Flat Creek Lodge Places Second and Third in US Championship Cheese Contest!
 
Cheddar and Blue Beat Out National Big Wigs

Swainsboro, Georgia (April 1, 2009) – The Flat Creek Lodge Dairy sent its cheese a long way from Swainsboro this month – all the way to Green Bay, Wisconsin to compete in the US Championship Cheese Contest. The results are in, and Flat Creek Lodge is astounded and elated to have earned Second Award in the Blue Veined class for its Blue Farmhouse and Third Award in the Bandaged Cheddar class for its brand new Cypress Cheddar. Coming off the Grand Award win in the Flavor of Georgia products competition earlier in the same week, Flat Creek Lodge is proving itself to be one worthy little dairy.

“Of course we are thrilled to have placed so high in two categories,” says Flat Creek Lodge owner Caroline Harless. “One aspect of these competitions that is really important to us is the chance to get feedback about our cheeses and their quality. As a new dairy, this is very helpful to us.”

The Cypress Cheddar – a six-month cloth-bound cheddar that had basically just come out of the aging closet to be sent to the competition – topped most of the cheddar producers in the country. With a 99.1 rating, this cheddar is sure to be a best seller. The First and Second awards went to Springside Cheese Corp. and Glanbia Foods, Inc. In the Blue Veined Category, out of 25 entries from all over the country, only Sartori Food Corporation scored higher than Flat Creek Lodge.

Even Flat Creek Lodge Head Cheesemaker Dane Huebner was a bit surprised by the wins, stating, “In a competition like this one, it can be difficult for an artisanal dairy to place high, and it’s usually large company dairies that win these competitions.” When you craft each batch of cheese by hand and milk under 30 cows, seasonal differences come out in the cheeses, making each batch of artisanal cheese special. The uniqueness is one thing to love about small dairy cheeses, but it makes difficult winners in these big contests. That just means that the Second and Third awards are even more special for the Flat Creek Lodge Dairy.

The US Championship Cheese Contest was held March 17 – 19 in Green Bay, Wisconsin and featured more than 1,360 cheese and butters submitted by artisans and manufacturers in 32 states. With roots back to the 1890s, this competition presented by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association is the Superbowl of dairy product competitions, according to John Umhoefer, executive director of the Association.

Cheese lovers can celebrate with Flat Creek Lodge by finding the cheeses at a variety of retails spots (like Whole Foods and Savor in Atlanta and Sawecki’s in Decatur) and restaurants throughout Georgia and the Southeast. This month, Destiny Produce - the only Certified Organic distributor in Georgia – began distribution of Flat Creek’s line of artisanal cheeses. The cheeses are also available online anytime at www.flatcreeklodge.com. This summer, fans will have a new reason to celebrate when Flat Creek Lodge releases the first round of sheep’s milk cheeses.


Located just three hours southeast of Atlanta, Flat Creek Lodge welcomes the discerning sportsman and sportswoman to an unforgettable hunting and fishing adventure. Amid a pristine and private woodland preserve, guests can stay in the main Lodge or in a private Cottage.  Visitors can enjoy many outdoor activities, relax in the Spa, or pamper themselves in the uniquely designed Japanese Bathhouse before experiencing the cuisine in the Flat Creek Lodge Dining Room.  Menus feature fresh, seasonal herbs, fruits, and vegetables, wild game and seafood from the Golden Isles of Georgia.  Dining on Friday and Saturday evenings is four or five courses paired with just the right wine.  The 2,000-acre Flat Creek Lodge is located at 367 Bishop Chapel Church Road, Swainsboro, Georgia 30401. The Lodge can be reached at 478.237.FISH or 877.352.8273.  It can also be visited online at www.flatcreeklodge.com.

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