Hiland Dairy’s Norman, Oklahoma, plant has earned the Grade A Grand Champion Award for its 2 percent white milk at the 2023 World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest.
Hiland’s 2 percent white milk beat other dairy products like dips, sour cream, yogurt and cottage cheese to win the Grade A Grand Champion.
The national competition, held over three days, received products from 43 states. Products in 96 classes included ice cream, gelato, cheese, yogurt, butter, sour cream, fluid milk, whipping cream, cottage cheese, dairy dips, whey and dried milk. There is also a class for creative and innovative products that grows each year.
“We are incredibly proud that our 2 percent white milk, produced here in Norman, was named the Grade A Grand Champion at the 2023 World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest. This is a testament to our team and our commitment to taste, quality and freshness, proving our milk is the best of the best,” said Ron Clark, general manager of the Norman plant.
The grand champions and the first-, second- and third-place winners for each class will receive their trophies, medals and ribbons at an awards reception and auction on Oct. 3 as part of the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. The first-place winner’s products are auctioned off that day, with proceeds going to scholarship programs focused on dairy education.
John Johnson, a culinary arts instructor at Madison College, was an integral part of the event; Johnson and his students utilize the second- and third-place winning products in each class to prepare an award-night reception buffet.
“We congratulate all the winners in this year’s competition and commend them on their excellence. All three grand champions brought incredible products to the competition; they have a lot to be proud of,” said Amy Winters, executive director for the Wisconsin Dairy Products Association, which hosted the event.
Hiland Dairy’s product winners in the 2023 World Dairy Expo Championship
Grade A Grand Champion:
- 2 percent White Milk – Norman, Oklahoma
First place:
- 2 percent White Milk – Norman, Oklahoma
- 1 percent Buttermilk – Springfield, Missouri
- Whipping Cream – Wichita, Kansas
- Mango Drinkable Yogurt – Chandler, Oklahoma
- Lite Sour Cream – Omaha, Nebraska
Second place:
- 2 percent Low-fat Chocolate Milk – Kansas City, Missouri
- Fat-Free Chocolate Milk – Kansas City, Missouri
- Low-fat Buttermilk – Chandler, Oklahoma
- Half and Half – Conroe, Texas
- Pina Colada Drinkable Yogurt – Chandler, Oklahoma
- French Onion Dip – Norman, Oklahoma
- Southwest Dip – Norman, Oklahoma
- Hispanic Crema Salvadorena – Norman, Oklahoma
- Chocolate Ice Cream – Springfield, Missouri
- Cold Brew Cookies Ice Cream – Springfield, Missouri
Third place:
- 2 percent White Milk – Dallas, Texas
- Whipping Cream – Kansas City, Kansas
- Salsa Dip – Omaha, Nebraska
- Hispanic Crema Mexicana – Norman, Oklahoma
For a complete list of World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest winners, visit wdpa.net/wde-championship-dairy-product-contest.
Hiland Dairy, based in Springfield, Missouri, is a farmer-owned dairy food company. The company has expanded beyond dairy and produces and distributes various other beverages, such as Red Diamond Tea, lemonade and fresh juices.
Hiland has more than 4,000 employees throughout Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. Hiland’s farmer-owners are just miles from the Hiland processing plants, where its milk goes from the farm to the shelves within 48 hours.
Read more dairy news from The Shelby Report.
