Wisconsin Ice Cream: My Favorite Sweet Treat
- Jul 19
- 4 min read
No matter the shape, form, or flavor, ice cream is one of my favorite sweet treats. In fact, ice cream is easily my favorite food. It doesn’t matter if it’s 85 degrees and sunny, or I’m huddled under three blankets in the cold of winter—ice cream is my go-to.
From vanilla to chocolate chip cookie dough or a creamy peanut butter swirl, you can’t go wrong. Whether you enjoy toppings on your ice cream, or ice cream as a topping on your waffles or pie, National Ice Cream Month is the perfect reason to enjoy a scoop…or three!
Since 1984, July has been designated as National Ice Cream Month by a proclamation from President Ronald Reagan. It also serves as the perfect time to begin my journey as the 79th Alice in Dairyland. I’ve eagerly awaited my official start date of July 6 since being selected during the 79th Alice in Dairyland Finals hosted in Marathon County this past May.
It has already been an exciting adventure, starting with submitting my application in January, completing the in-depth 10-week Top Candidate process, and concluding the three-day finals. All six Top Candidates actively engaged in weekly marketing and communications trainings, while also gaining valuable insights into our diverse and abundant agricultural industry.
My agricultural journey began on my grandparents’ dairy farm, exploring the barn with my grandparents, helping feed calves, and whatever else I could find to help with! Through 4-H, I joined several projects that expanded my understanding of agriculture beyond dairy. In fact, Wisconsin is home to 58,000 farms that incorporate hundreds of agricultural products from berries and beef to cheese and corn.
The experiences I had in 4-H solidified my desire to continue my education in agriculture. I attended South Dakota State University (SDSU), where I earned three bachelor’s degrees in Animal Science, Agricultural Leadership, and Agricultural Science. I also stayed actively involved on campus through organizations such as the wool judging team and Little International. My involvement established important connections and enabled me to continue at SDSU for my Master of Arts in Communication and Media Studies through an assistantship with the Department of Animal Science.
I enjoyed my time in South Dakota, but Wisconsin is truly home. Following my master’s graduation in May of 2025, I returned to Wisconsin and worked as an Agricultural Marketing
Specialist at the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. With the conclusion of this short-term position, I returned to my home area to work at Red Line Ranch and substitute at a nearby school. The combination of my experiences in agriculture, communications, and education, plus my desire to bridge the gap between producers and consumers, led me to apply for Alice in Dairyland.
It was a surreal experience when I heard my name called on Saturday night of the finals. “Introducing Wisconsin’s 79th Alice in Dairyland, Anastasia Poull” continues to replay in my mind as I begin this incredible journey. I’m excited to celebrate the people, products, and places that contribute to the continued success of Wisconsin agriculture! Throughout my year, I’ll travel over 45,00 miles connecting with people at hundreds of events, school visits, and media interviews. If you’re wondering what I’m looking forward to the most, you’re not the only one. My answer? Engaging with thousands of individuals across the state who offer unique insights while also soaking in the numerous tidbits of information I’ll learn during this year.
One such tidbit is that here in America’s Dairyland, frozen treats are more than a dessert—they’re a way of life. Wisconsinites bought 74 million pints of ice cream and sherbet in 2024! My contribution to this scoop-tacular statistic involved cooling down with delicious chocolate milkshakes during county fair season. Personally, I like to enjoy ice cream on any day that ends in “y.”
Our over 5,000 dairy farms help supply the 46 dairy plants that make ice cream or ice cream mix in Wisconsin. We’re well stocked year-round, especially in July during National Ice Cream Month and on National Ice Cream Day.
National Ice Cream Day occurs annually on the third Sunday of July. This year, celebrate on July 19 with your favorite scoop (or two)! You’ll most likely find me enjoying classic vanilla or a creamy peanut butter swirl.
Enjoy National Ice Cream Month the Wisconsin way by looking for plant code “55” on your favorite flavors. This “55” is the state identification code used on cheese and dairy product labels to indicate that they were made at a licensed Wisconsin dairy plant! You can also find a local Wisconsin ice cream shop near you by visiting https://www.wisconsindairy.org/national-ice-cream-month/Wisconsin-Ice-Cream.
Alice in Dairyland is a one-year, full-time public relations professional employed by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). Each year, Alice in Dairyland travels over 45,000 miles, promoting Wisconsin agriculture, as authorized by Wis. Stat. § § 93.07(3), 93.40(1)(e), and 93.44(1)). Alice in Dairyland conducts hundreds of media interviews, speeches, and school presentations in her position.
