Green County 2023 Visitor Guide

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SQUEAKY CURDS WIN THE WORLD Steve Stettler's cheese curds are the best in the world. Literally. Stettler, award-winning Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker and owner of Decatur Dairy Inc. in Brodhead, recently added “World Champion Cheese Curds” to his resume. And anyone who has ever tasted these curds knows the title fits. Decatur Dairy curds have that perfect “squeak,” a sign they're made just right. “People love cheese curds because they're squeaky, fresh, and have that hint of salt,” Stettler said. “But most people would say it's the squeak. It's the PH and the freshness of the cheese and the moisture content. It's getting all three of them in balance to give them the squeak. AND, good milk.” It's the PH and the freshness of the cheese and the moisture content. It's getting all three of them in balance to give them the squeak. Not surprisingly, Wisconsin cheesemakers swept the awards for the first ever cheese curds category at the 2022 World Championship Cheese Contest. The squeaky little nuggets are a cultural phenomenon, whether fresh or fried. Curds from Decatur Cheesemakers also took top honors at last year's Wisconsin State Fair. But Stettler's been lobbying for cheese curd credibility in other ways. He asked the Wisconsin Center for Dairy Research to make curds an official

Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker certification, and in 2019 he was the first to receive the new certification. Creating award-winning cheeses isn't easy. It takes a lifetime of learning, a passion for what you do, and work ethic. Stettler comes by all three honestly. A third-generation cheesemaker, he started as a teenager more than 50 years ago at Farmer's Grove Cheese Factory outside New Glarus. He quickly made it his chosen profession and bought into the family business at just 19 years old. In 1982, five years after moving to Brodhead, Stettler and his wife bought Decatur Dairy. After first learning to make Swiss, Stettler moved on to producing Havarti, Muenster, Brick, and Gouda. Decatur Dairy also operates a popular store where customers can taste and buy cheese cut to order. It's worth a trip just to sample those award-winning curds, available at Decatur Dairy in up to 15 tasty flavor varieties on any given day. Not one to rest on his laurels, Stettler and Decatur Dairy are breaking new ground for cheesemakers and farmers, with a major expansion to the cheese factory, which is owned by the farmers. The more than 50 farm families who provide Decatur Dairy with fresh milk every day come from just a 55 mile radius.

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Stettler said it's a win-win. “The farmers are assured a market for their milk, and we have a quality place to manufacture cheese.” While cheesemaking in Green County is revered, it's a hard business. The hours are long and the work grueling. “Anytime you get somebody wanting to learn cheesemaking, it's a big accomplishment,” Stettler said. Fortunately, a fourth generation of the Stettler family is waiting in the wings to take up the family business. The cheese business is a business that Stettler never takes for granted. “Green County has so much talent in cheesemaking, for us to be considered amongst them, that's pretty incredible.”

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Twilight in the Park Concerts Sundays June 18 – Aug 13 Family Fest & Fireworks - June 24 Amish Quilt Auction - July 29 Wildflower Art Festival - Aug 12 Alzheimer's & Dementia Tractor Drive & Ride - Sept 24 Jaycee Holiday Market - Nov 4 See More Events @ brodheadchamber.com

Kelch Aviation Museum (N2463 Airport Road in Brodhead) brings inspiring stories alive with 19 vintage airplanes and thousands of artifacts from the golden age of aviation. Many of the planes are airworthy, so on any given summer day you might see one soaring overhead. The museum, located at the Brodhead Airport, is generally open Wednesday through Sunday 10 AM - 4 PM. Events at the airport this year include the EAA Pancake Breakfast (May 21) and the Pietenpol Fly In (July 20-22). Visit kelchmuseum.org and follow Kelch Aviation Museum on Facebook for events like the Barnstormer Barbecue and the Flying Hamburger Social. GO FOR THE GOLD AT KELCH

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