Best Press Release of the Month: Cheese Carving

Just in case you happen to be anywhere near Wapokoneta, Ohio, in the next week. The full text of the press release, which I haven't edited except to correct the press person's misspelling of the Cheese Lady's name, is after the jump. No, I am not related to Sarah Kaufmann:

First Man on the Moon to Be Commemorated in Cheese

(Wapakoneta, OH) -Since ancient times, man has been pondering the moon, dreaming of exploring its surface. Some of those dreamers envisioned a cheesy terrain, while others confided in the "man on the moon."

July 20 marks 40 years since man first realized that dream by landing on the moon and exploring it for himself. Although the traditional 40th anniversary gift is ruby, Sarah Kaufmann, the "Cheese Lady," is commemorating the event in true "moon" form - with cheese.

Kaufmann will be carving a life-size astronaut out of 1,800 lbs. of Wisconsin mammoth, white cheddar. Appropriately, the astronaut will be holding a wheel of "Man on the Moon," Swiss cheese.

Sarah will begin carving at a pre-event celebration on July 17 and 18, at Kroger, at 475 Fortman Drive, in Saint Marys, Ohio, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Customers are invited to stop by the store, watch the carving, and purchase their own "slice of the moon". They can also enjoy wine tasting from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day and guess the weight of the completed astronaut for a chance to win a Kroger gift card.

On Sunday July 19, the astronaut carving will be moved to and completed at the Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum at 500 Apollo Drive, Wapakoneta, Ohio (at the 111 Exit for I-75). The museum will be open from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday, July 19, and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, July 20.

This special "cheesy" tribute to America's man on the moon will be on display at the Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum on July 19 and 20, alongside the world's largest MoonPie®, as part of their Wapakoneta: First to the Moon Celebration.

When American astronauts landed on the moon in 1969, it was a source of pride for Americans. This year, Sarah Kaufmann will continue that heritage, carving her own mark in astronaut history.

Sarah "The Cheese Lady" is a nationally recognized cheese sculptor. Since 1996, she has received hundreds of commissions for her cheese creations, which have captured countless media impressions. Kaufmann creates some sculptures in her studios in Cincinnati and San Diego and also appears in person to sculpt cheese at a variety of venues: food & wine festivals, supermarkets, tradeshows, state fairs, sporting events, civic celebrations and other special occasions. Some sculptures can be viewed by visiting www.sarahcheeselady.com.