By Mallory Scyphers
October 6, 2026
Web Exclusive

Louisville, Kentucky & Jura, France – In the intricate world of artisanal cheese, education extends far beyond textbooks and classrooms. It thrives in the hands-on experience of the cheese counter, the nuanced dialogue with colleagues, the sensory journey of tasting, and the invaluable insights gained from visiting producers and attending industry conferences. Yet, these critical opportunities often come with significant costs—demanding time, travel, and financial resources that aren’t always within reach for dedicated professionals.

Recognizing this vital gap, the Comté Cheese Association (CIGC) has, for over a decade, championed the advancement of American cheese professionals through a robust scholarship program. Today, two distinct scholarships stand as pillars of this commitment, each tailored to support cheesemongers at different, pivotal stages of their careers. From aspiring American Cheese Society Certified Cheese Professionals (ACS CCPs) striving for foundational knowledge to seasoned experts seeking immersive, origin-specific experiences, these initiatives are cultivating a deeper understanding and appreciation for fine cheese across the United States.

This year, the impact of these programs is once again evident. Zaski Blazek, a rising star in the cheese community, has been named the recipient of the Comté Association Conference Fund, enabling their participation in the prestigious 2026 American Cheese Society Conference. Meanwhile, Michael Oliver, an accomplished ACS CCP, has embarked on a transformative journey to France’s Jura region, having been awarded the Comté Scholarship for ACS CCPs, to witness the storied production of Comté firsthand. These scholarships are not merely financial aid; they are investments in individual passion, collective expertise, and the broader future of artisanal cheese in America.

Nurturing the Next Generation: The Comté Association Conference Fund

The path to becoming an American Cheese Society Certified Cheese Professional (ACS CCP) is rigorous, demanding extensive study, practical experience, and a deep-seated passion for cheese. For many, the financial burden associated with the certification exam, conference attendance, and necessary travel can be a formidable barrier. The Comté Association Conference Fund, established in 2019 and administered through the American Cheese Education Foundation, was specifically designed to dismantle these obstacles.

This fund offers comprehensive support to one deserving applicant each year who has been accepted to take the annual CCP exam and wishes to attend the concurrent ACS Conference. The scholarship covers conference registration, hotel accommodation, travel expenses, an individual ACS membership, and the all-important CCP exam fee. Financial need is a primary consideration, ensuring that the opportunity is extended to those for whom it will make the most significant difference.

Zaski Blazek’s Journey to Certification

At the 2026 American Cheese Society Conference held in Louisville, Kentucky, the announcement of Zaski Blazek as this year’s Comté Association Conference Fund recipient was met with widespread enthusiasm. A dedicated cheesemonger with Minnesota-based Lunds & Byerlys, Blazek had been diligently preparing for the CCP exam for two years before successfully sitting for it earlier in the summer.

For Blazek, earning the CCP credential was not just a professional goal but a personal milestone. Their cheese career began as an apprentice, working alongside a CCP-certified mentor whose infectious enthusiasm for the industry illuminated a professional community Blazek 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 recounts.

Initially, the credential represented a form of validation, a key to unlock acceptance into this vibrant community. However, as Blazek’s knowledge deepened and connections blossomed, the meaning 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," they reflect.

The scholarship, Blazek emphasizes, was a game-changer. "When I found out I’d gotten the scholarship, I didn’t know what to do with myself," they recall, still touched by the memory. "Everything was covered, I could attend the conference in person, and I could take the exam on time." This financial liberation transformed their experience from merely taking an exam to fully immersing themselves in the heart of the American cheese community.

The Ripple Effect: From Conference Floor to Cheese Counter

Once in Louisville, Blazek seized every opportunity, connecting with cheesemakers and mongers from across the country, attending enriching educational sessions, and experiencing the expansive cheese community they had spent years aspiring to join. These encounters, filled with shared stories, industry insights, and sensory explorations, are not fleeting memories but tools Blazek now carries back to their 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." This newfound depth of knowledge and personal connection translates directly to their customer interactions. Blazek delightedly shares that customers sometimes express surprise, remarking they "weren’t expecting to learn something" when a simple conversation about a cheese evolves into a fascinating lesson on the role of salt, the science behind tyrosine crystals, or the delicate formation of a bloomy rind’s creamline. This direct transfer of knowledge from expert to consumer is precisely the "ripple effect" the Comté Cheese Association aims to foster.

Deepening Expertise: The Comté Scholarship for ACS CCPs

For those who have already achieved the distinguished ACS CCP credential, the Comté Cheese Association offers a different, yet equally profound, opportunity: the Comté Scholarship for ACS CCPs. Created more than 13 years ago, this scholarship transcends theoretical learning, offering an immersive journey to the very heart of Comté production in France’s Jura region.

Unlike the Conference Fund, this scholarship is awarded through an essay contest held each fall, inviting certified CCPs to articulate their deep knowledge and unwavering enthusiasm for Comté. The stakes are high: the winner receives an all-expenses-paid trip to the Jura region, complemented by a $750 stipend, to experience firsthand the intricate ecosystem that gives birth to this iconic French cheese.

Michael Oliver’s Immersive Journey to the Jura

Michael Oliver, the recipient of the 2025 scholarship, was announced in January of this year. His highly anticipated trip to the Jura took place in September, where he joined the Comté Association’s media group, gaining unparalleled access to the region’s interconnected network of dairy farms, traditional village fruitières (cooperative cheesemaking dairies), and ancient aging cellars.

For Oliver, this direct engagement with the source is paramount. He articulates a crucial distinction: "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 acknowledges the value of academic study: "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." The scholarship offers not just information, but immersion—a chance to absorb the essence of a place that is inextricably linked to its product.

The competition for the 2026 scholarship is currently open, with the next recipient expected to be announced in early 2027. This ongoing commitment underscores the Comté Cheese Association’s long-term vision for cultivating expertise.

Official Responses and Broader Implications

Jean-Louis Carbonnier, US representative for the Comté Cheese Association, articulates the strategic rationale behind these investments. "We strongly believe that the growing number of certified mongers will help grow the interest in fine cheese among a larger public," he states. The scholarships serve a dual purpose: to keep Comté "top of mind" throughout a monger’s professional journey and to help build a broader, more robust foundation of cheese knowledge across the American market.

Regarding the Jura scholarship, Carbonnier emphasizes its unique educational value. "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," he explains. This context, so vital to Comté’s identity as an Appellation d’Origine Protégée (AOP, or PDO in English) cheese, is often challenging to fully convey from an American cheese counter.

Comté’s production system is a testament to profound cooperation. It seamlessly connects farmers, cheesemakers, and affineurs through a shared set of rigorous rules and responsibilities, all governed by the PDO. Carbonnier highlights the significant socio-economic impact of this system, noting that the Comté PDO supports approximately 14,000 jobs and sustains 2,400 farms within the largely mountainous region of the French Jura. For visitors like Oliver, the degree of collaboration is often a revelation. "Everything is very integrated and thought through to ensure that the Comté ecosystem works in the best interest of all involved," Carbonnier adds, painting a picture of a harmonious, sustainable agricultural model.

Michael Oliver, fresh from his Jura experience, is particularly attuned to the less tangible elements of this ecosystem: "the smells, the sounds, a conversation with someone, the way a place feels in a certain moment." These sensory details, he believes, are the alchemy that transforms mere information into a compelling narrative for customers. "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 asserts. His ultimate goal is to inspire: "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 powerful "ripple effect" is, arguably, the strongest justification for programs like these. One scholarship meticulously removes financial barriers, enabling a passionate professional to pursue foundational certification. The other elevates education beyond textbooks and tasting notes, placing a seasoned cheese professional directly within the agricultural, cultural, and human system they have spent years studying.

Past recipients have already demonstrated their ingenuity in extending these opportunities. Lissa Knudsen, last year’s Conference Fund recipient, organized public screenings of the acclaimed French film Holy Cow in New Mexico, artfully accompanied by samples of Comté. Similarly, previous Jura scholarship recipients have returned to host engaging tastings and share their firsthand experiences with customers and colleagues, bringing the remote Jura mountains closer to American palates.

"For us, the scholarships are also a way to feed the enthusiasm, expertise and passion of the mongers," Carbonnier concludes. "We hope they share their greater understanding and knowledge of Comté and PDOs with their customers, colleagues, and their community."

For Zaski Blazek, the Conference Fund has already yielded precisely these outcomes. The experience granted them not only access to the crucial exam and enriching conference but also a trove of stories, invaluable relationships, and a depth of knowledge that now effortlessly surfaces in daily conversations across the cheese counter. For Michael Oliver, that profound process is just beginning, having traversed an ocean to touch the source. "What I’m most hoping to bring home isn’t just more knowledge," he reflects. "I want to bring home a feeling." It is this feeling—this visceral connection to tradition, land, and community—that these scholarships ultimately aim to share, enriching not only individual careers but the entire tapestry of American artisanal cheese appreciation.

Mallory Scyphers is culture’s Executive Content Director and has been with the company since 2018. She lives on Mobile Bay with her husband, two young daughters, one rambunctious golden retriever, and two loyal cats. Her favorite cheeses are alpine styles and mineral-y blues.