
Watonga Cheese Factory was founded in 1940 in Watonga, Oklahoma, and has been making high-quality cheddar cheese by hand ever since. The factory was purchased by Casey and Brandi Cowan in 2002, who rebuilt the company after investors took over in the late '90s and abandoned the original Watonga Cheese recipe and processes. In 2007, Tropical Storm Erin demolished the factory, but it has since been relocated to Perryton, Texas, where it continues to produce rich, handmade cheddar cheese.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Watonga, Oklahoma |
| Year founded | 1940 |
| Current location | Perryton, Texas |
| Owners | Casey and Brandi Cowan |
| Products | Mild cheddar, sharp cheddar, bacon cheddar, cheddar pepper, onion cheddar, cheese curds, longhorn cheddar, cheese sausage, jalapeno cheddar curds, jalapeno cheese sausage, cheddar pepper block cheese |
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What You'll Learn
- Watonga Cheese Factory was founded in 1940 in Watonga, Oklahoma
- The factory was purchased by Casey and Brandi Cowan in 2002
- The Cowans operated the factory from their home in Balko, Oklahoma and from a home in Watonga
- Tropical Storm Erin demolished the factory in 2007
- The factory has a new location in Perryton, Texas

Watonga Cheese Factory was founded in 1940 in Watonga, Oklahoma
The Watonga Cheese Factory was founded in 1940 in Watonga, Oklahoma, and has been producing high-quality, all-natural cheddar cheese by hand ever since. The factory was established by John Knudsen and has been using the same recipe for almost 80 years. In 2002, the factory was purchased by Casey and Brandi Cowan, who rebuilt the company after investors took over in the late '90s and abandoned the original Watonga Cheese recipe and processes. After buying the factory, Casey spent several months learning Watonga Cheese's signature recipe and processes under the direction of its original cheese maker.
The Cowans operated the factory from their home in Balko, Oklahoma, and from a home in Watonga. However, in 2007, Tropical Storm Erin brought 80-mile-an-hour winds and 9 to 11 inches of rain to Watonga, demolishing the factory. Despite this setback, the Watonga Cheese Factory continued to produce its beloved cheddar cheese and has since expanded its offerings. In addition to its classic mild cheddar, sharp cheddar, and bacon cheddar, the factory now offers innovative flavours such as jalapeno cheddar curds, jalapeno cheese sausage, and cheddar pepper block cheese. The factory has also opened a retail store and offers gift baskets, showcasing its commitment to bringing its delicious products to cheese lovers everywhere.
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The factory was purchased by Casey and Brandi Cowan in 2002
Watonga Cheese Factory was founded in 1940 in Watonga, Oklahoma, and has since made a name for itself by producing high-quality, all-natural cheddar cheese by hand. The factory was purchased by Casey and Brandi Cowan in 2002, and they rebuilt the company, which was struggling after investors took over in the late '90s and abandoned the original Watonga Cheese recipe and processes. After buying the factory, Casey spent several months learning Watonga Cheese's signature recipe and processes under the direction of its original cheese maker. Brandi and Casey operated the factory from their home in Balko, Oklahoma, and from a home in Watonga. However, in 2007, Tropical Storm Erin brought 80-mile-an-hour winds and 9 to 11 inches of rain to Watonga, demolishing the factory.
Despite this setback, the Cowans persevered and continued to produce their beloved cheese. They relocated to Perryton, Texas, where they have a new factory and retail store. Here, they continue to make their signature cheddar cheese, including mild cheddar, sharp cheddar, bacon cheddar, cheddar pepper, and onion cheddar. They also sell cheese curds and approximately 50 different kinds of other manufacturers' cheeses. The Watonga Cheese Factory has now been in operation for almost 80 years and still prides itself on its rich, handmade cheddar cheese, full of flavour.
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The Cowans operated the factory from their home in Balko, Oklahoma and from a home in Watonga
Watonga Cheese Factory was founded in 1940 in Watonga, Oklahoma, and has since made a name for itself by producing high-quality, all-natural cheddar cheese by hand. The factory was established by John Knudsen and was purchased in 2002 by Casey and Brandi Cowan. The Cowans operated the factory from their home in Balko, Oklahoma, and from a home in Watonga. They rebuilt the company, which had been struggling after investors took over in the late '90s and abandoned the original Watonga Cheese recipe and processes. After buying the factory, Casey spent several months learning Watonga Cheese's signature recipe and processes under the direction of its original cheese maker. Unfortunately, Tropical Storm Erin brought 80-mile-an-hour winds and 9 to 11 inches of rain to Watonga in 2007, demolishing the factory. Despite this setback, the Watonga Cheese Factory continues to produce its traditional, handmade cheddar cheese at its new location in Perryton, Texas.
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Tropical Storm Erin demolished the factory in 2007
Watonga Cheese Factory was founded in 1940 in Watonga, Oklahoma. The factory was purchased by Casey and Brandi Cowan in 2002, who rebuilt the company after investors took over in the late '90s and abandoned the original Watonga Cheese recipe and processes. Unfortunately, Tropical Storm Erin demolished the factory in 2007. The storm brought 80-mile-an-hour winds and 9 to 11 inches of rain to Watonga.
The Cowans operated the factory from their home in Balko, Oklahoma, and from a home in Watonga. After the storm, the factory relocated to Perryton, Texas, where it continues to produce high-quality, all-natural cheese.
The Watonga Cheese Factory has a rich history that spans almost 80 years. The factory uses the same recipe it has used since its founding to produce its rich, handmade cheddar cheese. The company offers over 60 quality items, including mild cheddar, sharp cheddar, bacon cheddar, cheddar pepper, and onion cheddar cheeses.
In addition to its cheese products, the factory also sells cheese curds and approximately 50 different kinds of other manufacturers' cheeses. The Watonga Cheese Factory is a beloved fixture in the community, with a proud tradition of producing delicious, natural cheese.
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The factory has a new location in Perryton, Texas
The Watonga Cheese Factory was founded in 1940 in Watonga, Oklahoma, and has since become known for its high-quality, handmade cheddar cheese. In 2002, the factory was purchased by Casey and Brandi Cowan, who rebuilt the company after investors had taken over in the 1990s and abandoned the original Watonga Cheese recipe and processes.
In 2007, Tropical Storm Erin brought 80-mile-an-hour winds and 9 to 11 inches of rain to Watonga, demolishing the factory. Following this, the Cowans operated the factory from their home in Balko, Oklahoma, and from a home in Watonga.
Now, the Watonga Cheese Factory has a new location in Perryton, Texas. In addition to producing all-natural cheese, the factory has a retail store where customers can buy a variety of Watonga cheddar cheeses, including mild cheddar, sharp cheddar, bacon cheddar, cheddar pepper, and onion cheddar. The factory also sells cheese curds and approximately 50 different kinds of other manufacturers' cheeses.
The Watonga Cheese Factory continues to pride itself on its long-standing tradition of producing rich, handmade cheddar cheese, with over 60 quality items to choose from.
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Frequently asked questions
Watonga Cheese is made in Watonga, Oklahoma. The Watonga Cheese Factory was founded in 1940 and has been making cheese by hand using the same recipe ever since.
No. The factory was demolished by Tropical Storm Erin in 2007. It now has a new location in Perryton, Texas, but still prides itself on its 70-year tradition of producing rich, handmade cheddar cheese.
The factory was established by John Knudsen in 1940. It was then purchased by Casey and Brandi Cowan in 2002.
The factory makes mild cheddar, sharp cheddar, bacon cheddar, cheddar pepper, onion cheddar, and jalapeno cheddar, as well as cheese curds and cheese sausage.

























