'Why are people wearing cheese hats?': What to know about the Cheesehead — a Wisconsin product

"Why are people wearing cheese hats?" asked one X user Thursday night.

It's a bit shocking to a Wisconsinite, but apparently parts of the country have never seen a Cheesehead.

Delegates from Wisconsin have been sporting the Cheesehead Thursday at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, in which former President Donald Trump will speak and accept the GOP presidential nomination.

The triangle-shaped, foam hats have been a part of Wisconsin culture since the 1980s. First making an appearance at the Milwaukee Brewers game in 1987, the Cheesehead is a staple at Lambeau Field during Green Bay Packers games.

Known as the "America's Dairyland," Wisconsin has a long history of milk and cheese production.

The hats actually originate in Wisconsin's biggest city, Milwaukee, home to the Bucks and Brewers.

Ralph Bruno, the creator, went to his mother's south side Milwaukee home to help her reupholster a couch. When they took the couch apart, Bruno thought the foam inside looked like cheese, so he cut a piece into a triangle, burned some holes into the foam, and spray-painted it yellow.

Bruno wore the hat to a Brewers game and instantly the hats were a hit.

Soon, Bruno made more of them and sold them from a garbage bag at the next game he attended. That led to neighborhood retail sales and, eventually, the creation of Foamation Inc. Now, there are a robust variety of Cheesehead variations including cowboy hats, baseball caps and koozies. The Packers acquired Foamation in 2023.

Over time, the Cheesehead has inspired song parodies and been featured in a Lil’ Wayne tribute to the Green & Gold (er, Yellow). It’s been worn or displayed by famous figures including George W. Bush, Jodie Foster, Phoebe Bridgers and John F. Kennedy Jr. And despite Chicago Bears fans’ efforts to shred them with their answer — the Graterhead — Cheeseheads are here to stay.

Jessie Opoien of the Journal Sentinel contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about the Cheesehead — a Wisconsin product