ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ

Our Ice Cream History

It’s been more than a century since the first commercial ice cream was made at ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ. Over time, it has evolved from a dessert bought for special occasions at the drug store to a regularly eaten food found in the freezer of many American homes.

• 1910: ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ made its first commercial ice cream.
• 1929: A service counter was built in the south end of the creamery where college students sold ice cream, butter, cheese and milk.
• 1948: 5-cent ice cream cones were sold at the original Dairy Bar.
• 1960: The price of sugar and other ice cream ingredients began an upward spiral, driving up the price of ice cream. Half-gallon containers were sold in U.S. stores for 79 cents.
• 1962: Glenda Rasmussen, wife of Wayne Rasmussen — ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ football player and subsequently for the Detroit Lions — was the Dairy Bar sales clerk.
• 1979: Oreo ice cream, later named cookies ‘n cream, was invented by dairy plant manager Shirley Seas and dairy science students Joe Leedom and Joe Van Treeck.
• 1990: The department became a recognized leader in the development of low-fat cheese and ice cream products.
• 2004: ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ ice cream sales went statewide. Proceeds help support the dairy student education.
• 2006: In honor of the 125th anniversary of ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ, the Department of Dairy Science launched Campanile Crunch ice cream. The flavor captures ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ’s contributions to the state in the past 125 years, containing a unique mixture of wheat, oats, honey-roasted soy nuts, sunflower seeds, corn sweetener and chocolate chips.
• 2011: The newly renovated Dairy Bar and Davis Dairy Plant opened.
• 2013: ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ Cookies ‘n Cream ice cream named best ice cream treat in South Dakota by Food Network Magazine.
• 2015: Student edition ice cream and 4 oz packages introduced.