Holistic Hog enjoys success at state fair

Butter maker wins grand champion

By Theo Tate
Posted 9/2/21

Jes Schlanker enjoyed another memorable trip to Sedalia on Aug. 14.

Her Holistic Hog business earned 29 first-place ribbons, a Grand Champion award and a best of show award at the state dairy …

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Holistic Hog enjoys success at state fair

Butter maker wins grand champion

Posted

Jes Schlanker enjoyed another memorable trip to Sedalia on Aug. 14.

Her Holistic Hog business earned 29 first-place ribbons, a Grand Champion award and a best of show award at the state dairy competition, held at the Missouri State Fair.


“I started a little section on the wall and we were going to display them (the ribbons),” Schlanker said. “Because I did so well, we’re going to have to change that and create a totally new space because I’m not going to have room for them, which is a great problem to have. I’m very grateful for that.”


It’s the second year in a row the Holistic Hog, a farmer’s market in Wellsville, won Grand Champion honors at the state dairy competition, which is held every year at the state fair and is open to all licensed producers in Missouri and as well as across the country.


The Holistic Hog was named Grand Champion in 2019. There was no state dairy competition in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.


Schlanker, a Montgomery City native, said she loves competing in the state dairy competition after just two years.


“I have literally no experience in the dairy industry other than having a serious love for cheese,” Schlanker said. “I have a lot of reasons why in my business I shouldn’t be as good as I am now. Competing is my favorite part because it’s an opportunity for me to defy odds and show people what God can do.”


Schlanker said winning Grand Champion honors in 2019 was pretty special.


“The first time I competed in a dairy competition, I had four original flavors that started my business,” she said. “ All of them took a first-place ribbon. My garlic parmesan flavor took Grand Champion and best in the state.”


Schlanker said her business also was successful at the world dairy competition on Aug. 17.


“I originally entered two flavors into that, but one flavor got lost in transit,” Schlanker said. “So only one made it. It made it there a day late. But the one that did make it took second place. The second-place finish is extra special because I made bourbon caramel butter and I used the bourbon from Wood Hat Spirits in New Florence.”


Schlanker made 35 pounds of butter for both the world and state dairy contests.


“I’m licensed to produce butter,” Schlanker said. “I’m the only licensed woman butter producer in Missouri, so I competed in three different butter categories. There is a salted butter category, an unsalted butter category and a flavored butter category. In the world dairy competition, I was hoping to compete in two categories, but obviously, only one entry made it and that entry was in an open butter category.”


The new Holistic Hog building is still under renovation. It is located at the old IGA building at 101 East Hudson Street in Wellsville.


“It’s not quite open,” Schlanker said. “We’re working really hard. I’m hoping within a month or two, we’ll be totally open and ready to rock.”

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