Extra 'Big Cheeses': Alan and Ardith Crawford joined by Olson family siblings to be honored during Toledo Cheese Days festival

While Alan and Ardith Crawford are indeed Big Cheeses for the 105th annual Toledo Cheese Days festival, it was recently brought to The Chronicle's attention that there are an additional three Big Cheeses for this year's festival.

The Olson family siblings - Karen Grove, Mike Olson and Vickie Meyer - have also been named Big Cheeses for this year's festival, which was first held in 1919 to celebrate the opening of the Cowlitz Valley Cheese Association factory in downtown Toledo.

The trio of siblings were three out of four born to Ronald and Velma Olson, with the fourth being Susie, and raised on the "Kangas Farm" on Toledo Salmon Creek Road just outside of the South Lewis County community.

"The Olson family has been a part of Toledo for many generations and that still continues today. All the Olson children would like to thank everyone for choosing them to be the Big Cheeses this year as it also marks the 20-year anniversary of their dad Ron when he was selected to do the honors in 2006," the Toledo Cheese Days program magazine stated.

They will be joining the Crawfords, who while not originally from Toledo, moved there in 1966 shortly after getting married as Alan got a job teaching with the Toledo School District.

"In 1973, they built a home on Plomodon Road and moved with their four children, Roger, Lisa, Angela and Jill, establishing a family home that remains their residence to this day," the program states.

Along with Alan teaching and coaching youth sports in Toledo, Ardith has also long been involved with the Toledo business scene, having owned and operated a wig and beauty products store and an in-home center "that continues to provide childcare and preschool opportunities for Toledo families."

Both the Olson siblings and the Crawfords will be at The Big Cheese Social to kick off the 105th annual Toledo Cheese Days starting at 6 p.m. at Kemp Olson Memorial Park. Tickets for this event are sold out according to its Eventbrite website.

The Big Cheese Social won't be Cheese Days attendees only chance to see and talk to the Olson siblings and Crawfords, as they will also be featured in the Toledo Cheese Days parade, which is free to attend and begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 11. And attendees just might bump into them at other Cheese Days festival events throughout the weekend.

For a full schedule of events this weekend in Toledo during the festival, read The Chronicle's preview at https://tinyurl.com/w9dx4n4e.

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This story was originally published July 11, 2026 at 11:21 AM.