[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 17, 2019)]
[Senate]
[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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