1914 (Wednesday, October 28)

• Monroe businessmen attend Sauerkraut Day in Forreston, Illinois and return home with visions of cheese curds dancing in their heads; Monroe Fire Department donated $75 start up money

• Crowd size estimated at 3,000 – 4,000

• 13,000 cheese sandwiches prepared by volunteer firemen and meat cutters in the garage of the Blumer (now Joseph Huber) Brewery

• Entertainment includes vaudeville, acrobatics, and bands

• First Committee: HG Leuenberger, Louis H Kohli, WJ Knight, Harry C Young, George Schneider, Max Booth

• First Chairman: Jake Gempeler

1915 (Tuesday, October 12)

• First parade!

• Parade Marshal: Charles Shriner

• Governor Emanuel Philipp attends festival

• Local merchant Ferd Ingold sells postcards with five different themes available

• Fall Corn Contest held in conjunction with festival

• Cheese Days program includes an “Ode to Limburger”

• Crowd size estimated at 20,000

• Schedule includes Swiss wrestling and an Alpine Quartet

• Festival President: George Schneider

1916 (Tuesday, October 10)

• Festival attendees watch as Fred Steinman turns 2,000 pounds of milk into a giant wheel of cheese

• “Panorama of Cheeseland” parade is 2 miles long; includes Jacob Voegeli’s original Brown Swiss Cow from the “Brown Swiss Hotel” (his farm in Monticello)

• Parade includes circus section with clowns, calliope, and animal cages (“circus wagons” appear in subsequent parades through 1935; destroyed by fire in Fitzgibbons Building in 1938)

• 15,000 cheese sandwiches given away

• Pickpocket is arrested in early morning crowd (a dozen ladies lost their purses)

• Festival President: Jacob Gempeler, Jr.

1917 (Tuesday, October 9)

• 4-mile long parade includes 150 decorated cattle led by Swiss costumed dairy maids

• 80 concession stands line the curbs of the Square

• Rudy Benkert honored as oldest cheesemaker in the county

• Festival goers enjoy a grand ball at Turner Hall

• Band concert, costume contest cancelled due to bad weather

• Commemorative Cheese Day pin sold for ten cents

• Lantern slides projected on north side of Courthouse - showcasing scenic spots in Green County

• Festival President: Dr. F.L. Hodges

• Parade Marshals on horseback: Roy Young, Bob Rote, Charles Shriner, GF Acklinger

1918

• Cheese Days celebration cancelled due to World War I – a patriotic event was held instead

1923 (Tuesday, October 2)

• Marion Burgy of Monticello chosen as first Cheese Days Queen (with Marion Etter and Marion Buehler as attendants)

• 85 year old Sebastian Duerst and 87 year old Oswald Babler honored as last remaining of the original Swiss colonists from New Glarus

• Community bands from Brodhead, Browntown, Monroe, and New Glarus entertained

• Monroe first promoted as “Swiss Cheese Capital of the USA”

• American Legion Auxiliary handle button sales (sold for $1 each)

• Total number of cheese factories in Green County stands at 160

• Festival President: Emery Odell

1928 (Tuesday, October 2)

• Parade features 125 floats, including chariots, trick ponies, clowns, cattle sporting Swiss cow bells, and snake charmers; Fred Boss leads the parade riding a Brown Swiss Bull

• More than 25,000 cheese sandwiches consumed

• Frieda Lobeck, Domestic Science Teacher, leads demonstration on cheese

• Green County is home to 152 cheese factories

• Palais Royal Orchestra plays at Turner Hall

• 32 wheels of Swiss used to form a pyramid for display at Armory

• Lillian Augsburger selected as Queen (with Lillian Angliker and Ruth Boesiger as attendants)

• Moser Brothers entertain; Rudy Burkhalter is in the band

• Festival President: Emery Odell

1935 (Wednesday, October 2)

• 34,000 cheese sandwiches consumed - including wheel Swiss, block Swiss, Limburger, and Brick

• Postmaster John Burkhard honored as Cheese Day chairman

• 56 former cheesemakers ride in the parade

• Parade features camels and fifteen bands

• Crowd size estimated at 50,000

• Talent contest features yodelers, accordion players, a German Band and a Men’s Quartet

• Dances held at Turner Hall, Monroe Pavilion, and Fairgrounds Pavilion

• Vilah Sommerfeldt selected Queen - from a field of 264 candidates (Elda Strahm and Katherine Baltzer served as attendants)

• Festival President: John J Burkhard, Vice Chair: Robert Rote

1940 (Saturday, September 14)

• Mrs. William Chambers of Juda wins the cow milking competition

• Crowd size estimated at 60,000 - 70,000

• 50,000 cheese sandwiches enjoyed by festival goers

• Boy Scouts sell Cheese Day hats

• Turner Hall hosts Jitterbug Contest

• Entertainment features band wagons on northwest and southeast corners of the Square

• First time the festival is held on a Saturday

• Entertainment includes “parade of cantons” featuring usherettes from the New Glarus Wilhelm Tell pageant

• Parade entries include a two-headed cat balloon

• Three Queens for a Day: Miss Monticello Dorothy Bidlingmaier, Miss Brodhead Lillian Fleek, and Miss Monroe Bessie Schiesser

• Festival President: Archie S Myers

1950 (Saturday, September 9)

• Crowd size estimated at 90,000

• 60,000 cheese sandwiches distributed

• John Bussman wins Swiss wrestling competition

• Darlyne Adelman and Robert Rieder named King and Queen - she was attending Whitewater Teacher’s College and he was a recent graduate of Monroe High School

• Festival President: Archie S Myers

1955 (Saturday, September 10)

• Parade includes 30 old time cheesemakers, 100 saddle horses, and 16 horse teams

• Limburger, Brick, and Swiss cheese sandwiches enjoyed by festival goers

• Winner of contest to guess how many holes in a wheel of Swiss cheese receives 20 pound block of Swiss

• Press party held in July at Town Hall cheese factory near Monticello

• Rita Bregenzer named Queen

• Entertainers include Johnson Wax Band, Texaco Quartet, and Tremp Trio

• WEKZ Radio broadcasts live from the window at Schuetzes Store (on the northeast corner of Square)

• Festival President: Dwight A Crandall

1965 (Saturday, September 18 & Sunday, September 19)

• Parade consists of 160 units

• Cheese Days becomes a two-day event

• Crowd size estimated at 125,000

• First Drum & Bugle Corp Competition held

• Donald Wenger serves as Parade Marshal

• Farm Bureau sponsors free dairy farm tours

• Rudy Burkhalter and the Edelweiss Stars record first version of Cheese Day Song, with Monroe High School Band accompanying

• Pat Kaster named Queen

• Festival Leadership: Archie Myers Jr, Rollie Karlen, Bob Bussen

• The story behind the button: Albert Aeberli "modeled" for this publicity shot in 1957. Albert was a Swiss immigrant who came to America in 1913. He wasn't a cheesemaker; he and Fred Schenkel operated the "Swiss Tavern" (now French Quarter). Images from the photo shoot by Wally Radke were used on a Wisconsin Tourism map, and later appeared on Cheese Days buttons in 1965, 1967, and 1970.

1967

• Governor Warren Knowles attends festival

• Cheese Days song re-recorded with Martha Bernet as featured yodeler

• UW Madison marching band plays "Come to Cheese Days" song during parade

• Cheese Days buttons and Swiss caps sold as souvenirs

• Skydivers drop in at Twining Park

• Sgt. Jimmie Earl Howard (Congressional Medal of Honor) serves as Parade Marshal

• Pat Kaster and Donna Wyss named Queens

• William Lanz serves as parade chairman

• Festival Leadership: Archie Myers Jr and Bob Bussen

• The story behind the button: see 1965

1970

• Cheese Days Art Fair debuts

• Cheesemaker John Bussman makes cheese on the downtown Square for the first time

• Roger Bright Band performs

• Green County Ag Chest distributes cheese samples on the courthouse lawn

• 20 veteran cheesemakers ride in the parade

• Mark Winzenreid serves as Parade Marshal

• Darlene Rufener honored as Queen

• Walter Ekum and Harold Snively serve as parade chairs

• Festival Leadership: Archie Myers Jr and Bob Bussen

• The story behind the button: see 1965

1972

• "Swiss dollars" sold as souvenirs

• Parade drowned out by rain

• Monroe Optimists sell “secret recipe” deep fried cheese curds for the first time

• All current cheesemakers honored as Parade Marshals

• Carol Lehr and Jocelyn Kline named Queens

• Festival Leadership: Harold Snively and Wally Ekum

1974

• UW Madison Athletic Director Elroy Hirsch honored as Parade Marshal

• Walter Krahenbuhl honored as grand champion cheesemaker

• Hillbilly Sophistikats and the Swiss Echos entertain on the main stage

• Six bands compete in the Drum and Bugle Corp contest

• A Gemutlichkeit Swiss Party held for the media in July

• Marianne Dickson and Mary Kosek honored as Queens

• Archie Myers Jr blows an alphorn on top of the Courthouse to kick off the festival weekend

• Festival Leadership : Harold Snively, Wally Ekum, Richard Rote, Patricia Duhai

1976

• Tea towels, beanies, buttons, coins, and wooden Swiss dollars for sale as souvenirs

• Ivan Gobeli named Grand Champion Cheesemaker for his Muenster

• Replica of White House in miniature available for viewing at United Telephone Co.

• Festival goers offered tours at Chalet Cheese Factory

• Pam Wels Wyss and Janice Wettach Everson named Queens

• Festival Leadership: Jim Bruce and Del Heins

• Parade Marshal: Bob Buehler

1978

• First Cheese Days Chase held

• Governor Martin Schreiber rides in parade

• Estimated 6 tons of cheese sold on the Square

• Jo Ann Rufener and Connie Driver honored as Queens

• Randy Krahenbuhl named Grand Champion Cheesemaker

• Maynard Heins and Virgil Leopold chair the parade

• Parade Marshal: Archie Myers Jr.

• Festival Leadership: Jim Bruce, Del Heins, Wally Ekum, Harold Snively

1980

• Cheese Days Ball held at Turner Hall, with Max Drexler's Bavarian Band entertaining

• Werner and Martha Bernet named King and Queen

• Milford Severson named Grand Champion Cheesemaker

• Mary Carroll and Karen Dischler named Queens

• Parade Marshals: Wally Ekum, Harold Snively, Del Heins, Jim Bruce

• Festival Leadership: Lois Kaster (first female to chair!) and Walt Rufener

1982

• Ryan Erickson and Lisa Schroeder named first Prince and Princess

• Gottlieb and Trudy Brandli honored as King and Queen

• Cathy Gruninger and Ramona Gordee named as Queens

• Friday night bar hopping committee (dressed in Swiss outfits and accompanied by Del Heins on accordion) visits area taverns to promote the event

• Cheesemaker John Bussman honored as Parade Marshal

• Festival Leadership: Walt Rufener, Martha Bernet, Lois Kaster, Jean Ruda

• Button design by Mitchell Lindgren

1984

• 900 runners enter Cheese Days Chase race, with many wearing Cheese Days Chase headbands

• Governor Tony Earl rides in parade

• Souvenirs for sale include limited edition beer mugs, coins, and buttons

• Bob and Helene Buehler honored as King and Queen

• Brad Grossen and Erin Trampe named Prince and Princess

• Kristi Tuescher and Debbie Meier named as Queens

• Cliff Reasa honored as Parade Marshal

• Cheese Days button designed by Mitchell and Cindy Lindgren, using likeness of yodeler Martha Bernet

• Festival Leadership: Walt Rufener, Bob Buehler, Jocelyn Kline, Jean Ruda

1986

• 1,000 area dairy farms honored for supplying milk to the cheese factories

• Armin and Kathryn Rufener named King and Queen

• Benjamin Bergey and Brandi Spidahl named Prince and Princess

• Michelle Kundert and Wendi Gelbach selected as Queens

• Walt Rufener wins Cow Milking Contest

• Jan Benkert appointed as Executive Secretary

• Arts and Craft Fair brings 137 exhibitors

• 650 runners compete in Cheese Days Chase

• Janeen Joy Babler designs button which reflected the newly restored clock tower on the Historic Green County Courthouse

• Parade Marshals: Martha Bernet and Lois Kaster

• Festival Leadership: Bob Buehler, Jocelyn Kline, Walt Rufener, Jean Ruda

1988

• After not milking a cow for 45 years, Helen Summers Davis walks away the winner of the cow milking contest

• Kids enjoy free camel rides

• More than 1300 people take part in the cheese factory and farm tour

• Tim Hasler and Rebekah Stauffacher named Prince and Princess

• Ben and Lois Kaster named King and Queen

• Pam Zweifel and Stacy Meyer serve as Queens

• Bob Buehler and Jocelyn Stricker honored as Parade Marshals

• Dorothy Roth designs Cheese Days button

• Festival Leadership: Nancy Faith, Walt Rufener, Randy Krahenbuhl, Jean Ruda

1990

• Winner of the Schwingest (Swiss wresting) receives first place prize of a purebred bull calf

• Souvenirs for sale include coffee mugs and t-shirts

• Joe Urban serves as Master of Ceremonies for the parade

• Governor Tommy Thompson rides in the parade and receives a block of Swiss cheese

• Alex Bernet and Elise Wagner named Prince and Princess

• Virgil and Carol Leopold named King and Queen

• Tina Steinmann and Cindy Olson serve as Queens

• Cheese Days publicized on Good Morning America

• Walter Rufener honored as Parade Marshal

• Elaine Bethke designs Cheese Days button (using musicians Gottfired Wenger Jr and Burnett Kubly as inspiration)

• Festival Leadership: Nancy Faith, Randy Krahenbuhl, Bill Hanson, Dennis Everson

1992

• Parade includes a 52-hitch llama entry

• Myron Olson honored as Grand Champion Cheesemaker

• Mitch Quade and Deanndra Buol named Prince and Princess

• Maynard and Joanna Heins named King and Queen

• Bill Hanson and Nancy Faith honored as Parade Marshals

• Becky Buri and Heidi Tschanz honored as Queens

• Mark Wildman designs Cheese Days button

• Festival Leadership: Dennis Everson, Bill Hanson, Walt Rufener, Ann Jacobson

1994

• Cheese Days celebrates 80th anniversary

• Adam Krebs and Jenny Bauman named Prince and Princess

• Clayton and Marion Streiff named King and Queen

• Kim Brown and Gretchen Buol serve as Queens

• Accordionist Rudy Burkhalter passes away on the Friday of Cheese Days weekend

• Holly Dearth designs Cheese Days button

• Parade Marshal: Walt Rufener

• Festival Leadership: Dennis Everson, Virgil Leopold, Maynard Heins, Ann Jacobson

1996

• Monroe Mayor Bill Ross competes in milking contest but does not win

• 500 runners compete in Cheese Days Chase

• Gary Grossen named Grand Champion Cheesemaker

• Ray and Betty Vetterli named King and Queen

• Cheesemaker John Bussman honored as Parade Marshal

• Mauro Magellan designs Cheese Days button

• Adam Hutchinson and Shelley Quade named Prince and Princess

• Brandi Siedschlag and Sara Feldt honored as Queens

• Festival Leadership: Dennis Everson, Mark Mayer, Julie Miller, Ann Jacobson

1998

• First golf classic held

• Opening ceremony includes alphorns and a parade of flags

• Ernie and Theresa Jaggi named King and Queen

• Brent Quade and Emily Guerin named Prince and Princess

• Howard Grossen and Lillian Hawthorne honored as Parade Marshals

• Button designed by Tina White and her son Alec White

• Amy Ammon and Mandy Krahenbuhl selected as Ambassadors (formerly Queens)

• Festival Leadership: Keith Hoesly, Julie Miller, Diane Phillips, Ann Jacobson

2000

• Randy and Pam Wyss named King and Queen

• Logan Stamm and Brianna Zimmerman named Prince and Princess

• Swiss folk artist Janeen Joy Babler designs Cheese Days button

• Werner Sr., Werner Jr., and Brian Zimmerman honored as Parade Marshals

• Ann Ammon and Karen Frei selected as Ambassadors

• Festival Leadership: Pam Wyss, Sherry Anderegg, Diane Phillips, Trudy Westerman

2002

• Justin Johnson designs Cheese Days button

• Lindsay Wettach and Cally Abplanalp named Ambassadors

• Buholzer Family (Klondike Cheese Co.) honored as Parade Marshals

• Steve and Sharon Streiff named King and Queen

• Cody Stamm and Elisabeth Brunner named Prince and Princess

• Festival Leadership: Pam Wyss, Sherry Anderegg, Diane Phillips, Trudy Westerman

2004

• Brianna Gelbach named Ambassador

• Mauro Magellan designs Cheese Days button

• Official Cheese Days web site launched

• Bob and Nancy Faith named King and Queen

• Anders Nelson and Anya Schween serve as Prince and Princess

• New feature: Cheese Days Hospitality Tent

• Larry Lindgren and Katheryn Etter honored as Parade Marshals

• Festival goers enjoy Wisconsin’s Biggest Cheese Fondue

• Sunday's big event renamed "The Swiss Colony Cheese Days Parade"

• Festival Leadership: Pam Wyss, Virgil Leopold, Diane Phillips, Trudy Westerman

2006

• Shannon Stricker named Ambassador

• Henry and Melva Tschanz named King and Queen

• Josha Smith and Lauren Blumer reign as Prince and Princess

• Carolyn Schultz designs Cheese Days button

• Nate Roth and Doran Zwygart honored as Parade Marshals

• “Swiss Roots” visits with an antique Swiss Post Bus

• Festival Leadership: Virgil Leopold, Maynard Heins, Diane Phillips, Trudy Westerman, Pam Wyss

2008

• Charity Rood named Ambassador

• Gary and Corie Grossen serve as King and Queen

• Noah Zimmerman and Oliva O’Dea selected as Prince and Princess

• Kim Berg designs button

• Cheese Days song featured on commemorative t-shirts

• Family Farm Adventure Tent debuts

• Cheese Days opens beer stand on the square

• Gerald Swiggum and Dick Rote honored as Parade Marshals

• Festival Leadership: Virgil Leopold, Steve Streiff, Diane Phillips, Trudy Westerman

2010

• Trisha Pernot named Ambassador

• Dennis and Janice Everson honored as King and Queen

• Gabe Witt and Cammi Ganshert serve as Prince and Princess

• Wendy Flanagan designs button

• Stan Neuberger and Joe Urban honored as Parade Marshals

• Back by popular demand: Dairy Farm Tours

• Festival Leadership: Diane Phillips, Marge Klinzing, Dennis Dalton, Trudy Westerman, Virgil Leopold

2012

• Brianna Ditzenberger named Ambassador

• John and Becky Wegmueller honored as King and Queen

• Eli Zimmerman and Maddison Markham named Prince and Princess

• Martha Bernet and Lois Kaster honored as Parade Marshals

• Cheese Days mascot “Wedgie” introduced

• Kim Berg designs button

• Sarah the Cheese Lady creates cheese carvings from Emmi Roth Gruyere and Maple Leaf Cheddar

• Seven dairy breeds and 200 humans participate in Cow Milking Contest

• Parade re-routed slightly to allow space for additional food vendors and new Dining Tent

• Festival Leadership: Marge Klinzing, Dennis Dalton, Diane Morrissey, Jean Ruda, Diane Phillips

2014

• Breinne Hendrickson and Sarah Sacker named Ambassadors

• Duke and Diane Phillips honored as King and Queen

• Elsen Gratz and Christina Grenzow chosen as Prince and Princess

• Jim Bruce and Del Heins honored as Parade Marshals

• McKenzie Homan designs button, using inspiration from her grandmother’s vacation pics to Switzerland

• Cheese Days episode appears on Discover Wisconsin TV

• Wisconsin Secretary of Tourism Stephanie Klett named official Limburger Queen of the 2014 festival

• More than 100 accordions join Monroe City Band in playing the Cheese Days Song

• Festival Leadership: Dennis Dalton, Dennis Everson, Sue Buetzer, Jean Ruda, Marge Klinzing, Diane Phillips, Diane Morrissey, Virgil Leopold

2016

• Jana Duval Crandall named Ambassador

• Pat and Gloria Krutza (longtime parade chairpersons) honored as King and Queen

• Dennis Dalton (longtime volunteer and former president) honored as Parade Marshal

• Daniella Echeverria is inspired by the 100 accordions in 2014 and designs the accordion-themed button

• Food trucks added to diversify menu options

• Trachtengruppe Gohl folk dancing group from Langnau, Switzerland entertains

• Simon Zimmerman and Delaney Sweeney chosen as Prince and Princess

• Dave Buholzer wins as Grand Champion Cheesemaker

• Ron and Sue Buholzer honored as "Big Cheese" by Foreign Type Cheesemakers Assn.

• Boogie and the Yo Yo'z draw record crowd on the main stage Saturday night

2018

• Tess Zettle named Ambassador

• Gordy and Ruth Bergemann (owners Maple Leaf Cheese Store) honored as King and Queen

• Swiss friends Sherry Anderegg and Bert Digman selected as Parade Marshals

• Arts and Crafts Fair moved behind Baumgartner's to surface lot of former parking ramp

• Retail Committee adds "second in a series" Red Wing stoneware collectible (pipkin pitcher)

• New on the entertainment schedule: Wheelhouse, Doo Wop Daddies, and Road Trip

• Tyse Hoesly and Lauren Stelter selected as Prince and Princess

• Accordion Players and Barbershop Quartet join the Alphorn Players as roving entertainers

• Gary and Corrie Grossen honored as “Big Cheese” by Foreign Type Cheesemakers Assn.

• Kermit the Frog (giant inflatable) in the parade

• Donna Douglas and Wedgie (Cheese Days Mascot) lead the crowd in Chicken Dance “flash mob”

2020

• Molly Minder named Ambassador

• Ed and Mandy Pas named King and Queen

• Donna Douglas selected as Parade Marshal

• Retail Committee adds "third in a series" stoneware collectible (butter crock)

• Festival postponed til 2021 due to Covid-19 Pandemic (later postponed to 2022)

2022

• Tess Zettle named Ambassador

• Gordy & Ruth Bergemann named King and Queen

• Donna Douglas selected as Parade Marshal

• Retail Committee adds “fourth in a series” stoneware collectible (mason jar)

• An exclusive line of “Swiss Chicks” merchandise honors Swiss Chicks Martha Bernet & Marian Kundert

• Braun King and Addison Wolff selected as Prince and Princess

2024 (September 20-22)

• Tony & Esther Zgraggen named King and Queen

• Breanna Brooks named Ambassador

• Reid Krueger and Stella Doyle selected as Prince and Princess

• Lee Binkley and Randy Ninmer selected as Parade Marshals

• World’s Biggest Polka Dance has 4991 people sign up day of event

• Retail Committee adds “fifth in a series” stoneware tankard

• Parade is rained out

2026 (September 18-20)

• Lee Binkley and Randy Ninmer re-selected to serve as Parade Marshals