Just a few years ago Washington only had a handful of artisan cheesemakers, but now the state boasts over 40 of them. On Saturday, the first ever Washington Artisan Cheesemakers Festival will take place in the Seattle Design Center, highlighting the great products coming out of the area.

Sherwin Ferguson probably is the newest cheesemaker in the whole festival: She just got her dairy license in February. The founder and herdmaster at Mountain Lodge Farm in Eatonville, Ferguson keeps a herd of 27 La Mancha and Nigerian dwarf goats. She makes fresh chevre, a raw aged tomme and a pasteurized bloomy cheese, all of which will be up for tasting at the festival.

Read the stories of three young cheesemakers here.