Meet Wisconsin’s Proudest
Pioneers, Explorers
& Dreamers

The Sargento Family represents three generations of real cheese people. Third-Generation CEO, Louis P. Gentine II, describes it best: "My grandfather had a simple philosophy: “Hire good people, and treat them like family. His philosophy guides everything we do. It allows us to bring only the very best real, natural cheese to your family." Today, the company is now wholly-owned by the Gentines and is in its third generation of family management. Sargento has established a reputation as an innovator of products, packaging & merchandising, being the first to market shredded natural cheese, sliced natural cheese & natural cheese blends. We'll leave you with a fun fact: the Sargento name is a combination of the two founders' names: Joseph Sartori & Leonard A. Gentine Sr.

Marieke Penterman was born and raised in the Netherlands on a 60-cow dairy farm, so her move to Thorp, Wisconsin, with her husband Rolf in 2002 was a natural first step in carrying out their shared passion for dairy farming. In 2006, desperately missing their gouda from Holland, Marieke and Rolf embarked on a new adventure in cheesemaking. Using farmstead-fresh, raw cow's milk from their family farm, Marieke began crafting authentic Dutch cheeses. The milk is piped directly from the cows into the cheese-processing vat after the first milking of the day and its freshness is unrivaled. The awards are proof – just one year after Marieke crafted her first batch of gouda in November 2006, she captured a gold award at the U.S. Champion Cheese Contest in 2007. Dozens of awards have followed including the biggest win, the U.S. Grand Champion in 2013. Marieke brought her time-tested, Old World cheesemaking methods to us from the Netherlands, and we're glad she's here in Wisconsin!

LaClare Family Creamery is a true farmstead operation established in 1978 with a foundation that is rooted in artistry, family values and hard work. In the late 70s, eager to return to their rural roots, Larry and Clara Hedrich bought a “hobby farm” in the heart of America’s Dairyland. Along with their homestead, they inherited two goats, a dozen or so chickens and pair of peacocks. Little did they realize that the goats would soon become the focal point of the lives of their growing family. Hence, the founding of what would become LaClare Farms, appropriately named after founders Larry and Clara. Today, the company makes a variety of goat milk cheeses, raw and pasteurized cheddar, jack, fresh chevre and various Evalon cheeses in both wheels and blocks. We especially recommend checking out their signature cheese Evalon, a fruity nutty aged goat milk cheese with an asiago finish. (Evalon was named “Best of Show” out of 1,604 different cheeses at the U.S. Championship Cheese Contest).