GREENSBORO, Vt. (WCAX) – Jasper Hill Farm brought its Curds and Curling tournament back to the Highland Center for the Arts for the fourth year, using actual cheese wheels as curling stones.
The farm transforms its “seconds” wheels — wheels that have been sampled for quality testing and cannot be sold to the public — into curling stones for the event.
“We take samples, moisture samples, different kinds of samples out of them — so we can’t sell them to the public, and one of our maintenance guys made some curling wheels out of them,” said Jeremy Pray, a cheesemaker at Jasper Hill Farm.
The event takes forty days to prepare, with the farm setting aside one cheese wheel per day leading up to the tournament.
“A curling stone is called a cheese, so we figured why not make a real cheese,” said Mateo Kehler, owner of Jasper Hill Farm.
Kehler said one wheel from each batch is set aside specifically for the event. “We sacrifice one wheel from each batch so these are wheels that have been sacrificed for the greater good of mass fun,” he said.
The tournament drew local teams as well as participants from outside the region. Teams signed up on the spot for a chance to win bragging rights and the Golden Cheese Trophy.
“We’re surrounded by our friends from the community of Greensboro, Hardwick, Glover and I’ve run into people who have driven up from Boston and all different parts of New Hampshire,” Kehler said.
Participants said the appeal of the event goes beyond competition.
“Just getting outside in the wintertime — I think it’s key to enjoy the weather and enjoy the snow,” said James Robinson.
“Enjoy the Kingdom up here,” said Gregory Smit.
Organizers said the yearly event has become a way to break up the long winter months and give people a reason to gather outside.
“Cheese is a powerful force for good and I think you can see what’s happening right around us,” Kehler said.
