By Mallory Scyphers
October 6, 2026

Web Exclusive

Louisville, KY & Poligny, France – For the dedicated cheesemonger, the journey of education extends far beyond the confines of a traditional classroom. It unfolds behind the counter, in shared tastings with colleagues, through immersive visits to producers, and within the vibrant discourse of industry conferences. It is a perpetual quest fueled by an insatiable curiosity, prompting a ceaseless series of questions: How was this exceptional cheese crafted? What intricate processes contribute to its distinctive flavor profile? And how deeply does its place of origin—its terroir—shape its very essence?

These invaluable opportunities, however, often come tethered to significant investments of time, travel, and financial resources—barriers that can impede even the most passionate professionals. Recognizing this critical gap, scholarship programs emerge as vital bridges, granting aspiring and established cheese experts access to experiences that profoundly deepen their knowledge. This enhanced expertise, in turn, translates directly to a more informed and engaging experience for consumers, enriching the entire artisan cheese ecosystem.

For over a decade, the Comté Cheese Association (CIGC) has championed this philosophy, making substantial investments in educational initiatives tailored for American cheese professionals. Today, their commitment manifests through two distinct scholarship programs, strategically designed to support mongers at pivotal, yet different, junctures in their careers: the Comté Association Conference Fund and the Comté Scholarship for ACS Certified Cheese Professionals (CCPs). These programs not only elevate individual careers but also serve as cornerstones for cultivating a more knowledgeable and passionate American cheese community.

A Decade of Investment: The Comté Association’s Enduring Vision

The Comté Cheese Association’s long-standing dedication to fostering American cheese expertise underscores a profound understanding of market dynamics and the power of informed advocacy. Jean-Louis Carbonnier, the US representative for the Comté Cheese Association, articulates this vision succinctly: "We strongly believe that the growing number of certified mongers will help grow the interest in fine cheese among a larger public." This belief forms the bedrock of their scholarship initiatives, aiming not only to keep Comté "top of mind" throughout a monger’s professional trajectory but also to build a broader, more robust foundation of general cheese knowledge across the industry.

The CIGC’s strategy is multifaceted. By investing in education, they ensure that the story of Comté—a cheese steeped in centuries of tradition and a unique cooperative production system—is told accurately and passionately by those on the front lines: the cheesemongers. These professionals are the direct link to consumers, capable of transforming a simple transaction into an educational and sensory experience. The scholarships, therefore, are not merely financial aid; they are strategic investments in human capital, designed to cultivate ambassadors for fine cheese, and particularly for Comté, across the United States.

Nurturing Aspiring Experts: The Comté Association Conference Fund

The path to becoming an American Cheese Society Certified Cheese Professional (ACS CCP) is rigorous and demanding, requiring extensive self-study, practical experience, and a deep understanding of cheese science, history, production, and retail. The ACS CCP credential is the industry’s benchmark for comprehensive cheese knowledge, signifying a professional’s commitment to excellence and their ability to guide consumers with unparalleled expertise. However, the costs associated with pursuing this certification—including study materials, exam fees, and especially attendance at the annual ACS Conference, which offers critical networking and educational opportunities—can be prohibitive for many.

Established in 2019 and expertly administered through the American Cheese Education Foundation (ACEF), the Comté Association Conference Fund was specifically created to dismantle these financial barriers. It is open to applicants who have been accepted to take that year’s CCP exam and wish to attend the American Cheese Society Conference. Financial need is a primary consideration, ensuring the scholarship reaches those for whom it can make the most significant difference. For one deserving recipient each year, the scholarship covers a comprehensive suite of expenses: conference registration, hotel and travel costs, an individual ACS membership, and the all-important CCP exam fee. This holistic support allows recipients to fully immerse themselves in the certification process and the wider cheese community without the burden of financial strain.

Zaski Blazek: A Journey of Self-Discovery and Community

At the highly anticipated 2026 American Cheese Society Conference held in Louisville, Kentucky, Zaski Blazek, a dedicated cheesemonger with Minnesota-based Lunds & Byerlys, was proudly announced as this year’s Comté Association Conference Fund recipient. Blazek’s journey toward certification had been a two-year endeavor of intensive study, culminating in sitting for the challenging CCP exam earlier that summer.

The aspiration for the CCP credential had been a guiding star for Blazek almost from the very inception of their cheese career. As an apprentice, they were fortunate to work under a CCP-certified mentor whose infectious enthusiasm for the industry opened Blazek’s eyes to a professional community they had never before encountered. This initial exposure ignited a passion that would profoundly shape their trajectory.

"The next three years I immersed myself in cheese, and I could feel my confidence and love for it growing the more I studied, the more events I showed up to and the more people I met," Blazek recounts. By the time the exam approached, the meaning of earning the credential had subtly yet significantly shifted. "Getting the title no longer felt like a condition for acceptance, but rather like a celebration that I’d made it that far on my own." It became a testament to personal growth and dedication.

The impact of the scholarship on Blazek’s experience was profound. "When I found out I’d gotten the scholarship, I didn’t know what to do with myself," they express with palpable relief. "Everything was covered, I could attend the conference in person, and I could take the exam on time." This financial liberation allowed Blazek to fully engage with the conference, transforming it from a logistical challenge into an unparalleled opportunity for learning and connection.

Once in Louisville, Blazek seized the opportunity to connect with cheesemakers and mongers from every corner of the country. They attended a wide array of educational sessions, soaking in new knowledge and perspectives, and finally experienced the vibrant, larger cheese community they had diligently worked for years to join. These encounters, rich with shared passion and expertise, now resonate back at their cheese counter.

"These moments I carry with me when I approach my counter every morning," Blazek affirms. "They keep me excited about the products in my case and the people behind them." The ripple effect is clear: customers, Blazek notes, sometimes express surprise, remarking that they "weren’t expecting to learn something" when a casual conversation about a cheese evolves into an impromptu lesson on the nuances of salt crystallization, the intriguing presence of tyrosine crystals, or the intricate formation of a bloomy rind’s creamline. Blazek’s enhanced confidence and knowledge, directly supported by the Comté Association, elevates the customer experience, fostering greater appreciation for artisan cheese.

Experiencing the Source: The Comté Scholarship for ACS CCPs

While the Conference Fund equips budding professionals with foundational knowledge and community access, the Comté Scholarship for ACS CCPs targets an even deeper level of engagement. Created more than 13 years ago, this prestigious scholarship is exclusively open to cheese professionals who have already achieved their ACS CCP certification, signifying a proven mastery of cheese knowledge. Unlike the Conference Fund, this opportunity takes the form of an essay contest held each fall, inviting CCPs to demonstrate their advanced understanding and profound enthusiasm for Comté. The ultimate prize: an all-expenses-paid trip to France’s historic Jura region, the sole birthplace of Comté, along with a $750 stipend to further enrich the experience.

There is a deliberate, longer "runway" between winning this scholarship and embarking on the journey. This allows for meticulous planning and ensures the recipient can fully prepare for such an immersive experience. Michael Oliver, who was named the 2025 scholarship recipient this past January, recently completed his transformative trip to the Jura in September, traveling alongside the Comté Association’s media group. During his visit, Oliver was granted unparalleled access to experience the region’s deeply interconnected and harmonious system of dairy farms, artisanal village fruitières (cooperative cheesemaking dairies), and the revered aging cellars, such as the legendary Fort de Saint-Antoine—Cave d’affinage Fromageries Marcel Petite.

Michael Oliver: The Feeling of Terroir

For Oliver, the profound distinction between merely knowing about a place and actually experiencing it firsthand is central to the unparalleled value of this scholarship. "You can learn a lot about a cheese from behind the counter, but you can’t learn what a place feels like until you stand in it," he emphasizes. His sentiment encapsulates the very essence of terroir—the idea that the unique characteristics of a place, its climate, soil, and human traditions, are inextricably linked to the products it yields.

"I can study the landscape, the fruitières, the affineurs and the traditions behind Comté, but that’s different from walking through the cellars, meeting the people and seeing how the cheese fits into everyday life in the Jura," Oliver elaborates. This direct immersion offers a sensory and cultural education that no textbook or tasting note can replicate. From observing Montbéliarde cows, the only breed permitted for Comté milk, grazing on diverse Jura pastures, to witnessing the precise craft of a cheesemaker gauging curd texture at a fruitière, to exploring the vast, cathedral-like aging caves where wheels mature for months or even years, every detail contributes to a holistic understanding.

The next scholarship competition is currently open, with aspiring 2026 recipients invited to submit their essays. The winner is expected to be announced in early 2027, continuing the tradition of sending America’s top cheese professionals to the heart of Comté production.

Carbonnier highlights the broader significance of the trip: "The trip to the Jura is an opportunity to show what a PDO represents by connecting Comté to its human, geographical, historical, social and economic context." A Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) is a European Union certification that legally protects the name of products that are produced, processed, and prepared in a given geographical area using recognized know-how. For Comté, this means strict regulations governing everything from cow breed and feed to cheesemaking techniques and aging conditions, all within the designated Jura region.

This intricate context, particularly the deeply cooperative nature of Comté’s production system, can be challenging to fully grasp from thousands of miles away. The Comté PDO links approximately 14,000 jobs and supports 2,400 farms within this largely mountainous region of France. Farmers deliver their milk daily to local fruitières, where cheesemakers transform it into large wheels. These wheels are then sent to affineurs who meticulously age them in specialized cellars, sometimes for years. This tightly knit collaboration, with shared rules and responsibilities among farmers, cheesemakers, and affineurs, ensures the consistent quality and distinctive character of Comté.

For visitors, Carbonnier notes, the degree of integration and thoughtful design within this ecosystem can be quite surprising. "Everything is very integrated and thought through to ensure that the Comté ecosystem works in the best interest of all involved," he explains. It is a model of sustainable agriculture and community enterprise.

Oliver expresses particular interest in the less tangible, yet profoundly impactful, pieces of this ecosystem: "the smells, the sounds, a conversation with someone, the way a place feels in a certain moment." These nuanced details, he believes, are what empower a cheesemonger to transcend mere information and weave it into a compelling, authentic story.

"When I come home, I’ll be able to share Comté from a much more personal place, with real people, places and memories behind the story," Oliver says. His goal extends beyond factual recitation. "If I can make someone a little more curious, a little more adventurous, or just make them stop for a second and really feel something when they taste it, that means a lot to me." This transformation of information into feeling is the ultimate goal of the Jura scholarship.

The Broader Implications: A Ripple Effect for Artisan Cheese

The sustained investment by the Comté Cheese Association in these educational scholarships yields a powerful ripple effect that extends far beyond the individual recipients. One scholarship removes the significant financial barriers for an aspiring professional to achieve industry certification, while the other elevates the education of an established expert, transporting them directly into the heart of the agricultural and artisanal system they have spent years studying. Both, ultimately, serve to enrich the American cheese landscape.

Past recipients have demonstrated remarkable initiative in extending these opportunities to their local communities. Last year’s Conference Fund recipient, Lissa Knudsen, for example, organized public screenings of the acclaimed French film Holy Cow in New Mexico, thoughtfully accompanied by samples of Comté. This creative approach allowed her to share her newfound knowledge and passion, connecting cinematic storytelling with sensory experience for a broader audience. Similarly, Jura scholarship recipients have returned to organize engaging tastings, lead workshops, and share their profound firsthand experiences with customers and colleagues, translating their "feeling" of the Jura into vivid narratives across the cheese counter.

"For us, the scholarships are also a way to feed the enthusiasm, expertise and passion of the mongers," Carbonnier reiterates. "We hope they share their greater understanding and knowledge of Comté and PDOs with their customers, colleagues, and their community." This multiplication of knowledge and passion is crucial for expanding the American market for artisan cheese, fostering a more discerning consumer base, and ensuring that the intricate stories behind these products are not lost.

For Zaski Blazek, the Conference Fund has already delivered precisely this outcome. The experience in Louisville provided not only access to the crucial exam and conference but also a treasure trove of stories, invaluable relationships, and deep knowledge that now effortlessly surfaces in everyday conversations across the cheese counter. Blazek’s enhanced ability to educate and inspire customers directly contributes to the CIGC’s mission of growing interest in fine cheese.

And for Michael Oliver, that profound process of transforming knowledge into palpable "feeling" is just beginning on the other side of the Atlantic. "What I’m most hoping to bring home isn’t just more knowledge," he concludes, reflecting on his recent journey. "I want to bring home a feeling." This sentiment encapsulates the true value of these scholarships: they don’t just teach facts; they forge connections, inspire passion, and cultivate a deeper, more empathetic understanding of the world of cheese. By investing in these human connections, the Comté Cheese Association is not only securing the future of their own esteemed product but also enriching the entire tapestry of American artisan cheese culture.