With 541,000 dairy cows working hard to produce 1.2 billion gallons of milk annually, the dairy business is big business in Pennsylvania. So it was only right that dairy promotion groups "heaped up" June dairy month publicity on the steps of the state Capitol this week, kicking off dairy farm tours and related celebrations across the Commonwealth.
Amid the festivities, a gigantic ice cream sundae was created, then slowly dismantled ice cream scoop by scoop. How big? Here are the mountain's spec's:
• 90 gallons of Turkey Hill vanilla ice cream
• 10 gallons of chocolate fudge
• 10 gallons of cherries
• 30 pounds of chopped pecans
Ag Secretary Russell Redding, Pennsylvania Dairy Princess Krystal Wasson, Alternate Dairy Princess Karla Stoltzfus, and Berks County dairy farmer Lolly Lesher top the 90-gallon sundae with a mega-cherry ball.
• Topped by real whipped cream and a 12-inch ball of cherries.
The Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association and Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program are funded by dairy farm checkoff dollars. For more information, visit www.dairyspot.com.