Yellowstone Cheese

Wisconsin’s newest farmstead cheese plant and retail store recently opened its doors to a resounding welcome from the Cadott area.

Jeremy and Heidi Kenealy have dairied since 1994 and currently milk 70 cows. Milk from their own herd goes into a variety of 25 cheeses, available for sale exclusively at their on-farm store at 24105 County Hwy MM near Cadott.

“As young farmers, we searched for options to control the milk price and this seemed like the best opportunity,” Heidi told me this week. “We love farming and didn’t want to do the same old up and down cycle anymore. This provides some income continuity.”

The Kenealys have two young children: Brad, 8 and Brooke, 7. The whole family is involved in the operation, as the retail store is open seven days a week, Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Cheesemaker Dave Anderson crafts cheese at the Kenealy’s farmstead cheese plant three or four days a week. He makes dozens of flavored Colby and Jack cheeses, with favorites thus far says. It includes chocolate, caramel and walnuts.being salsa and salami varieties.

A signature cheese, Yellowstone Crunch, “tastes like a candy bar but is made of cheese,” Heidi says. It includes chocolate, caramel and walnuts. Sounds interesting ….

Yellowstone Cheese on-farm store also sells a variety of Wisconsin-made products including local maple syrup, wine, beer, ice cream, packaged goods and breads. Visitors can watch cheese being made from the retail store through a large viewing window, and can even watch cows grazing nearby during warmer months.