If we’re lucky, we’ve all got that one person in our lives who inspires us, through words or simply with action, to follow our dreams, push past the fear and the doubts, and always persist -- even if we fail. Maybe one day, it all comes full circle, and we become that person for someone else. If you’re ever in Thorp, swing by Marieke Gouda, a small business in Wisconsin started by one woman whose love of authentic Gouda from her homeland, and undeniable determination, catapulted her to success and brought some of the best Gouda to the Dairy State.

Interested to learn about other unique American small businesses? Our Small Business Spotlight series highlights the often-overlooked work of small business owners across the country, from Maine to Southern California.

If you believe in fate, you’ll likely agree that from a very young age Marieke Penterman was destined to create something special – namely Marieke Gouda, one of the best small businesses in Wisconsin that handcrafts Gouda so well-loved, so well-respected, and so authentically good that it’s earned more than 200 awards to date.

But long before she became a successful businesswoman in the United States, Penterman spent her childhood on her parents’ dairy farm in the Netherlands.

It was on that dairy farm, first run by her grandparents and then her parents, where Penterman watched her oma (that’s "grandma" in Dutch) do whatever she set her mind to.

Whatever needed done, Oma did. Milked cows. Fixed flat tires. Got a driver’s license (one of the first women in town to do so). Oma could – and did – do it all.

Seeing her oma "do it all" naturally instilled that same drive and determination in Penterman, and she chased her dreams with vigor, first earning a bachelor’s degree in Dairy Business and then working as a farm inspector in the Netherlands.

Her future husband (also from the Netherlands) Rolf Penterman, brought Marieke to Thorp, Wisconsin.

While Thorp is an ideal destination for the couple’s 350-cow dairy farm, something was missing in this land of Cheeseheads and cheese lovers: that authentic Gouda found in the Netherlands. “Marieke decided to get her Wisconsin Cheesemaking License,” says Natalye Q., a marketing associate at Marieke Gouda.

“She worked with a local cheesemaker and traveled back to her home country where she trained alongside two different cheesemakers. There she learned how to make authentic Dutch Gouda cheese."

A short four years passed between when Rolf started the dairy farm in Thorp and Marieke introduced her first batch of Gouda in November 2006.

A year later, the Netherlands native’s Gouda won gold at the U.S. Cheese Champion Contest, starting a snowball effect that’s resulted in more than 200 awards – including, in 2015, Penterman becoming the first woman to win the Wisconsin Outstanding Young Farmer Award.

Marieke Gouda in Wisconsin is woman-owned, and women lead the majority of the departments, a rarity in an industry that is predominately male. Of the 1,200 licensed cheesemakers in Wisconsin, only 60 are women. Three of those women, including Penterman, are part of Marieke Gouda.

Penterman’s goal has been to create an inclusive atmosphere, where employees feel confident sharing ideas.

That’s just part of what makes Marieke Gouda such a shining success in the cheese industry. Penterman attributes the success of her award-winning cheese to the methodical process with which it is created – from the care of the dairy cows to the aging of the Gouda.

But cheesemaking, at least for Penterman, is about far more than the accolades.

“The best part [of running a small business] is being able to share our passion, story, and delicious authentic Gouda with everyone. There's something special about being able to connect with others through our products and share the joy it brings us. It's a simple pleasure, but one that makes all the hard work and effort worth it,” says Natalye Q.

Today, Penterman and her staff welcome cheese lovers from all over Wisconsin and beyond to stock up on authentic Gouda, of which there are more than 24 different flavors, and to see firsthand what goes into making this award-winning cheese.

Self-guided tours are offered during business hours throughout the year when you can visit with the calves and watch the cheese-making process from an observation room.

"Experience the Magic" guided tours are held Monday through Saturday at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. from June through August. Cuddle with calves, enjoy samples, and visit the Milking Parlor during the guided tour.

During your visit, stop by the Marieke Gouda Store to stock up on all of your favorite cheeses and purchase unique gifts, before sitting down to a delicious meal at Café Dutchess, which features more than a few Gouda-inspired dishes.

Many thanks to Marieke Penterman and Natalye Q for sharing the Marieke Gouda history and story for OnlyInYourState’s 2024 Small Business Spotlight. Learn more on the official website of Marieke Gouda, or stop by the Facebook page of this small business in Wisconsin.

Of course, Marieke Gouda is one of many amazing businesses in Wisconsin that is doing great things in the state. If you have another business you’d like to see profiled on Only In Wisconsin, please nominate them for a chance to be featured. And be sure to follow Only In Wisconsin on Facebook and Instagram to stay in the know on the state’s events, restaurants, local businesses, and hidden gems.