.

Cost: $1,290

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

Advanced Cheesemaking Class (Monday, July 27, 2026)

Mon, 27 Jul 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, August 01, 2026)

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

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

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

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

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

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!

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.