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[Page S7108]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING VALLEY QUEEN CHEESE FACTORY
Mr. ROUNDS. Madam President, today, it is my pleasure to name
Valley Queen Cheese Factory of Milbank, SD as the Senate Small Business
of the Week. Valley Queen Cheese is a prime example of the important
role small businesses play in their local economies and communities.
In 1929, Alfred Nef and Alfred Gonzenbach decided Milbank, SD was the
perfect home for their business and founded Valley Queen Cheese. Four
generations later, Valley Queen remains a family-run operation and is
still owned by the Nef and Gonzenbach families. Today, it operates less
than half a mile from the original location. It is a recognized leader
in the South Dakota business community and the greater dairy industry.
Since 2017, Doug Wilke has served as CEO of Valley Queen. With guidance
from the board of directors, he currently oversees the largest cheese
plant in South Dakota and the largest employer in Milbank.
More than 90 percent of all milk Valley Queen uses comes from South
Dakota cows, and they make a conscious effort to continue South
Dakota's leadership in this important industry. Thanks to a recent
expansion, Valley Queen now has the capacity to produce 200 million
pounds of cheese from 2 billion pounds of milk each year. Their cheese
can be found in most local grocery stores, as it is sold to some of the
best-known food brands in the world. To meet the growing demand, Valley
Queen recently invested in a business expansion project that increased
the factory's output by twenty-five percent.
Valley Queen is an active leader in the Milbank community, where it
has grown to employ 300 people. In 2017, the Valley Queen Charitable
Foundation was established to advance positive change by supporting
local organizations and initiatives. In its first 3 years as a
nonprofit, the foundation has contributed more than $900,000 to local
charities that have a community, educational, or humanitarian focus.
Since 1990, Valley Queen has awarded high school and college students
over $300,000 in scholarships. In addition to the business's own
philanthropy, Valley Queen makes an annual contribution to the Milbank
Community Foundation, which seeks to improve the quality of life of
residents in the community.
Valley Queen has been recognized for their continuous improvement and
exceptional process control through several awards. Earlier this year,
Valley Queen won two awards and received near-perfect marks at the U.S.
Championship Cheese Contest for their reduced fat cheddar and Monterey
Jack jalapeno cheeses. Valley Queen's sustained efforts toward improved
research and development does not go unnoticed by the industry.
Valley Queen is an excellent example of how small businesses fit the
shared values and ideals of their community and give back in a
multitude of ways. I am proud to highlight Valley Queen and its team
for their integral social and economic contributions to South Dakota.
Although many years removed from being a startup company, Valley Queen
remains committed to the legacy of its founders. Furthermore, Milbank,
South Dakota continues to serve as the perfect home for this thriving
business. Congratulations again to the entire team at Valley Queen
Cheese Factory for being named Senate Small Business of the
Week.
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