Duane and Cheryl Torkelson have been involved in the cheese industry for over 30 years. In 1985 Duane and Cheryl acquired Torkelson Cheese Company in Lena, Illinois. The factory was built in 1973 and was originally called Excelsior Cheese Factory. The Torkelson’s have made many changes to the factories, including their storage capacities, updating and modernizing the packaging process, and enhancing their cheese making capabilities. Torkelson Cheese Company manufactures Brick, Muenster, Quesadilla, and Asadero. Torkelson Cheese purchases quality milk from local farmers, helping to produce more than 30,000 pounds of cheese per day. Since 1986, Torkelson Cheese Company has won twelve World Champion Cheese Awards, winning gold for their Muenster, Brick, and Quesadilla cheese.