Clark County Cheesemaker Named Winner of 2015 Outstanding Young Farmer Award
Monday, January 26th, 2015 -- 8:19 AM
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) -A central Wisconsin cheesemaker, who was born and raised in The Netherlands, has been named the winner of the 2015 Wisconsin Outstanding Young Farmer award.Marieke Penterman of Thorp earned the title in Weston on Saturday night after competing against six other finalists. Penterman and her husband, Rolf, own and operate Holland's Family Cheese and Penterman Farm LLC.
Marieke and Rolf began farming in the Thorp area in 2002, and have since grown their operation to about 800-cows. After constuling with the Dairy Business Innovation Center in 2006, she put together a business plan to start a cheesemaking facility and obtained her cheesemaker's license in order to produce Gouda cheese, which is a staple dairy product in her homeland.
In 2011, Marieke was named the Grand Master Cheesemaker at the Wisconsin State Fair, the first woman to win the award, for her Gouda Belegen. Her cheese also went on to win Grand Champion at the U.S. Cheese Championship in 2013.
The Wisconsin OYF program was developed in 1954 to recognize the younger generation of successful agriculturists in the state. Winners are selected based on progress in their agricultural career, soil and water conservation and contributions to community, state and nation.
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