BOVINE cheese maker, Small Cow Farms have proved to be the "cheese knees" among the big guys, in the country's highest produce accolade.
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The prestigious President's Medal is an award by the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) and the Sydney Royal Cheese and Dairy Produce Committee, in Australia's only competition to pit award-winning cheese and dairy producers, winemaking and fine food against each other.
Small Cow is one of the six finalists hand-picked from over 6000 competitors.
Farm owners, Mark and Lesley Williams said they were honoured to be selected among the few finalists."When we found out we thought, wow, this is really big and probably the pinnacle of everything we have ever done," Mrs Williams said.
The Williams family started making cheese in their family kitchen in 2003 and went on to establish Small Cow as a business in 2005.
During this time the farm has received numerous awards, most notably the 2013 Australian Cheeseboard Perpetual Trophy for their Petitvache Brie cheese.
"We are a small production, but we have done really well against the big boys," Mr Williams said.
The medal winner will be announced at a celebratory dinner on Thursday, July 11.
"It's a good feeling, to know that your product measures up to people like King Island.
"We will just let what we do, and the product, speak for itself."
Competition Judges, Simon Marnie and Scott Davenport visited the farm this week as part of the search for the nation's finest producer. In an introduction, the two judges worked through the processes on which each nominee will be judged.
Mr Davenport said that judging would be based on a "triple bottom line" system.
It will incorporate the three categories of sustainability and environmental practices, community involvement and profitability.
"What we want to do is raise the concept of quality, beyond taste, and look further into the broader field of production," Mr Davenport said.
, at the Sydney Showground. The black tie event will feature an exclusive menu, designed by chef, Tim Browne and will incorporate products from the six finalists.