his festival has been around since 1936. It was originally created to help dairy farmers increase their business. According to the festival's website, many dairy farmers from Europe settled in the area, making it a prime spot for cheese production. Business declined in the 1930s, so the first Cheese Festival was organized to boost sales. The inaugural event took place on September 29-30, 1936.
Not that our state, which has laws against mispronouncing Joliet as Jolly-ette, or giving dogs a cigar has anything to look down its nose at, but our friends behind the cheddar curtain have some interesting ideas about cheese legalities and other things.
After winning a prestigious national award a few years ago, this cheese is STILL the reigning champion-- and you can find it not too far away from Rochester.