When I began exploring ideas for this “Hidden Gem” feature several thoughts were running through my head, until a post from Dairy State Cheese in Rudolph appeared in my Facebook feed for the inaugural Cheeseball 500.
OK, you officially have my attention.
“The ultimate local cheese and meat road trip” the post proclaimed. You don’t get more Wisconsin than that, especially when you are looking to highlight summer day trip adventures across central Wisconsin.
I had to learn more.
What is The Cheeseball 500?
Javin Krenn is the new sales and marketing specialist for United Process Piping in Marshfield, a small local business that provides custom stainless steel fabrication services with a focus on sanitary tanks, vessels and process piping for food, beverage, dairy and pharmaceutical applications, according to its website.
The company was founded in 2023 by his brother-in-law, Blade Begert, and employs about 12 people, Krenn said.
“I recently started at United Process Piping, and I love doing community-based events,” Krenn said. “I started thinking of something like a poker run, but everyone does those. And I was like, how about a cheese run with cheese factories and meat plants?”
And that is where the idea for the inaugural Cheeseball 500 was born.
Krenn said when he approached many of the businesses to present the idea, one of the first questions he was asked was, “Why hasn’t anyone done this before?”
He hopes the challenge will help to build recognition of and the social media followings for both United Process Piping and for the participating cheese and meat retailers, which are all based within about a one-hour drive of Marshfield.
“We have some local favorites in there and some other stops that aren’t as well-known throughout the community,” Krenn said of the Cheeseball 500 participants, which makes it a perfect fit for the “Hidden Gems” series my fellow USA TODAY NETWORK reporters in central Wisconsin and I are writing this summer.
How The Cheeseball 500 passport challenge works?
The Cheeseball 500 runs from Aug. 1 through Aug. 31. Passport cards will be available at each of the 20 participating location starting Aug. 1. Visit participating Cheeseball 500 locations, make a purchase and receive an official stamp on your passport card.
Prizes will be awarded based on the number of passport stamps you earn during the challenge. Those who visit 10 to 14 retailers will be in a drawing for a $50 gift card; if you visit 15 to 19 businesses you will be eligible for a $100 gift card; and those who visit all 20 business will be eligible for the top prize of $200.
Completed passport cards must be turned in by Sept. 1 to be eligible for prize drawings. Passports can be turned in at United Process Piping, 1806 E. Fourth St. in Marshfield, or at any participating Cheeseball 500 location. Winners will be selected at random and announced on Sept. 7.
Bonus giveaways will also be held throughout the month of August, including gift cards and gift baskets provided by the participating retailers. You will need to be following both United Process Piping and the participating businesses on Facebook to be eligible for the bonus giveaways.
Which local retailers are participating in The Cheeseball 500?
The 20 participating locations include:
Make it a day trip adventure!
There are many ways you can tackle The Cheeseball 500 challenge. A map highlights the location of each cheese and meat retailer, with locations in the Marshfield, Wisconsin Rapids, Stevens Point and Wausau areas. Hit them all up in one long adventure. Break them up by region over several days. Or, turn some of them into their own day trips.
(Please make sure you check the hours of each business when planning your passport adventure.)
If you are completing the challenge with children, Feltz’s Dairy Store, 5796 Porter Drive in Stevens Point, offers an array of items in its retail store − from local cheeses and cheese curds to a variety of candies, coffees, soaps and more. They also offer hand-battered deep-fried cheese curds, scoop ice cream, root beer floats, a variety of tasty treats, coffee and more behind the counter.
And when you are done shopping, head over to Feltz’s Fun Farm with the kiddos. Their new big red barn features nine slides, they have a new zipline this year, several animals in a petting zoo, a sand box, an inflatable jumping pillow, swings and a variety of other playground equipment.
The cost is $7 for children 3 years and older for a day pass and free for parents and children 2 and younger. Season passes also are available.
Another Cheeseball 500 participant, Weber’s Farm Store, 9706 County Road H in Marshfield, also would make a fun trip with the kids. Stop in the retail store where they sell local meats and cheeses, breads and other locally-sourced items, grab an ice cream treat, bring a picnic lunch and then spend some time in the playground area in front of the store.
Amanda Heiman, retail store manager, said visitors also are welcome to request a tour of the working dairy.
Supporting local, buying local
Heiman said the whole legacy of her family’s sixth generation dairy farm is based on supporting local and buying local, so participating in The Cheeseball 500 was an easy decision.
“”We love to be involved,” she said. “We love to support regional; we love to support agriculture.”
And the brand recognition that comes with a passport challenge also benefits their business.
Jake Feltz, owner of Feltz’s Dairy Store, said participating in The Cheeseball 500 was a “no-brainer” for their business.
“All the passports are a big thing,” he said. “And it’s the perfect time of year for meat and Wisconsin cheese.”
Krenn said he hopes to make The Cheeseball 500 an annual event and he hopes to expand it in the future, as well.
“I love supporting the community and helping smaller family-owned businesses grow,” he said. “I really just want a fun annual event for families to get out and explore.”
Share your favorite ‘hidden gems’ in central Wisconsin
What are your favorite “hidden gems” in central Wisconsin? Share them with us! We’ll be highlighting some of the lesser-known places to visit and activities to participate in across central Wisconsin this summer. Think of it as your guide to summer day trips as gas prices remain high and the kids are out of school. Suggestions should be within about a 45-mile drive of central Wisconsin communities like Wausau, Marshfield, Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids. Places and activities must be family friendly, and we are also looking for places that are cost-conscious. If you know the perfect spot, let us know. You can email me at jrokus@usatodayco.com.
Editor Jamie Rokus can be reached at jrokus@usatodayco.com or follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @Jamie_Rokus.
This article originally appeared on Marshfield News-Herald: Inaugural Cheeseball 500 offers tasty tour through Central Wisconsin
Reporting by Jamie Rokus, Marshfield News-Herald / Marshfield News-Herald
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jamie Rokus, Marshfield News-Herald | USA TODAY Network
