Colby Cheese Bill Gets Hearing

Thursday, July 8th, 2021 -- 2:00 PM

(Raymond Neupert, WRN) A bill that would name Colby as Wisconsin's state cheese had a surprisingly contentious hearing in the state Assembly on Wednesday.

Representative Rob Brooks wanted to know why none of the major cheese or dairy associations have been backing the bill. 

BROOKES: "If I were to get behind this I would want to hear from a large number of these groups."

LUCKEY: "I would too, and a lot of those requests go unanswered!"

That second voice was Michael Luckey, a proponent of the bill and a descendant of the inventor of Colby cheese. Luckey says that Colby is Wisconsin made and Wisconsin original. 

"Colby cheese is more than just cheese, it is a representation of all that is best of being a Wisconsinite. It came from a small community just like those that dot the landscape from border to border."

Luckey says there's been some worry among dairy industry groups that picking a single cheese would show favoritism. 

"Are we truly going to believe that Colby's designation will rock the cheese cart? A recent conversation with an operations manager at one of our largest cheese factories commented to me 'why would anybody be upset by this bill? Do they think Tombstone going to stop putting mozzarella on its Pizza?'"

The bill's author, Representative Donna Rozar of Marshfield, says Colby is a uniquely Wisconsin invention and deserves recognition. 

"Colby cheese has International appeal.  It created a process by which a lot of cheeses are now made, and it is the story of how a small community in Wisconsin can make history."

There have been other attempts to make Colby the state cheese, but none have ever made it to the Governor's desk.

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