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Podcast: Iowa State Fair showdown — small, squeaky and delicious • Iowa Capital Dispatch [1]

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Date: 2025-08-14

By Beth Hoffman with the Iowa Food System Coalition

Cheese curds. Goat cheese. Ice cream. Beverages.

At the Iowa State Fair, the Iowa Quality Dairy Products Competition showcases the best dairy products in the state, from small family creameries to large-scale brands that are investing in Iowa.

In this episode, we follow Heather Moore of Moore Family Farms in Maquoketa as she enters her cheese curds in one of the fair’s most competitive categories. We go behind the scenes at Iowa State University for judging day, hear from founder Stephanie Clark on how Iowa’s dairy industry is growing at both ends of the spectrum, and find out what this contest reveals about the future of farming in our state.

Featured voices

— Heather Moore – Dairy farmer and cheesemaker at Moore Family Farms in Maquoketa, Iowa.

— Stephanie Clark – Iowa State University emeritus professor of Food Science and Human Nutrition; founder of the Iowa Quality Dairy Products Competition.

— Danielle Christofferson – Production manager at the Iowa State Creamery and organizer of the dairy competition.

Dairy Competition Winners

Hinterland Dairy Quark – Original Hinterland Dairy Quark – Garlic & Herb Woods, Zach French Onion Dip

Cheese Curds

WW Homestead Dairy – White Cheddar Cheese Curds Hinterland Dairy – Original Curds WW Homestead Dairy – Pizza White Cheddar Cheese Curds

Cow Milk Cheese

Hinterland Dairy – Hoppin’ Jalapeno Cheddar WW Homestead Dairy – Chipotle Morita Hinterland Dairy – Brooks Place Aged Alpine Cheddar

Goat Milk Cheese

Korver, Justin – Cranberry Spice Swirl Smith, Diana – Chevre Smith, Diana – Cheddar

Dairy Beverages

Country View Dairy – Chocolate Whole Milk Woods, Zach – 1% Buttermilk Woods, Zach – 36% Heavy Whipping Cream

Ice Cream/ Gelato

Country View Dairy – Muddy Buddy Frozen Yogurt Korver, Justin – Wildberry Lemonade Korver, Justin – Chocolate

Best of Show

Country View Dairy – Muddy Buddy Frozen Yogurt

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