Individual Membership is designed for industry professionals who seek educational opportunities, networking, online resources, and professional development opportunities for personal growth and career advancement. An Individual Membership is solely and exclusively for the member named and is non-transferable. Individual Members do not have access to the following benefits that are exclusively for Organizations:

• Entering products into the ACS Judging & Competition

• Exhibiting products at Meet the Cheesemaker

Organizational Membership is for companies that wish to provide their owners, management, staff, and employees access to education, networking, and professional development, and that wish to promote their business, products, and/or services. As an Organizational Member, you can select the level that reflects the number of employees you’d like to receive benefits, from one person to unlimited representatives! Organizational Members may transfer benefits to different people, should employees at the company change. Learn more about ACS Membership Levels and Benefits. 

ACS’s membership dues are based on the calendar year and run from January 1 through December 31 annually. To take advantage of a full calendar year of benefits without any break in service, we encourage you to renew your ACS membership as soon as you receive your renewal notice.

As soon as possible! ACS memberships run on a calendar year (January 1 – December 31) and are not prorated according to when you join. If it’s late in the year and you’d rather join for the following year, please contact the ACS Management Team to learn how to do that.

If you’d like more than 5 representatives from your company to receive membership benefits, additional membership options exist at the Corporate PLUS and Corporate SUSTAINING levels.

Annual dues are based on your membership level.

YES. If you are a creamery-in-planning or in start-up mode, feel free to join as an Individual Member. Once you are up and running and want to enter our Annual ACS Judging & Competition or sample your products at Meet the Cheesemaker, you can move to an Organizational Membership at any time.

YES. You’ll need to become a member at the Small Business 1 level and complete the necessary information when you renew this year. This will ensure that you are ready to go when our entry period opens and will streamline your entry process.

YES. With a Corporate SUSTAINING Membership, one flat annual dues rate of $3,000 allows you to name a Primary Member who holds your company’s voting power, plus four additional Members, and an unlimited number of company representatives who will receive full access to all ACS products, services, benefits, and discounts. It’s an affordable way for you to attract and retain your employees while keeping them informed and educated on what’s happening in the industry.

You’ll want to join at our Corporate PLUS level. This allows for a Primary Member who holds your company’s voting power, plus four additional Members, and discounted member pricing for an unlimited number of your employees to attend our Annual Conference.

If you work in any capacity other than producing cheese or cultured dairy products, you should join as a Trade Affiliate. This category is very broad and encompasses all industry professionals other than Producers. Based on how you use your ACS benefits, you might join as an Individual, or your university, school, or company might join as an Organization.

YES. You’ll want to join in our Associate (Non-Professional) category as an Enthusiast member. If you’re a student, you can even submit your valid student ID for discounted Student member pricing!

YES. Please contact the ACS Management Team to determine the right membership level for your gift recipient.

To learn more and see examples of how your particular needs can be met, please contact us.