It's fair time in Vermont and it's a struggle to hit them all.  The Guilford Fair was this passed Labor Day weekend and my co-worker Savannah took some great photos.  

How many combinations of cheese can one put into a delicious pan of mac'n cheese? Well, it probably depends on who you're asking - but I used three for this batch. Let's not forget the wonderful, crispy bacon, fresh chopped tomato and chunky bread crumbs on top - it just wouldn't be the same without them.  For my mac 'n cheese I used Grafton Maple Smoked cheddar, Grafton Classic Reserve - 2 year aged cheddar and Grafton Four Star - 4 year cheddar.  If you haven't tried any of them yet, you're missing out. Coming from the Midwest, I would never have sought out a specialty cheddar unless it had some bacon or other flavors added to it. This cheddar is aged, literally - not artificially, which gives a sharp flavor profile and great creamy taste! (can you tell I'm in marketing?)

Here's my recipe:

 Imagine this: It's 90-95*F outside, humid and a Saturday. You have guests from Minnesota and you're not sure what to do with them.  Sure, you could enjoy some Cheddar Fondue without turning on the stove top - but that would make you warm inside and out. You could even have an ice cream cone, which I highly recommend. 

I had the opportunity to attend a dairy-related event this past week.  There was certainly a wide array of cheeses, milk, ice cream, yogurt - you name it.  Before the banquet, a friend of mine and I took a bite into, what looked like cheddar cheese.  After taking a bite, we both looked at each other and grimaced.  Was this a solid form of Cheese Whiz? I'm sure not, but what I do know is that I have been spoiled with Grafton cheddar for the past year. Nothing compares. Even my mom insists on waiting for cheddar until I send it home to her. She won't eat any other cheddar but Grafton.

Sundried Tomato and Mushroom Flatbread

Some friends of mine and I decided to go on a brewery tour during Memorial Day weekend. We all know that VT is a great place to go for micro-brews (if you didn't, you do now). We had about three stops to make in Burlington, one being American Flatbread.  Obviously during this tour, I was 'most' interested in the places that served Grafton cheese. What else would I be concerned about?  Well let me tell you - the flatbread here is delish and they serve it with their micro-brew brand Zero Gravity.  The atmosphere is warm and cozy with a large wood-fired oven in the corner of the room and the option to feast out on the patio.  

It's a hot, muggy morning as I walk down Main Street in Brattleboro, VT. Proudly sporting my white tee with a Jersey cow playing a saxophone atop of a wheel of cheese on the back. I'm also carrying a cooler full of water bottles and ice. The streets are quiet, but I'm expecting them to be busy with spectators within minutes. As I peak around the corner of a large  building on Frost street, I see heifers lined up along the fence, tractors, students with band instruments, 'pooper scoopers' dressed up as Fruit of the Loom characters and people doing last minute touches on their float.

Agriculture is an important industry in Vermont and one that keeps our state moving forward. The dairy industry in particular is what creates a favorite place for residents and tourists. Let's not forget the nutritional and delicious local products it provides to the New England states.

June Dairy Month originated in 1937 to celebrate the dairy industry and its many contributions to our society. In fact, the dairy industry alone provided over $493 million in economic activity for the state of Vermont in 2007. 

Grafton Village Cheese recognizes the importance of the dairy industry in the state of Vermont by providing its suppliers (local dairy farms) with a premium towards their milk check during this economic downturn. 

“As a high quality Vermont cheddar cheese producer, we depend upon milk from Vermont dairy farms, and we are very concerned about the viability of our Vermont dairy farmers at a time of extremely low milk prices,” said Adam Mueller, President of Grafton Village Cheese. “Consequently, we are working with our milk suppliers to provide farmers in southern and central Vermont an additional premium for the milk they provide to our Grafton Village Cheese plants in Grafton and Brattleboro.”

If you have the chance to visit with a dairy farmer this month (or any time) please take the time to say 'thank you'.  Without the hard work of  dairy farmers, we would not be able to enjoy the deliciousness of dairy products. What other food product can naturally supply you with nine essential vitamins and minerals? 

Fun Fact:

Did you know one ounce of hard cheese (like Cheddar) contains 8 grams of protein, where an egg contains 6 grams?

Last Thursday, I attended a Farm to School conference at SIT, an International training school here in Brattleboro. It was a phenomenal experience. Not only did I get to network with area teachers and food-service providers, but was  surrounded by people that are passionate about agriculture - just like me.