Yankee Magazine is a proud sponsor of the annual Vermont Cheesemakers Festival, which takes place each year on the beautiful grounds of Shelburne Farms in Shelburne, Vermont. Each year, a team of lucky Yankee staffers make their way to Vermont to rub elbows with our fellow cheese-lovers, celebrate the delicious bounty of the many local culinary offerings, and lead a culinary demo celebrating the liberal use of (what else?) Vermont cheese.
The Vermont Cheesemakers Festival | Sunday, July 16, 2017 Photo Credit : Courtesy of the Vermont Cheesemakers Festival
Here’s how they organizers describe the event:
“Vermont is the premium artisanal cheese state with the highest number of cheesemakers per capita: over 40 of them! We invite you to experience our passion for making fine cheeses, taste local and fresh foods and wines, and meet the artisans who make them. Spend a high summer day along the shores of Lake Champlain at the historic Shelburne Farms Coach Barn sampling, buying, learning, and networking. Come and celebrate the season.”
For the 2015 festival, we brought along video intern Theresa Shea to capture the day’s events. Here’s what she had to say about the experience:
Shelburne Farms is tucked away not far from Burlington, VT. Before driving through the gates, I had no idea what to expect, but it certainly wasn’t this. With its wide-open fields, incredible views, and dazzling lakeside inn, there’s no better place to spend a weekend tasting cheeses and sipping wine. Under the billowing white tents on the shores of Lake Champlain, hundreds of cheese lovers gathered to share products and knowledge. While any cheese your heart desired could be found by meandering from vendor to vendor, there were also many other treats and delicacies to be had. And of course, if a moment was needed to digest the excessive samples one can consume during a 6-hour festival, sitting by the lakeside, attending a demonstration, or petting farm animals was a welcome distraction.
The 9th annual Vermont Cheesemakers Festival takes place on Sunday, July 16, 2017. We’ll see you there!
Still not convinced? Here are a few more images from years past to enjoy.
SCENES FROM THE VERMONT CHEESEMAKERS FESTIVAL
Looking down toward the festivities at the annual Vermont Cheesemakers Festival in Shelburne, Vermont. Photo Credit : Theresa SheaFruity offerings from Blake Hill Preserves in Grafton, Vermont. Photo Credit : Theresa SheaTasty goat’s milk caramel sauce from Fat Toad Farm in Brookfield, Vermont. Photo Credit : Theresa SheaGrafton Village Cheese from Grafton, Vermont. Photo Credit : Theresa SheaSampling the Legacy Collection cheeses from Cabot Creamery in Cabot, Vermont. Photo Credit : Theresa SheaEveryone found themselves wandering closer to Lake Champlain as the temperature rose. Photo Credit : Theresa SheaNobody leaves the Vermont Cheesemakers Festival hungry! Photo Credit : Theresa SheaInside the tents, local cheesemakers display samples of their tastiest varieties. It’s best to bring a padded cooler so you can stock up on cheese and keep them cool throughout the day. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerSweet samples from Vermont favorite King Arthur Flour. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerBeautiful, beautiful cheeses! Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerPart of Yankee’s involvement in the annual event includes a culinary demonstration. Here, Senior Food Editor Amy Traverso reviews the recipes featured alongside author (and cheesemaker) Alison Shaw of Vermont Creamery. Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
Learn more about the Vermont Cheesemakers Festival.
Theresa Shea
Born and raised in Southern New Hampshire, Theresa is a recent graduate with a B.A. in film production. As Yankee’s Video Editor, Theresa creates original video content for yankeemagazine.com and contributes to the magazine’s digital endeavors. She’s an avid reader, science fiction fanatic, and board game enthusiast.
