1884 – Our Great Great Grandpa Max P. Radloff started making cheese in Hustisford Wisconsin with one small cheese factory that received 600 lbs of milk per day.

1928 – He was operating 29 different cheese factories in Wisconsin with the help of his sons Roland and Max Jr. Their cheese products were being sold in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.

1934 - In order to reduce freight costs from Wisconsin to Ohio, Great Great Grandpa Max and his son Max Jr. came by train to Minerva to meet with area businessmen who had an empty building. The building was built by Pet Milk Co. during World War I, and went broke during the depression. At the age of 61 Great Great Grandpa Max purchased the building and the surrounding land. He later donated a large section of the land for a ball field and community building.

1935 – The first vat of cheese and batch of butter was produced this year, marking the start of The Minerva Cheese Factory. The plant averaged 800lbs of milk per day and ran with a 20hp. boiler

1937 – Max Radloff Jr. followed with plans of settling in Minerva taking over the business, and putting his fresh ideas to work. After arriving in Minerva as a newlywed, his wife of four months, suddenly died.  He then gave up his dreams and moved back to Wisconsin.

1939 – Roland, Great Great Grandpa Max’s other son, had a daughter Lorraine who was to be married in Sept. They came up with the idea that her and her husband Delbert Mueller could honeymoon in Minerva. Delbert wanted to be an ice cream maker and move to Illinois, but they agreed to go to Minerva and temporarily help out.

1939 – (Sept. 17) Delbert and Lorraine arrived with all their possessions in their car and two wheel Model A Ford trailer (wedding gifts). Lorraine took one look at the place and cried for 10 days saying over and over it looks like a hunk of Africa. Del was repairing and rebuilding before Lorraine could start unpacking.

1940 – (March 10) During a blinding snowstorm the lunch counter/cheese store opened and took in $100.

1941– WWII hit every industry including the Dairy. Our whey cream batch butter was rationed and lines formed 2 blocks deep. We were trading butter for local lumber and supplies.

1945 – Del and Lorraine built a house across the street, until then they had been living in part of the factory. Lorraine still lives in the house today.

1959 – Minerva Cheese Factory signed an agreement to sell all of its cheese to Kraft Foods.

1976 – Phil Mueller (4th Generation), and his wife Polly Cox Mueller took over the business at the untimely death of Phil’s father Delbert Mueller. Phil is a 1972 graduate of Ohio State University, and Polly a 1973 graduate of Mount Union.

1978 – Kraft wanted us to produce barrel process cheese. Our family of cheese makers took pride in producing only natural cheese products. Phil & Polly refused Kraft’s proposal and broke the agreement. This was a big decision by leaving Kraft, because Phil & Polly lost 95% of sales just two years after taking over the business. Phil’s motto: “When times get tough don’t dwell on it, work longer and harder hours” went into effect. (He is still preaching this to the 5th generation)

1980 – Major reconstruction of our milk-receiving bay and a new pasteurizer was installed which is still state of the art equipment. This equipment features a vacuum chamber, which filters odors out of milk guaranteeing a more consistent product.

1981– Phil was awarded the Young Professional Achievement Award from Ohio State.

1985 – Business was booming and a larger cheese cooler was constructed.

1988 – Phil & Polly took the plunge and installed new cheese manufacturing equipment. Parts of the roof were removed and an industrial crane was brought in to lift new vats into the building. A wall was also removed to accommodate 3 large worktables.

1988 – November 10 at 10:00pm the new equipment produced the first vat of cheese and the entire factory toasted with champagne.

1989 – This year was full of holes. Minerva Cheese Factory began making Swiss cheese. A research and development room was added including a small cheese making station. This room is used for our customers that are looking for an original product that can perform to their specific standards. Milk was plentiful and moving our way. We loaded the cooler to the ceiling. Then the unexpected cheese market dropped, and times got real tough. Our cheese was excellent quality, but the price wasn’t and no one was buying.

1989-1991 – Phil’s motto was back again: “When times get tough don’t dwell on it, work longer and harder hours”

1993 – The EPA knocked heavily on our door. A major water treatment facility was constructed, capable of handling a load 5 times our current output.

1994 – Certified Kosher butter and cheeses were organized, inspected and ready to serve the industrial trade.

1997 – Venae (Phil’s Daughter) and her husband Mark Banner were married and joined the family business. Venae and Mark both are 1996 graduates of Muskingum College. Venae moved into the role of Sales Management, and Mark into Quality Assurance Manager.

1999 – (March 10) Polly passed away from an 8 year battle with cancer.

1999 – Adam (Phil’s son) graduated from Ohio Sate and joined the family business, along with his wife Jessica. Adam has moved into the role of Projects Manager.

2000 – The new millennium was here, three 5th generation family members, and new ideas. Computers were installed throughout the factory to link production to office terminals. Cheese Towers were incorporated into production, producing a block of cheese more efficiently, and providing blocks within a fraction of a pound of the target weight.

2001 – (Feb. 24) Phil and Sarah were married, and Sarah also helps in the family business.

Here we are today...