History of Cheese Days

See the Merchandise Page for more information on a poster featuring the complete collection of buttons seen below.

1914 Five Monroe businessmen attend Sauerkraut Day in Forreston, Illinois, and return home to prepare for Cheese Day in just 19 days Crowd size estimated at 3,000 – 4,000 3,000 cheese sandwiches prepared by volunteer firemen and meat cutters in the garage of the Blumer (now Joseph Huber) Brewery 200 pounds of coffee brewed to serve with the sandwiches   1915 First parade! Governor Emanuel Philipp attends festival Cheese Days program includes an “Ode to Limburger” Crowd size estimated at 20,000 1916 Crowd size estimated at 25,000 Festival attendees watch as Fred Steinman turns 2,000 pounds of milk into a giant wheel of cheese Festival has a Circus parade theme titled "Panorama of Cheeseland” Parade is 2 miles long 15,000 cheese sandwiches given away Musical entertainment includes Orangeville Band, New Glarus Band, and Old Soldiers' Fife and Drum Corp. 1917 4 mile long parade includes 150 decorated cattle led by Swiss costumed dairy maids 80 concession stands line the curbs of the Square Rudy Benkert honored as oldest cheesemaker in the county The day was marked by snow and rain, but loyal Swiss cheese fans still showed up by the thousands 1918 Cheese Days celebration cancelled due to World War I   1923 Marion Burgy of Monticello chosen as first Cheese Days Queen 85 year old Sebastian Duerst and 87 year old Oswald Babler honored as last remaining of the original Swiss colonists from New Glarus A 400 pound wheel of Swiss cheese is created on the square, requiring 4500 pounds of milk Monroe first promoted as “Swiss Cheese Capital of the USA” "Rainbow Flyers" entertain with stunt airplane flying and parachute drop Gold watch awarded to winner of Swiss Wrestling competition 1928 Parade features 125 floats, including chariots, trick ponies, clowns, cattle sporting Swiss cow bells, and snake charmers More than 25,000 cheese sandwiches consumed Green County is home to 152 cheese factories West Brothers Flying Circus features six new planes Old time dance at the Moose Hall features music by the Kubly Bros. Orchestra Festival is held on Tuesday, October 2 1935 Cheese Days nearly fades into extinction due to the Great Depression, but is revitalized in 1935 34,000 cheese sandwiches consumed, including wheel Swiss, block Swiss, Limburger, and Brick Postmaster John Burkhard honored as Cheese Day chairman 56 former cheesemakers honored in the parade Crowd size estimated at 50,000   1940 Mrs. William Chambers of Juda wins the cow milking competition by getting nearly 20 pounds of milk from the cow in three minutes Crowd size estimated at 60,000 - 70,000 50,000 cheese sandwiches enjoyed by festival goers Turner Hall hosts jitterbug contest 1945 Cheese Days festival not held due to World War II   1950 Crowd size estimated at 90,000 60,000 cheese sandwiches distributed John Bussman wins Swiss wrestling competition 1955 Parade includes 30 old time cheesemakers, 100 saddle horses, and 16 horse teams Limburger, Brick, and Swiss cheese sandwiches enjoyed by festival goers Winner of contest to guess how many holes in a wheel of Swiss cheese receives 20 pound block of Swiss   1965 Parade consists of 160 units Cheese Days becomes a 2-day event Crowd size estimated at 125,000 Grandstand is erected on the south side of the square Donald Wenger serves as parade marshal 1967 Governor Warren Knowles attends festival UW Madison marching band plays "Come to Cheese Days" song during parade Cheese Days buttons and Swiss caps sold as souvenirs Skydivers drop in at Twining Park Sgt. Jimmie Earl Howard serves as parade marshal 1970 Cheese Days Art Fair introduced John Bussman makes cheese on the downtown Square for the first time Roger Bright Band performs Green County Ag Chest distributes cheese samples on the courthouse lawn 20 veteran cheesemakers ride in the parade Mark Winzenreid serves as parade marshal 1972 "Swiss dollars" sold as souvenirs Parade drowned out by rain Recordings of "Cheese Days in Monroe" and "A Little Bit of Switzerland" featuring Rudy Burkhalter and Martha Bernet are for sale Monroe Optimists sell their “secret recipe” deep fried cheese curds for the first time All current cheesemakers honored as parade marshals 1974 Alphorns blown from atop the 120-foot Green County Courthouse clock tower to herald the opening of the festival Badger Athletic Director Elroy Hirsch serves as parade marshal Walter Krahenbuhl honored as grand champion cheesemaker 1976 Tea towels, beanies, buttons, coins, and wooden Swiss dollars for sale as souvenirs Ivan Gobeli named grand champion cheesemaker for his Muenster Senator William Proxmire rides in the parade Bob Bussen serves as parade marshal 1978 First Cheese Days Chase held Governor Martin Schreiber rides in parade Estimated 6 tons of cheese sold on the Square Randy Krahenbuhl named grand champion cheesemaker Archie Myers serves as parade marshal 1980 20 tons of cheese sold through the sale of cheese sandwiches and bulk cheese Cheese Days Ball held at Turner Hall, with Max Drexler's Bavarian Band entertaining Werner and Martha Bernet named King and Queen Milford Severson named champion cheesemaker Wallie Ekum, Harold Snively, Del Heins, and Jim Bruce serve as parade marshals 1982 Cheese Days Prince and Princess contest held - Ryan Erickson and Lisa Schroeder named prince and princess Gottlieb and Trudy Brandli named King and Queen Friday night bar hopping committee (dressed in Swiss outfits and accompanied by Del Heins on accordion) visits area taverns to promote the event John Bussman serves as parade marshal1984 1984 900 runners enter Cheese Days Chase race, with many wearing Cheese Days Chase headbands Governor Tony Earl rides in parade souvenirs for sale include limited edition beer mugs, coins, and buttons Bob and Helene Buehler named King and Queen Brad Grossen and Erin Trampe named Prince and Princess Cliff Reasa serves as parade marshal 1986 1,000 area dairy farms honored for supplying milk to the cheese factories Armin and Kathryn Rufener named King and Queen Benjamin Bergey and Brandi Spidahl named Prince and Princess Lois Kaster and Martha Bernet serve as parade marshals Walt Rufener wins cow milking contests Janeen Joy Babler designs Cheese Days Button 1988 After not milking a cow for 45 years, Helen Summers Davis walks away the winner of the cow milking contest Kids enjoy free camel rides More than 1300 people take part in the cheese factory and farm tours Tim Hasler and Rebekah Stauffacher named Prince and Princess Ben and Lois Kaster named King and Queen Bob Buehler and Jocelyn Stricker serve as parade marshals Dorothy Roth designs Cheese Days button 1990 Winner of the Schwingest (Swiss wresting) receives first place prize of a purebred bull calf Souvenirs for sale include coffee mugs and t-shirts Joe Urban serves as Master of Ceremonies for the parade Governor Tommy Thompson rides in the parade and receives a block of Swiss cheese Alex Bernet and Elise Wagner named Prince and Princess Virgil and Carol Leopold named King and Queen Cheese Days publicized on Good Morning America Walter Rufener serves as parade marshal Elaine Bethke designs Cheese Days button with the design in honor of Swiss musican Burnett John Kubly (1918 - 2008) 1992 Parade includes a 52-hitch llama entry Myron Olson honored as grand champion cheesemaker Mitch Quade and Deanndra Buol named Prince and Princess Maynard and Joanna Heins named King and Queen Bill Hanson and Nancy Faith serve as parade marshals 1994 Displays include a miniature cheese factory replica Cheese Days celebrates 80th anniversary Adam Krebs and Jenny Bauman named Prince and Princess Clayton and Marion Streiff named King and Queen Accordionist Rudy Burkhalter passes away on the Friday of Cheese Days weekend Walter Rufener serves as parade marshal Holly Dearth designs Cheese Days button Historic Cheesemaking Center hosts ribbon cutting 1996 Monroe Mayor Bill Ross competes in milking contest but does not win 500 runners compete in Cheese Days Chase Gary Grossen named grand champion cheesemaker Roy and Betty Vetterli named King and Queen John Bussman serves as parade marshal Mauro Magellan designs Cheese Days button Adam Hutchinson and Shelley Quade named Prince and Princess 1998 First golf classic held Opening ceremony includes alphorns and a parade of flags Ernie and Theresa Jaggi named King and Queen Brent Quade and Emily Guerin named Prince and Princess Howard Grossen and Lillian Hawthorne serve as parade marshals Button is designed by Tina and Alec White 2000 Randy and Pam Wyss named King and Queen Logan Stamm and Brianna Zimmerman named Princess and Prince Swiss folk artist Janeen Joy Babler designs Cheese Days button Werner Sr., Werner Jr., and Brian Zimmerman serve as parade marshals 2002 Justin Johnson designs Cheese Days button Lindsay Wettach and Cally Abplanalp named Cheese Days ambassadors Buholzer Family serves as parade marshals Steve and Sharon Streiff named King and Queen Cody Stamm and Elisabeth Brunner named Prince and Princess 2004 Brianna Gelbach named Cheese Days ambassador Anders Nelson and Anya Schween named prince and princess Bob and Nancy Faith named King and Queen Mauro Magellan designs Cheese Days button Official Cheese Days web site launched Larry Lindgren and Katherine Etter honored as parade marshals Standard "flag and globe" logo with tagline "Old World Tradition...out-of-this-world celebration!" developed New Hospitality Tent opens to provide seating for dining Festival goers enjoy Wisconsin's Biggest Cheese Fondue   2006 Shannon Stricker named Cheese Days Ambassador Carolyn Schultz designs Cheese Days button Henry and Melva Tschanz named King and Queen Joshua Smith and Lauren Blumer named Prince and Princess Doran Zwygart and Nate Roth chosen as parade marshals Retail merchandise offered includes fat mice and squeezy cheese wedges Commemorative postal cancellation features the visiting Swiss Post Bus "Holey" Cheese Sandwich introduced 2008 Charity Rood serves as ambassador for the festival Gary and Corie Grossen selected as Kinq and Queen Kim Berg designs 2008 Cheese Days logo Cheese Days song featured on commemorative t-shirts Noah Zimmerman and Olivia O'Dea chosen as Prince and Princess Debut of Family Farm Adventure Tent Gerald Swiggum and Dick Rote honored as parade marshals Cheese Days opens beer stand on the square featuring products from Minhas Craft Brewery and New Glarus Brewing Company Parade features a sesquicentennial division in honor of the 150th Birthday of Monroe 2010 Trisha Pernot selected as Cheese Days ambassador Wendy Flanagan designs the 2010 button logo Dennis and Janice Everson named King and Queen Back by popular demand: Dairy Farm Tours Debut of Kid's Arts & Imagination Station by Monroe Theatre Guild