Harmony

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palate-specific, there's value in supporting each other.”

Bornheimer recalls walking to Harmony’s factory in Edgar herself as a child, stating, “My grandma would put a quarter in my hand and I would come get cream and she would make a big vat of soup.”

Harmony has maintained the same atmosphere that she experienced as a child, and as a key piece of the team, Bornheimer has worked to sustain that feeling.

“We don’t have this if we don’t have farmers,” she said.

They’re also fully aware that it’s a team effort, expressing gratitude for the staff that works tirelessly to create a quality product.

“The employees are the biggest part of what we're doing, the plant is as successful as it’s been, not for any other reason than the people who work here,” Rehak said.

Their method is still done mostly by hand as it has been for decades. Their secret weapon is cheesemaker Al Graveen, who has been with Harmony for 40 years. Cheese is in his blood, as he learned from his father and grandfather. He’s now passing those traditions to others within the Harmony network.

“He knows this place like the back of his hand,” said Rehak, reporting that Graveen doesn’t need fancy tools or gadgets to gauge the cheese as it goes through the process, but rather knows it by sight and feel.

Graveen’s passion is beyond question. A few years ago he fractured his finger on the job. When he noticed that his finger was crooked, he pushed it back into place and kept working for the next six hours.

“You just can’t stop,” Graveen said. That’s a Wisconsinite for you.

Rehak stated that picking Graveen’s brain is one of her favorite parts of the job. She gives him an idea and, before she knows it, he’s mixing and matching flavors and producing incredible combinations.

Since Rehak, Bornheimer, Graveen and Haines have partnered up, their curd sales have doubled, and they don’t have any intention of slowing the momentum. They have big plans for their future, including a punchy dill cheddar courtesy of Facepunch and cheese wizard Graveen. Customers might even be able to purchase Purse Cheese, an idea based upon the tidbits Bornheimer keeps in her purse for a quick snack.

Bornheimer and Rehak text late into the night, trading ideas and envisioning about what tomorrow will bring. There’s no stopping them as they even brainstormed new ideas during the interview for this feature, connecting and whispering excitedly like they weren’t in a room with several other people.

Harmony’s products are sold at their retail store in Athens as well as Green Bay, De Pere, River Falls and St. Paul, and their website is at harmonycheese.com. As they continue dreaming and scheming, there’s no doubt that before long the entire state will be their backyard.

“We just need to get the cheese into people’s mouths,” Rehak said. “We’re on the right path.”

CHEESY IDEAS - Delicious savory cheeses such as Green Bay draft beer cheese, bourbon cheddar and 6 pepper cheddar are all the result of collaborations with other Midwest businesses, a win-win for everyone involved.

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