Dairy Goodness Bar
Background
- The Dairy Goodness Bar, located at the corner of Judson and Underwood, regularly ranks among the fair’s top food attractions. Located in the Dairy Building near the butter sculptures, the Dairy Goodness Bar is open throughout the fair from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
- The Dairy Goodness Bar serves malts, sundaes, ice cream cones, yogurt, cheese sticks, and milk. In 2017, more than 196,500 ice cream treats – including 93,000 malts – were served throughout the fair.
- In 2023, the public was asked to vote on the 10th annual Flavor of the Fair. Last year’s winner – Cheers for Cherries – was added to the menu and available until it sold out. The flavor was made with Minnesota dairy farmers’ secret, State Fair-recipe vanilla ice cream or malt, topped with delicious cherries and dark chocolate syrup.
- Throughout the fair, Dairy Goodness Bar visitors can make suggestions for the 2025 Flavor of the Fair, and the top choices will be put to a vote next spring.
- Malts ($6) and sundaes ($5) are available in That’s S’more Like It, mint, chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, rhubarb‐strawberry, apple‐caramel, raspberry or blueberry flavors.
- Ice cream cones ($3) are available in vanilla, chocolate and twist flavors.
- Supporting local farms and curds: In 2018, the Dairy Goodness Bar will once again sell fresh cheddar cheese curds from Redhead Creamery, located in Brooten, Minn. Fresh garlic-flavored curds from Eichten’s in Center City, Minn. are also on the menu ($3/4‐oz. package).
- Greek yogurt ($1) is available in strawberry, and regular yogurt ($1) in peach.
- Cheese sticks ($1) are available in cheddar and mozzarella.
- Milk ($1) is available in chocolate or white.
All‐You‐Can‐Drink Milk Stand
Background
- The All-You-Can-Drink Milk Stand at the corner of Judson and Clough (kitty-corner from the Coliseum) is owned by Minnesota’s 3,500 dairy farmers and operated by Midwest Dairy.
- The Milk Stand serves 2 percent white and low‐fat, 1 percent chocolate milk.
- A 12‐oz. all‐you‐can‐drink cup costs $2, one of the best bargains at the fair and the only food or drink offered as an unlimited item.
- In 2017, the All-You-Can-Drink Milk Stand served more than 12,500 gallons of 2 percent white milk and nearly 13,000 gallons of 1 percent chocolate milk.
- Throughout the day, the Milk Stand is staffed primarily by dairy farm families and other dairy supporters who volunteer their time in order to showcase their product and answer questions. The University of Minnesota Agriculture Education Club recruits and organizes the volunteers.
- In 1955, the “All the Milk You Can Drink for a Dime” milk tent opened on Machinery Hill, serving milk from a five‐gallon can.
- In 1990, an octagonal building was built at the corner of Judson and Clough.
- In 2004, a brand new, barn‐style building was constructed at the same location. Dairy farmers reinvested proceeds of previous fairs to pay for the new building.
- The building features a second story “loft” where milk is stored in 10 300‐gallon totes. The loft is supported by pre‐cast concrete designed to support 64,800 pounds.
- The loft is cooled to a consistent 38 degrees or less.
- More than 200 feet of stainless steel pipes carry the milk from tote to cup.
Did You Know…
- The average customer drinks between two and three 12‐oz. glasses of milk.
- Milk is never touched by human hands from the time it leaves the cow until a consumer receives it.
- Milk, with only three ingredients, is the foundation for all the dairy foods you love – from the cheese on your pizza to the yogurt in your morning smoothie to the ice cream in the Flavor of the Fair malt or sundae.
- Do you know most people live within 100 miles or less of a local dairy farm? Milk travels from farm to fair in about 48 hours – that’s pretty amazing!