Cheesehead

For the screw head shape, see Cheese head (screw).

Cheesehead

A Packers fan wearing Cheesehead hat
Origin/etymology	Sports
Meaning	Person from Wisconsin Fan of the Green Bay Packers
Original form	Derogatory term, now a common nickname
Context	Wisconsin is "America's Dairyland"

Cheesehead is a nickname in the United States for a person from Wisconsin^[1] or for a fan of the Green Bay Packers.

Background

Wisconsin is associated with cheese because the state historically produced more dairy products than other American states, giving it the nickname "America's Dairyland".^[2] The use of the term "Cheesehead" as a derogatory word for Wisconsinites originated with Illinois football and baseball fans to refer to opposing Wisconsin sports fans. The term, however, was quickly embraced by Wisconsinites and is now a point of pride.^[3]

Other uses

During World War II, German soldiers mockingly referred to the Dutch as cheeseheads because of the Netherlands' extensive dairy farming industry. The Dutch term kaaskop, literally "cheese head", is considered a profanity to refer to a person as stupid or dense.^[4]

In the 1969 novel Papillon, the term was used to describe the unsophisticated jurors who voted to convict the main character.^[5]

Cheesehead hat

Rose Bruno first saw a cardboard "Cheesehead" hat at a Milwaukee Brewers vs. Chicago White Sox game in Chicago in 1987 worn by fellow Milwaukeean Amerik Wojciechowski.^[6][7] Ralph Bruno later made the first one out of foam while he was cutting up his mother's couch. It was made popular by centerfielder Rick Manning, who saw the hat while playing.^[8][9] Bruno started a multi-million-dollar business to sell the hats as novelties. The "Cheesehead" trademark is owned by Foamation, Inc. of St. Francis, Wisconsin, which began manufacture of the wearable, foam "Cheesehead" in 1987.^[10] Along with the original Cheesehead "wedge", Foamation has made other similar "cheese" apparel, including baseball caps, cowboy hats, and earrings. In 2023, Bruno sold Foamation to the Green Bay Packers, making the Cheesehead official Packers merchandise.^[11][12]

The Cheesehead gained attention in 1995, when Packers fan Frank Emmert Jr. was flying on a private plane back to Wisconsin after attending a Packers game against the Cleveland Browns and the plane crashed due to ice accumulation. Emmert suffered a broken ankle and other minor injuries but was saved from further serious injury when he used his Cheesehead for protection in the crash.^[13] In 2013, sports fans of Chicago replied to their rivals by wearing cheese graters.^[14]

Cheesehead hats have evolved beyond sports to become a cultural and political symbol of Wisconsin. Notably, Wisconsin delegates wore Cheesehead hats at both the 2024 Republican National Convention^[15][16] and the 2024 Democratic National Convention^[17][18] to represent their state.

See also

• List of demonyms for US states and territories

References

1. Kapler, Joseph, Jr. "On Wisconsin Icons: When You Say 'Wisconsin', What Do You Say?" Wisconsin Magazine of History, vol. 85, no. 3 (Spring 2002), pp. 18–31.
2. Kane, Joseph Nathan; Alexander, Gerard L. (1979). Nicknames and sobriquets of U.S. cities, States, and counties. Scarecrow Press. p. 412. ISBN 9780810812550. Wisconsin – America's Dairyland, The Badger State ... The Copper State ...
3. Foamation: About Us, archived from the original on 2009-03-02.
4. McCollum, Maureen (October 18, 2019). "Why Do People Wear Cheeseheads?". WPR. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
5. Carlton, Jeremy (November 24, 2015). "A Chicago insult we embraced: 10 things you need to know about Cheeseheads". OnMilwaukee. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
6. Foamation, Inc. v. Wedeward Enterprises, Inc., 947 F.Supp. 1287 (E.D. Wis. 1996)
7. Cigelske, Tim (September 8, 2005), "When I was 30: Michael Bednar: Cheeseheads were spreading", MKE, archived from the original on August 1, 2007.
8. "Greg Garber News, Videos, Photos, and PodCasts - ESPN". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on September 14, 2008.
9. "State honors cheesehead hat creator".
10. "Trademark Serial Number 75106687". U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. 1996-05-20. Retrieved 2019-08-21.
11. "Green Bay Packers acquire cheesehead hat-maker Foamation", WTMJ-TV, July 24, 2023.
12. "Green Bay Packers acquire maker of Cheesehead hats". WBAY.com. July 24, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
13. "Cheesehead May Have Been a Livesaver". Chicago Tribune. 9 November 1995. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
14. Cheddar shredder - Chicago Tribune, 26 December 2013
15. Bentley, Drake. "'Why are people wearing cheese hats?': What to know about the Cheesehead — a Wisconsin product". Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
16. Wise, David (2024-07-19). "Wisconsin delegation dons cheesehead hats for final day of RNC". WisPolitics. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
17. Karnopp, Hope. "New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore sign Packers cheesehead hats at DNC". Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
18. van Wagtendonk, Anya (2024-08-20). "Wisconsin Democrats prepare for symbolic roll call in unusual DNC". WPR. Retrieved 2024-08-21.