We have always been enthusiastic supporters of the American Cheese Society (ACS) because of the role it plays in promoting artisan cheese making. In fact, our owner, Ricki Carroll (The Cheese Queen) was one of the founding members when it was established 40 years ago.
Ricki and her former husband Bob, front row center at the third meeting of the ACS in 1983. PS, at least one of the speakers at this year’s conference is in this picture, can you find him/her?
Since the beginning, Ricki has attended the majority of the annual conferences and has even conducted workshops at some of them.
Ricki at the 2015 conference in Providence, Rhode Island
In 2013 she was given the prestigious “Lifetime Achievement Award,” bestowed by the Board of the ACS to a member who has made an outstanding contribution to the cheese community at large and to the ACS.
All of this is to say that we as a company (cheesemaking.com) think the ACS is an important resource for cheese makers.
Why? The Cheese Queen herself wants you to know:
From it’s initial conception, the American Cheese Society has been a gathering place for cheese makers to network and to learn from each other. Education has always been foremost on the agenda. The ACS welcomes artisanal cheese makers from all over North America – retailers, distributors, educators, and many other industry professionals, along with anyone who has an interest in cheese.
I still remember it’s humble beginnings, when many of the artisanal cheese makers of today were making cheese on their kitchen tables. You never know what the future will bring and you will be hard pressed to find another organization bringing more people together in the name of cheese then this one.
So, even if it’s for only one or two workshops, take a peek. Meet some of North America’s finest cheese makers, ask questions, and enjoy!
In Peace and Love, Ricki
At The Festival of Cheese, the finale of the conference.
This year, the conference would have been in Des Moines, IA but now, anyone with a computer will be able to attend. Next year, it is scheduled to be in Portland, OR.
Because the conference is virtual this year, it will be loaded with more opportunities than ever to network and to learn about cheese making. One of the main events is always – “Meet the Cheesemaker” where you can sample hundreds of different cheeses with their makers standing by to answer questions. This year, you will be sent a sample box of cheese to try while watching videos of the cheese makers explaining their process.
Details and link to registration:
American Cheese Society 2021 Annual Conference Registration Is Now Open
The theme of this year’s conference, July 28-30, held virtually, is “Moving Forward Together With Purpose”
The American Cheese Society is setting its sights on July 2021 and what could be its largest conference ever!
We’ll gather virtually to reconnect with friends and to meet new ones. We’ll celebrate our successes, acknowledge our struggles and learn — as we always do — from the best cheesemakers and cheese professionals in the Americas.
We’ll embrace new traditions. We’ll recraft others. From July 28-30, here on this website, we’ll Move Forward Together With Purpose.
Register Now
Here’s just a sampling of what is in store for you during the 2021 ACS Annual Conference!
Meet the Cheesemaker
MTC is ready to take on a virtual twist! Attendees will be able to visit with cheesemakers in small groups during the 2-hour event on the ACS Annual Conference virtual event platform. Conference registration will include an option to attend MTC, and participants will receive a randomized sample box filled with cheese! Before the MTC event, you will have access to watch videos submitted by the cheesemakers to learn more about what they do and how they do it!
Education Highlights
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Salt: The Magical 1%, with Peter Dixon: Salt makes up an average of just 1% of a final cheese, but it is vital to flavor development and the prevention of spoilage. The source and the size of the grain are determined by the technical application as well as the philosophy of the cheesemaker. Historically, the methods of employing salt were determined by geography and circumstance, but now this is a matter of choice. The discussion will include the role salt plays in the making and aging of cheese, and the different ways that salt is used in cheesemaking and affinage.
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Daphne Zepos Teaching Award Recipient: Growing Great Cheese — How Feed Influences Flavor, with Matt Benham: Much has been made about the importance of grassy hillsides and alpine pastures to the cheeses made there, but how does animal feed affect our cheeses really? Join Matt Benham, cheesemaker and recipient of the 2020 Daphne Zepos Teaching Award, as he unpacks the science of feed and its effect on milk chemistry, and ultimately, on the cheese we make, sell, and enjoy. Matt draws upon the expertise of scientists, farmers, and cheesemakers at home and abroad to help demystify the complex relationship between animal feed and cheese character, and explores how we might tailor our feed programs to realize the full potential of our cheeses.
Pricing
Member, Early (ends July 4): $220
Member, Regular (starts July 5): $300
Student (email ACS at info@cheesesociety.org for code): $100
Member Full-Time Cheesemonger (must work full-time behind the counter): $200 —
Non-Member, Early (ends July 4): $375
Non-Member, Regular (starts July 5): $475
Non-Member Full-Time Cheesemonger (must work full-time behind the counter): $225
Know Before You Register
WHO: Members and future members of the American Cheese Society
WHAT: Moving Forward Together with Purpose, the 2021 ACS Annual Conference
WHEN: July 28-30, 2021
WHERE: The Internet
WHY: To celebrate our successes, and to learn.
Scholarships
For ACS’s 2021 Annual Conference, the ACE Foundation will be granting multiple general scholarships as well as the Peterson Company Scholarship for BIPOC Advancement. Unlike years past, when there have been separate scholarships for cheesemakers, retailers, students, chefs, there is just one application for anyone interested in receiving a scholarship, regardless of industry title.Receiving a scholarship to the conference this year does not preclude you from receiving a future scholarship to an in-person conference! This year’s winner of the Peterson Scholarship for BIPOC Advancement will automatically receive a full scholarship for the next in-person conference.
Applicants will be asked about your job in the cheese industry, to provide either a resume or a description of your last three jobs, and answers to two short questions on how attending the conference might help with your career development and what session you are most looking forward to attending.
Apply here
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