Valley Queen Cheese of Milbank recognized by U.S. Senate Small Business Committee

December 17, 2019

WASHINGTON—South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds today named Valley Queen Cheese Factory of Milbank as the Senate Small Business Committee’s “Small Business of the Week.”

Rounds was invited by Small Business Committee Chairman Marco Rubio of Florida to select a South Dakota small business to be highlighted by the committee.

Valley Queen Cheese was founded in 1929, and remains a family-run operation. It is the largest cheese plant in our state and the largest employer in Milbank.

“South Dakota is fortunate to have many thriving small businesses,” said Rounds. “It’s my honor to name Valley Queen Cheese in Milbank as the Small Business the Week. Valley Queen has been a family-run operation for four generations, and currently employs 300 individuals.

It gives back to the community through its charitable foundation, which has awarded more than $300,000 in college scholarships to local students. I thank the Nef and Gonzenbach families who started and continue to run Valley Queen Cheese for the great work they do for South Dakota.”