Don't even get me started on California and their supposed "happy cows" and all of that hoopla. It's a rant that will last on for quite longer than you care to listen to. California can boast all it wants, but Wisconsin still rules the cheese world following 27 gold place winners in this year's 2008 World Championship Cheese contest in Madison. The next closest state? New York with only 5 gold place winners. And, this is 10 more gold place finishes for Wisconsin than last year. Some other numbers for you:

* Wisconsin has 44 master cheesemakers making a variety of cheeses.

* Wisconsin boasts more than 1,200 licensed cheesemakers, more than any other state.

* Those cheese wizards make more than 400 varieties — and counting.

Makes me want some cheese curds ... yum.