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Our story began in 1934, in the midst of
the Great Depression, when a young Danish immigrant, Anton "Tony" Pederson,
arrived in Shullsburg, Wisconsin. Soon after his arrival, Tony
established his business by bottling milk and churning butter.
In 1938, Tony, also a skilled cheese maker, purchased some
used cheese making equipment. He then bought some land and
built a cheese factory. It was here that our cheese making
heritage began with the production of our first vat of cheddar
cheese.
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During the Second World War, Uncle Sam paid
premium prices for Cheddar Cheese. It was at this time that
Tony made his first sale to the United States Government. Soon
Tony's cheese became famous, and his was the first factory
in the region to package and deliver cheese directly to the
grocery stores. Throughout the 40's, 50's, and 60's, he made
cheese, packaged his product, and distributed it throughout
Southwest Wisconsin. Tony's relentless efforts laid the groundwork
for our present day business, and they led Shullsburg Creamery
to be one of the first cheese factories to market its cheese
under its own brand. |
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In 1972, Tony sold Shullsburg Creamery to
Arthur Stocker, a Chicago businessman and mechanical engineer.
Art was on a weekend trip and discovered Shullsburg Creamery
while on a quest to purchase some Wisconsin Cheese. The timing
couldn't have been more appropriate as Art was pursuing a business
opportunity and Tony was looking towards retirement. The two
struck a deal and ownership of the Creamery changed hands.
Art employed ten employees who manufactured, packaged, and
distributed Cheddar, Colby, Monterey Jack, Brick and Muenster
cheese. Forty-five hundred pounds of cheese were produced daily.
But eventually the factory's limited capacity and old machinery
necessitated its closing, and in September 1988, the last vat
of cheese was made in Shullsburg. Since then, Shullsburg Creamery
has broadened into new and different areas.
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At the same downtown Shullsburg factory location,
Shullsburg Creamery, local dairy farmer owned, now buys, cures,
packages, and distributes our quality branded products throughout
the
Midwest
under the
name of Shullsburg Cheese. Today the Shullsburg Wisconsin Cheese
Brand is a widely respected label. High quality, full of flavor
Wisconsin Cheese is the foundation of our business and continues
to be our hallmark. |
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In
2006 Mid-West Dairymen’s Company,
a dairy farmer owned cooperative, acquired the Shullsburg Creamery
business. As we continue to grow, we must remember our humble
beginnings and not stray from what has made us successful.
Arthur and Tony
left unforgettable impressions on all who met them and were
certainly pioneers in cheese making and in cheese distribution.
Through
their contributions, the old mining town of Shullsburg is synonymous
with cheese. |
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