By Mallory Scyphers | October 6, 2026 | Web Exclusive

Bridging the Knowledge Gap: Comté’s Enduring Commitment to American Cheese Education

Main Facts

For over a decade, the Comté Cheese Association (CIGC) has championed the professional development of American cheesemongers, recognizing that true expertise extends far beyond the confines of a textbook. This commitment manifests through two pivotal scholarship programs: the Comté Association Conference Fund and the Comté Scholarship for American Cheese Society Certified Cheese Professionals (ACS CCPs). These initiatives strategically support professionals at distinct stages of their careers, from those striving for foundational certification to seasoned experts seeking an immersive, origin-of-product experience.

This year, the Comté Association proudly announced Zaski Blazek, a dedicated cheesemonger with Minnesota-based Lunds & Byerlys, as the recipient of the Comté Association Conference Fund. Blazek’s scholarship facilitated their attendance at the prestigious 2026 American Cheese Society Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, where they also successfully sat for the rigorous Certified Cheese Professional (CCP) exam. Meanwhile, Michael Oliver, the 2025 Comté Scholarship for ACS CCPs winner, recently embarked on his transformative journey to France’s Jura region in September 2026, gaining an unparalleled firsthand understanding of Comté production.

These scholarships are more than just financial aid; they are strategic investments in the intellectual capital of the American artisan cheese market. By empowering cheesemongers with deeper knowledge, broader networks, and richer personal narratives, the CIGC aims to cultivate a more discerning public and elevate the appreciation for fine cheeses, particularly Comté, across the United States.

The Cornerstone of Cheese Education: Beyond the Counter

The journey of a cheesemonger is one of continuous discovery, a dynamic interplay of sensory exploration, scientific inquiry, and cultural immersion. Unlike many professions, education in the world of cheese rarely concludes in a traditional classroom setting. It flourishes behind the counter, where daily interactions with customers spark curiosity; it deepens through collaborative tastings with colleagues, dissecting flavor profiles and textural nuances; and it expands exponentially through visits to producers, attendance at industry conferences, and an insatiable appetite for knowledge.

Cheesemongers are perpetually asking a seemingly endless series of questions: How was this cheese made, from the pasture to the plate? What intricate biological and chemical processes contribute to its unique flavor and aroma? What role does its specific place of origin – its terroir, its traditions, its people – play in defining its character?

However, pursuing these invaluable educational opportunities often comes with significant hurdles. Time away from work, the considerable expense of travel, conference fees, and specialized training can be prohibitive for many aspiring and established professionals. This is precisely where scholarships become indispensable. They serve as critical bridges, closing the financial and logistical gaps that might otherwise prevent talented individuals from accessing experiences that profoundly deepen their expertise. Ultimately, this enhanced knowledge is not hoarded; it is generously shared, enriching the interactions and understanding passed along to customers, elevating the entire consumer experience.

Nurturing Aspiring Experts: The Comté Association Conference Fund

The Comté Cheese Association has long understood the symbiotic relationship between informed cheesemongers and a thriving market for artisan cheese. For over a decade, their educational programs have been designed to foster this growth. The Comté Association Conference Fund, established in 2019 and administered through the American Cheese Education Foundation, is a prime example of this foresight, specifically targeting professionals on the cusp of earning their American Cheese Society Certified Cheese Professional (ACS CCP) credential.

Zaski Blazek’s Journey to Certification

Zaski Blazek’s path to becoming a CCP has been marked by dedication and a burgeoning passion for cheese. A cheesemonger with Lunds & Byerlys in Minnesota, Blazek had been diligently studying for the CCP exam for two years before taking it in the summer of 2026. The credential, a benchmark of excellence in the American cheese industry, had been a clear goal almost since the inception of their cheese career.

Blazek recalls being deeply influenced by a CCP-certified mentor during their apprenticeship. This mentor’s palpable enthusiasm for the industry opened Blazek’s eyes to a vibrant professional community they hadn’t previously encountered. "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 reflects. By the time the exam approached, the meaning of earning the credential had evolved. "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."

Overcoming Financial Barriers and Embracing Opportunity

The Comté Association Conference Fund is meticulously designed to remove many of the financial obstacles associated with pursuing CCP certification and attending the industry’s premier event. It is open to applicants who have been accepted to take that year’s CCP exam and wish to attend the ACS Conference, with financial need being a primary consideration. For the single annual recipient, the scholarship is comprehensive, covering conference registration, hotel accommodation, travel expenses, an individual ACS membership, and the all-important CCP exam fee.

For Zaski Blazek, this financial support was transformative. It wasn’t just about covering costs; it was about enabling full participation. "When I found out I’d gotten the scholarship, I didn’t know what to do with myself," they recount, the relief still evident. "Everything was covered, I could attend the conference in person, and I could take the exam on time." This comprehensive support meant Blazek could focus entirely on absorbing knowledge and connecting with peers, rather than being burdened by logistical worries.

The Conference Experience and Its Ripple Effect

Once in Louisville, Kentucky, for the 2026 American Cheese Society Conference, Blazek was able to fully immerse themselves in the vibrant heart of the American cheese community. The conference provided an unparalleled platform to meet and network with cheesemakers, affineurs, and mongers from across the country. They attended a diverse array of educational sessions, delving into topics ranging from advanced affinage techniques to the nuances of regional American cheeses and innovative pairing strategies. This experience allowed Blazek to finally engage with the larger cheese community they had spent years working towards joining.

These encounters and newly acquired insights are not abstract; they actively inform Blazek’s daily work behind the counter. "These moments I carry with me when I approach my counter every morning," Blazek says. "They keep me excited about the products in my case and the people behind them." The enthusiasm is contagious. Customers, Blazek notes, sometimes express surprise, remarking that they "weren’t expecting to learn something" when a simple conversation about a cheese evolves into a fascinating lesson on the role of salt in cheese development, the crystallization of tyrosine, or the intricate formation of a bloomy rind’s luscious creamline. This direct transfer of knowledge from conference floor to retail counter is a testament to the scholarship’s profound impact.

Deepening Expertise: The Comté Scholarship for ACS CCPs

While the Conference Fund nurtures emerging talent, the Comté Scholarship for ACS CCPs is designed to propel already certified professionals to an even higher echelon of understanding, offering an unparalleled journey to the very heart of Comté production in France.

The Call to the Jura

Created more than 13 years ago, this scholarship is open exclusively to cheese professionals who have already earned their coveted ACS CCP certification. Unlike the Conference Fund, which is application-based, the Comté Scholarship for ACS CCPs takes the form of an essay contest held each fall. CCPs are invited to demonstrate their profound knowledge, articulate their passion, and express their unique enthusiasm for Comté through compelling written submissions. The ultimate prize for the winner is an all-expenses-paid trip to France’s picturesque Jura region, the sole birthplace of Comté, along with a generous $750 stipend for personal expenses.

There is a deliberate "longer runway" between winning and embarking on the journey, allowing for meticulous planning and anticipation. Michael Oliver, who was named the 2025 scholarship recipient in January 2026, realized his dream trip to the Jura in September 2026. Traveling with the Comté Association’s media group, Oliver had the extraordinary opportunity to immerse himself in the region’s deeply interconnected system of dairy farms, artisanal village fruitières (cooperative dairies), and the revered aging cellars, experiencing Comté production firsthand from its very origins.

Experiencing Comté at its Source: A Holistic Understanding

For Oliver, this distinction between intellectual knowledge and lived experience is central to the opportunity. "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 asserts. "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."

His journey allowed him to witness every stage of Comté’s meticulous production. He observed the iconic Montbéliarde cows grazing in the verdant pastures, understanding the strict PDO regulations that mandate their diet and welfare. He was present during the twice-daily milking, even witnessing the traditional "first squirt" drawn by hand. At the fruitières, he observed cheesemakers like master artisan gauging the texture and firmness of the curd, patiently waiting until it felt "like grains of rice" before hooping. And in the cool, cavernous depths of aging cellars, such as the historic Fort de Saint-Antoine—Cave d’affinage Fromageries Marcel Petite, he walked amidst towering stacks of Comté wheels, inhaling the rich, earthy aromas and witnessing the affineurs’ dedicated craft.

Jean-Louis Carbonnier, the US representative for the Comté Cheese Association, underscores the profound significance of this journey. "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." This context, he explains, is incredibly difficult to fully grasp from thousands of miles away, on the other side of an American cheese counter. Comté’s production system is a remarkable testament to cooperation, seamlessly connecting farmers, cheesemakers, and affineurs through a shared set of stringent rules and responsibilities defined by its Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). This intricate ecosystem, Carbonnier highlights, is not merely about cheese; it supports approximately 14,000 jobs and sustains 2,400 farms within a largely mountainous region of France, demonstrating a powerful model of rural economic vitality.

For visitors, the sheer degree of collaboration and integration within the Comté industry is often surprising. "Everything is very integrated and thought through to ensure that the Comté ecosystem works in the best interest of all involved," Carbonnier adds, emphasizing the holistic and sustainable nature of the enterprise.

Official Voices and Strategic Vision

CIGC’s Investment in the Future

For the Comté Cheese Association, supporting these American professionals is not merely an act of philanthropy; it is a strategic investment. It represents a commitment not only to individual careers but also to the health and growth of the larger market for artisan cheese, particularly Comté, in the United States. Jean-Louis Carbonnier articulates this vision clearly: "We strongly believe that the growing number of certified mongers will help grow the interest in fine cheese among a larger public." The CIGC’s hope, he states, is also to keep Comté "top of mind" throughout a monger’s entire professional journey, ensuring it remains a staple and a benchmark in their repertoire, while simultaneously helping to build a broader, more robust foundation of general cheese knowledge across the industry.

From Information to Storytelling

Michael Oliver, fresh from his Jura experience, is particularly interested in capturing the less tangible, yet profoundly impactful, pieces of that unique 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 truly enable a cheesemonger to transform mere information into a captivating 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 affirms. This personal connection allows him to transcend a simple product description, offering customers a window into the rich heritage and living culture of Comté. His ultimate goal is deeply human: "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 ability to evoke feeling and curiosity is the hallmark of a truly exceptional cheesemonger.

Broader Implications for the Artisan Cheese Industry

The Ripple Effect of Knowledge and Advocacy

The impact of these scholarships creates a powerful ripple effect that extends far beyond the individual recipients. One scholarship removes critical financial barriers, enabling a dedicated professional to pursue essential certification and attend vital industry events. The other elevates education beyond textbooks and tasting notes, placing a cheese professional directly inside the intricate agricultural, cultural, and economic system they have spent years learning about. Both ultimately contribute to a more informed, passionate, and effective force of cheese advocates.

Past recipients have found innovative ways to extend these opportunities and share their newfound knowledge with their communities. Last year’s Conference Fund recipient, Lissa Knudsen, for example, organized successful public screenings of the acclaimed French film Holy Cow in New Mexico, thoughtfully accompanying the viewings with samples of Comté. Jura scholarship recipients, upon their return, have consistently organized engaging tastings and interactive discussions with customers, sharing their firsthand experiences and insights into Comté production, transforming abstract concepts into vivid narratives.

Fostering Enthusiasm and Deepening Appreciation

"For us, the scholarships are also a way to feed the enthusiasm, expertise and passion of the mongers," Carbonnier states, encapsulating the core philosophy. "We hope they share their greater understanding and knowledge of Comté and PDOs with their customers, colleagues, and their community." This vision recognizes cheesemongers as crucial ambassadors, capable of inspiring widespread appreciation for the artistry and heritage embedded in fine cheeses. Well-educated mongers become more effective at curating selections, providing informed recommendations, and, critically, telling the compelling stories behind the products they sell. This, in turn, fosters a more educated consumer base, drives demand for high-quality artisan cheeses, and ultimately supports the entire production chain, from dairy farmers to affineurs.

For Zaski Blazek, the Conference Fund has already yielded precisely these results. The experience provided not only access to the CCP exam and the ACS conference but also a wealth of new stories, invaluable professional relationships, and a deeper reservoir of knowledge that now enriches everyday conversations across the cheese counter. The investment in Blazek’s career is already paying dividends in enhanced customer engagement and education.

For Michael Oliver, that profound process 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 journey to the Jura. "I want to bring home a feeling." This sentiment perfectly encapsulates the enduring value of these scholarships: they don’t just impart facts; they foster a deep, visceral connection to the world of cheese, transforming professionals into passionate storytellers and, in doing so, elevating the entire culture of cheese appreciation.

Call to Action and Future Outlook

The commitment of the Comté Cheese Association to nurturing American cheese talent remains unwavering. The next scholarship competition for the Comté Scholarship for ACS CCPs is currently open, inviting passionate professionals to vie for the transformative Jura experience. The 2026 recipient is expected to be announced in early 2027, ensuring that the legacy of knowledge, connection, and inspiration continues for years to come.