The entry deadline for the World Championship Cheese Contest is Jan. 31. The contest’s host organization, the Madison, Wis.-based Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA), noted that entries can be submitted online at WorldChampionCheese.org.

“With new competitors and new categories, the 2020 World Championship Cheese Contest promises to be bigger and better than ever,” said Kirsten Strohmenger, events manager for WMCA.

The World Championship Cheese Contest is set for March 3-5, 2020, at Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison, Wis. An internationally renowned team of judges will evaluate 132 classes of dairy products, including thousands of cheese, butter, yogurt and dry dairy foods entries, WCMA said.

In 2018, the contest featured a record-setting 3,402 entries from 26 countries, with a hard sheep's milk cheese called Esquirrou made in France at Mauleon Fromagerie and imported by Savencia Cheese USA taking top honors.

On March 5, a new world champion will be named at Cheese Champion, the Contest’s signature public event. This evening reception, also at Monona Terrace, will feature a tasting of more than 75 contest cheeses, local specialty foods and craft beer samples, WCMA said. Attendees also will have the unique opportunity to learn the intricacies of cheese evaluation from contest judges.

A limited number of Cheese Champion tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis, WCMA said. Tickets cost $30 per person and are on sale now at WorldChampionCheese.org.