Oregon goat cheesemakers walked away with a record 11 awards this year at the American Dairy Goat Association’s Goat Cheese Competition in Fort Collins, Colorado.

The competition, held October 16 – 17, drew nearly 30 commercial goat cheesemakers from across the United States. First, second and third place awards were given in 22 commercial categories. Oregon Cheese Guild (OCG) winners included Rivers Edge, Pholia Farms Creamery, Fern’s Edge Creamery and Silver Falls.

"This is yet another affirmation that the quality of Oregon cheese—on an international platform—stands out as being of exceptional quality, purity and flavor," says OCG President David Gremmels, co-owner Rogue Creamery in Central Point.

Terri Coleman, competition coordinator from New York, said judges paid close attention to the aesthetics and technical aspects of the cheese.

"What matters is the perfection of the cheese and flavor profile," says Pat Morford of Rivers Edge in Logsden, Oregon. "This brings a little more spotlight to the farmstead cheese business."

Winning entries for Rivers Edge included first place for Fresh Unripened Commercial for Fresh Chevre, second place for Soft Ripened Open Commercial for Humbug Mountain and third place for Soft Ripened Flavored Commercial for Sunset Bay.

Silver Falls Creamery in Stayton, Oregon, took a first in Fresh Flavored Commercial for Chipotle, second in Spreads Commercial for Rosemary Peppercorn, and third in Spreads Commercial for Jalapeno.

Pholia Farm Creamery, LLC in Rogue River, Oregon, returned with second place awards in American Originals Other Commercial for Elk Mountain and in American Made International Style Other Commercial for Hillis Peak.

And Ferns’ Edge Goat Dairy in Lowell, Oregon, took third in Fresh Flavored Commercial for Pesto.