FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Amy Winters
Executive Director, Wisconsin Dairy Products Association
(608) 235-8443
amywinters@wdpa.net
www.wdpa.net
WDPA Announces Grand Champion Award for Kurschner’s Super Premium Ice Cream of Chetek, Wisconsin in the 2025 World Dairy Expo Dairy Product Contest
Madison, WI — August 20, 2025 — The Wisconsin Dairy Products Association (WDPA) is proud to announce the 2025 Ice Cream Grand Champion winner is Kurschner’s Super Premium Ice Cream, located in Chetek, Wisconsin, in Barron County.
Kurschner’s won first place in the Open Class Ice Cream with Peanut Butter Chocolate. It first won first place in open class flavors going on to the Grand Champion Round where it won against all other ice cream categories and flavors in the frozen dessert classes for Ice Cream, Sherbet, Frozen Yogurt and Gelato combined.
Kurschner’s also took first place in the Regular Vanilla Ice Cream Class, and their Lemon Poppy Seed took second place in the Open Class Ice Cream (for any product that does not fit in the other classes), and their Pistachio took fourth place for the Open Class Ice Cream with Nuts.
Alan Kurschner, Owner of Kurschner’s Super Premium Ice Cream says, “We’ve been open only one year, so we’re honored to receive this recognition so early in our journey. From day one, we set out to make ‘Wisconsin Ice Cream at Its Best.’ We have never used artificial dyes, and we use natural ingredients and clean dairy. We are proud to craft small batch, artisanal ice cream in our shop in the northern Wisconsin tourist town of Chetek. We are the only producers of hard ice cream in Barron County.
“The ice cream entries this year were outstanding, with remarkable flavor, texture, and creativity. Serving as lead judge has been a privilege, and it’s especially rewarding to see how this contest—supported by UW–Madison’s Food Science program —continues to inspire and educate processors in advancing product excellence,” said Scott Rankin, professor and chair at the University of Wisconsin’s Food Science Department and Lead Ice Cream Judge for the contest.
Now in its 22nd year, the contest was held over three days, with cheese and butter judged on day one, Grade A products on day two, and frozen desserts, including ice cream, on the final day. The competition continues to serve as a premier platform for all dairy processors to showcase product excellence and craftsmanship.
“Our contest is an amazing showcase of what makes the dairy industry so exceptional. The talent, dedication, and passion that goes into making the very best products is evident in every entry. Kurschner’s Super Premium Ice Cream has so much to be proud of, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate their wins,” said Amy Winters, Executive Director of WDPA.
Alan Kurschner will be recognized at the Awards Reception September 29, 2025, at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. Tickets for the event are available on the WDPA website.