Cheesesletes community, let's do this again! We are thrilled to be back where it all started for us during the American Cheese Society conference in Des Moines, IA.

We will be raising money during this 5k for our own grant called “Back in the Vat”. This grant allows applicants to apply for grant money (up to $2,000) to participate in an all-expenses paid in-person educational experience. We have a list of partners to choose from with opportunities to bring partners to us that we may not be aware of like local creameries etc. Experiences like Jasper Hill Cheese Camp, interning at Uplands, learning from Antonelli’s Cheese - the list of potential opportunities goes on and too often the barrier for many to attend is money.

We are hoping to fulfill our mission at The Cheeseletes to continue the legacy of the cheese legends that build our cheese industry by empowering young cheese professionals looking to further their education and experience in the cheese world. Our seventh annual 5k will donate 75% of monies towards this grant and the remaining 25% towards the American Cheese Education Foundation as part of our partnering with them during the conference.

When you sign up for our race on July 21st, 2023 you will do a 5k run, walk, skip, jump, rollerblade, bike, whatever you choose, right outside your front door or in person with us in Des Moines. Last year, we were able to raise $6,000. And with your help this year, we can raise even more to support our mission.

Registration is $25 (early bird before June 1st) -$35 (after June 1st)! Sign up or donate to a registrant, let's all chip in and get our community the support it needs.

Cheesesletes community, let's do this again! We are thrilled to be back in person during the American Cheese Society conference in Portland, OR. But what we have learned in the last two years is that you don’t have to be with us to be “with us” which is why we are including an option to participate virtually.

We will be raising money during this 5k for our own grant called “Back in the Vat” launching in 2023. This grant will allow applicants to apply for grant money (up to $2,000) to participate in an all-expenses paid in-person educational experience. We will have a list of partners to choose from with opportunities to bring partners to us that we may not be aware of like local creameries etc. Experiences like in-person Counter Culture, Cheesemonger Invitational, Jasper Hill Cheese Camp, interning at Rogue or Uplands, the list of potential opportunities goes on and too often the barrier for many to attend is money.

We are hoping to fulfill our mission at The Cheeseletes to continue the legacy of the cheese legends that build our cheese industry by empowering young cheese professionals looking to further their education and experience in the cheese world. Our seventh annual 5k will donate 75% of monies towards this grant and the remaining 25% towards the American Cheese Education Foundation as part of our partnering with them during the conference.

When you sign up for our race on July 20th, 2022 you will do a 5k run, walk, skip, jump, rollerblade, bike, whatever you choose, right outside your front door or in person with us in Portland. Last year, we were able to raise $8,000 for Ben’s Friends and Restaurant After Hours. We know that with the help of you, we’re more than capable of raising that same amount this year.

Registration is $25-35! Sign up or donate to a registrant, let's all chip in and get our community the support it needs.

Get your ticket here.

The Daphne Zepos Teaching Endowment was founded in July 2012 by the Daphne herself who wrote a vision that would carry her legacy beyond her death. The original goal was to fund the Daphne Zepos Teaching Award, an annual scholarship to grow a squad of cheese professionals who teach about the history, culture, and techniques in making, aging, and selling cheese. Ten years later, we now award two annual scholarships that allow American cheese professionals to choose their field of cheese study and use funds to research and present their findings with the support of the organization to spread the education globally.

On July 20, 2022 in Portland, OR we will celebrate our ten-year anniversary and our 10th award recipient. We would be honored to have you join us and past recipients of our awards to celebrate all that we have accomplished, where we are going and the woman who started it all. Daphne unfortunately passed away from lung cancer three weeks before the endowment was launched at the American Cheese Society Conference in Raleigh, NC. We will proudly celebrate her legacy during the American Cheese Society Conference in Portland, OR surrounded by cheese, beverages and people passionate about cheese.

Even if you are not in the cheese industry, this will be an event not to miss! Hosted at Upright Brewing, we will have an assortment of local beers, wines, kombucha and non-alcholic beverages available as well as flowing raclette from Jumi Cheese.

Ticket purchases include admission unlimited raclette. Additional donations are accepted to help fund our scholarships in perpetuity.

Join us Monday, March 14, 2022 at 8pm EST. A ticketed virtual event where Matt Benham, recipient of the 2020 Daphne Zepos Teaching Award, he presents his findings from his research of practices used in France, Spain, and Italy about agricultural practices impact on flavor of milk and the ecological consequences. Learn about how Matt has navigated his research while stateside during travel restrictions and his hopes to explore the true essence of terroir once he visits these countries in person. During this live virtual event, you will be able to ask questions directly to Matt and engage in a stimulated conversation about the future of "harvesting" flavor from the land our animals graze.

Watch the full presentation here.

Join 2019 DZTA recipient Ann Campbell on Monday, September 28 at 8 pm ET to discuss extra-European cheeses, expanding the Mediterranean, and decolonizing cheese. Learn about Ann’s travels to explore white-brined cheeses of the Near East and North Africa, her research into the agricultural history of the Mediterranean, and the Arab influence of European foodways. Collaborate and engage remotely with your extended cheese community through activities to broaden our collective image of cheese as a global food, and discuss how you can make an impact in your own work.

Watch the full presentation here.

Fifth annual 5k at the American Cheese Society conference in Richmond, VA that raised $6,000 for the American Cheese Education Foundation and Southern Cheese Guild.

Join us to celebrate Southern Cheesemakers!! Raise your glass with us on Thursday, August 1 at Blue Bee Cider in Richmond.

You will be able to sample delicious cheeses and help us celebrate the winner of The Daphne Zepos Teaching Award.

Third annual 5k at the American Cheese Society conference in Pittsburgh, PA that raised $6,000 for the American Cheese Education Foundation and Pennsylvania Cheese Guild.

Second annual 5k at the American Cheese Society conference in Denver, CO that raised $4,000 for the American Cheese Education Foundation and Daphne Zepos Teaching Award.