Green Bay, WI – Bringing their medal count to an impressive 10 in the last three years, Wisconsin’s Red Barn Family Farms has successfully partnered with a select group of traditional small Wisconsin dairy farm families to produce its championship line of Heritage Weis white cheddar. The awards were earned at both the highly respected international World Cheese Championships and the U.S. Championship Cheese Contest.
This month, Red Barn’s Heritage Weis Reserve took gold in the aged bandaged cheddar category at the U.S. Championship Cheese Contest held March 12-13 inside the Lambeau Field Atrium in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Their Heritage Weis Reserve-3 Year won silver in the same group, as did their Heritage Weis in mild to medium cheddars. More than 1,700 cheeses were entered in this year’s USCC contest.
“We are absolutely convinced of the connection between healthy, well-cared for cows and the distinctively delicious milk and cheese they produce,” explained Terry Homan, DVM, and co-founder of Red Barn Family Farms with his wife Paula in 2008. “We believe our track record validates this premise.”
Red Barn Rules place each of the eight Red Barn Family Farms in the top tier across the industry for milk quality. Red Barn Family Farms are the only humane-certified dairy farms in Wisconsin. Each farm must be family owned and must be its primary source of livelihood. The majority of the farm labor must be performed by family members. Farms milk 70 cows or fewer; each cow is known by her name, (not a number); and they live longer lives than the industry average.
“We exist to honor and sustain traditional small family farms and the inherent way these farmers care for their cows. The health of our cows correlates directly to the championship cheese they help produce,” Homan explained.
Red Barn Heritage Weis is creamy, smooth old world style white cheddar with a pleasant tangy finish. It is distinctively sweeter than typical cheddar and pairs well with fruit, especially pears, apples and strawberries. It has remarkable melting qualities, making delectable gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, homemade mac and cheese, or melted on a juicy burger and accompanied by pale ale.
Heritage Weis Reserve is aged over one year, and possesses a bold, nutty flavor – but not sharp – with a long complex finish. Still creamy and smooth, it pairs well with nutty or seeded crackers and a glass of red wine, like cabernet or tempranillo, or even dark beer, like porter or stout. It is also a smooth melting cheese ideal for making flavorful beer and cheddar fondue.
Heritage Weis Reserve-3-Year, just released in October 2012, maintains its signature creaminess complemented by flavorful textured tyrosine clusters, the sign of well-aged cheese. The 3-Year offers bold, complex flavor without the acidity of typical aged cheddar. It stands up to full-bodied wine or stout.
Red Barn Family Farms will release a brand new American original raw milk cheese in September 2013.
Red Barn Family Farms’ award-winning cheddars are made in small batches at Springside Cheese Corporation in Oconto Falls, Wis., by cheesemaker Wayne Hintz. They are available in whole, (13 lb.), half, and quarter midget wheels that are bandaged then dipped in traditional red paraffin; wholesale; and as individual 8 oz. random weight wedges at www.redbarnfamilyfarms.com and through select distributors and retailers.
Red Barn Family Farms is a deliciously distinctive dairy procurement company that derives its prize milk and cheese from the lush green landscape of eastern Wisconsin. Co-founded in 2008 by Dr. Terry Homan, large animal veterinarian, and his wife Paula, the mission of Red Barn is to help reinvigorate Wisconsin family-owned dairy farms by creating an economy that values these farms and the families who operate them.
Innovative Red Barn Rules are a set of rigorous quality, animal health and operational requirements. The rules set new industry benchmarks that link excellence in animal husbandry, or humane treatment of animals, to excellence in food quality. In a major shift from commodity style production, Red Barn’s pay structure for farmers is specifically designed to reward both exceptional milk quality and animal husbandry.
Red Barn Rules place each of the eight Red Barn Family Farms in the top tier across the industry for milk quality. Red Barn Family Farms are the only dairy farms in Wisconsin to have American Humane Association certification through annual independent third party inspections of each farm. Red Barn milk is rBGH free, each farm must be family owned and must be its primary source of livelihood. The majority of the farm labor must be performed by family members. Farms milk 70 cows or fewer; each cow is known by her name, (not a number); and they live longer lives than the industry average. For more information, please e-mail paula@redbarnfamilyfarms.com or www.redbarnfamilyfarms.com
Source: Red Barn Family Farms