The folks in Harrisburg, Pa. sure were lucky last Tuesday, when the state’s dairy farmers built a 90-gallon ice cream sundae on the Capitol Building steps! The sundae was built to celebrate June Dairy Month and is an annual salute to dairy farmers is sponsored by Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program and Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association, who work together to build demand for dairy products. What a treat!
This year, the dairy industry marks the 72nd anniversary of honoring our nation’s hard-working dairy farmers. Dairy is the largest segment of Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry, generating more than $2.22 billion in economic activity. Pennsylvania’s 550,000 dairy cows produce 10.7 billion pounds of milk each year.
“Producing fresh, local, nutritious milk for my fellow Pennsylvanians is a great honor,” said Tim Kurtz, a Berks County dairy farmer who will speak on behalf of the state’s dairy farmers. “I get to work with cows, the land and my family every day, which makes dairy farming one of the best jobs around.”
In addition to Kurtz, Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Dennis C Wolff and Pennsylvania Dairy Princess LeeAnn Kapanick helped kick off the day’s festivities with opening comments.
Following the opening remarks, volunteers created the giant sundae using 90 gallons of Turkey Hill vanilla ice cream. The mountain of ice cream was covered with 10 gallons of chocolate fudge, 10 gallons of strawberries and 30 pounds of chopped pecans, all donated by Turkey Hill Dairy of Lancaster. The sundae was topped off with real whipped cream and a giant 12-inch ball of cherries.
According to Cindy Weimer, director of Industry Image and Relations for Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association, this event reinforces the common goals shared by dairy farmers, milk processors and industry partners.
“June’s 30 days are a wonderful opportunity to salute the 8,200 Pennsylvania families who produce 5.8 percent of the nation’s total milk supply,” Weimer said. “This event is just one of many dairy checkoff programs designed to help increase the demand for and sales of milk and dairy products.”