In its first year, the festival received national attention for its cheese tasting contest between Wisconsin and New York. It all began when an editorial appeared in a local newspaper which questioned why a national cheese museum was placed in Rome, New York. Wisconsin Senator Chilsen became involved by penning a poem stating that Wisconsin, the Dairy State, should have been the sight of the museum, since it made the most and the best cheese. New York responded by holding an impromptu “cheese off” in New York. New York, of course, declared their cheese the winner, but Wisconsin cheese lovers wouldn’t let it end there. The citizens of Little Chute offered to hold another “cheese off,” this time at the 1^st Annual Great Wisconsin Cheese Festival. The Mayor of Rome, New York, Carl Eilenberg accepted the invitation to attend, and the Cheese Festival sent him a plane ticket. In the contest, Wisconsin cheese won in all categories, and was dubbed “Best Cheese in the USA.” Mayor Eilenberg filed a protest claiming the tasting was unfair, since the cheeses were easily identifiable as “Wisconsin” and “New York.” He requested a blind testing on live television and proceeded to blindfold a TV reporter on the scene. Blindfolded, the reporter picked Wisconsin cheese as the best. The Festival is coordinated by the efforts of Village employees and community volunteers who make up the Board of Directors. The Festival’s success can be credited to the many volunteers who give of their time and talents.