Cheese Consultant Master Cheese Maker: Hubert Besner

Hubert brings 45 years of cheese making to The Village Cheese Company. Born Oct 20, 1933 in Ontario, he grew up on a dairy farm in his home province and regularly hauled milk to the local cheese plant. "it always intrigued me how milk became cheese".

After high school he found jobs hard to come by and started as a general helper in a cheese plant in 1954. This involved washing vats and "turning keys in the morning."

He became hooked on his life's calling and apprenticed for two years before taking a three month dairy school course. "You had to know how to make cheese before you went , but the fundamentals and lab work where learned here. also we learned grading and how to make butter."

At that time, cheese plants were quite common in Canada and Besner worked in many, moving west and moving often. "I moved around a lot - not because I hated what I was doing - I just wanted to better myself."

He moved to the Okanagan in 1985 and has been involved in the cheese industry in BC for many years.

Hubert Besner, who has won countless awards for his product, lives cheese, makes cheese, eats cheese and thinks cheese. He realised a dream with the Village Cheese Company, building a small cheese factory that created quality cheese just like in years gone by. Hubert's 45 years of experience culminated in the design of the Village Cheese Company's micro cheese production facilities.

Hubert has been married to Aline for 43 years. They have two sons, Norman and Serge; two daughters, Ghilslaine and Clandette. When not making cheese or being with his family, Hubert enjoys cross country skiing, reading and camping.

The joys he has had in his work may soon be unavailable to young people. Hubert says many changes in the industry, mostly new technology and larger plants have produced specialists in segmented aspects of the operations.

"I guess I am one of a dying breed. It is still a good profession for young people it just has less and less openings."

But now , The Village Cheese Company! Hubert's dream lives on.