For a behind-the-scenes peek into how the Creamery creates, transports and serves its frozen treats through summer storms and sweltering heat, UDaily turned to Jennifer Rodammer, director of operations and a UD alumna.

Year-round

Cows on the University of Delaware Newark Farm provide the milk for UDairy Creamery’s ice cream. 

Eight months before the fair

“Planning for the fair begins in November,” Rodammer said. “We review the previous fair and decide on flavors and quantities for next year.”

In addition to sweet corn, fairgoers' favorite flavors are mint chocolate chip, Delaware River Mud Pie, First State Cobbler and 1923, a French vanilla ice cream with swirls of caramel and chocolate chunks. All four flavors were selected to return for the 2024 event.

Six months before the fair

It’s time to make the ice cream! Production begins on the 15 delicious flavors chosen for the fair. Then, the ice cream is loaded onto a refrigerated truck and transported to a warehouse a mile from the fairgrounds. UDairy works with Harrington Logistics and formerly with Burris Logistics to ship and store the ice cream. To say thank you, the UDairy Creamery team throws an ice cream party for their 80 to 100 staff members.

Three months before the fair

Supplies are ordered. Spoons, cones, and sprinkles are stockpiled!

One month to go!

In 2023, UDairy sold 4,330 scoops of ice cream at the fair. This year, Rodammer planned to go even higher. But, who is going to scoop all that ice cream?  

Luckily, love for UDairy Creamery is statewide. Several student-employees live in downstate Delaware. These experienced team members work shifts on the Moo Mobile after their summer jobs and internships.

UDairy Creamery also receives help from Delaware FFA, a youth organization that prepares members for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture. This year, students from Middletown and Appoquinimink high schools volunteered throughout the fair, gaining hands-on work experience in an agricultural business. 

UD also calculates the hourly rate for FFA volunteers and makes an equivalent donation to their chapter, helping to support FFA activities and travel to competitions. 

“Developing relationships at the fair provides an opportunity to show high school students what they can do in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources,” Rodammer said. “I’ve met a lot of FFA students who go on to attend UD.”

It’s fair time!

Because of the long hours and high demand for ice cream, UDairy Creamery rents a house near Harrington, Delaware, for managers Garrett McManus, LeeAnne Ahamad and Angelena Andino. 

“We split up the ten days of the fair between our managers, who each work three days in a row,” Rodammer said. “These are long days, up to 14 hours.”

The Delaware State Fair runs for 10 days, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Before the fairgrounds open to the public, UDairy staff restock, collecting ice cream from the nearby warehouse. 

“You also have to count the money from the day before,” Rodammer laughed, “instead of trying to do that at 11:30 at night.” 

All the advance planning means that flavors rarely run out during the 10-day fair. Deciding how much ice cream to pull from the warehouse each day is trickier. It involves an ever-changing calculation that factors the previous day’s sales, weather prediction and scheduled special events.

This year, temperatures hovered near 90 degrees, part of a record-breaking heat wave. Rodammer recalls a year when rain flooded the path to the Moo Mobile. But the high temperatures and long days couldn’t phase student-employee Alonzo Walker.

“The 10 hours flew by,” Walker exclaimed. “I joked around with my coworkers as we scooped ice cream. I took orders while watching the fair go on around me.” 

Walker and his fellow student-employees and staff managed to top last year’s record, serving up 4,592 scoops of ice cream at the 2024 Delaware State Fair.

In addition to selling ice cream, the Moo Mobile offered a great way to engage the community. UDairy Creamery distributed materials to College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) alumni seeking to reconnect with the college. UD student-athletes, senior staff, and even CANR Dean Brian Farkas stopped by to say hello. Prominent Delaware officials who ordered a cone included UD alumna Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester and Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Michael Scuse.

“UDairy Creamery showcases our college’s hands-on learning opportunities,” Rodammer said. “Students make the ice cream, serve the ice cream, and they help run this business.”

The hands-on experience has been invaluable for Walker, who is majoring in nutrition.

“Working at the UDairy Creamery, I am gaining food-service experience,” Walker said. “I work with a variety of ingredients, nutrition facts labels, and I utilize the information I learned in class.” 

The state fair also provides an expanded clientele to the Newark-based creamery.

“We have people that come back every year,” Rodammer said. “They’re excited to see UDairy Creamery downstate.” 

Rodammer enjoys these moments and remembers faces she will also see again in October at UD’s Coast Day when the Moo Mobile will serve Sussex County. 

“People get excited about our story,” Rodammer said. “A lot of people want to ask questions, and some of my fondest fair memories involve explaining our mission and where we come from.” 

Delawareans appreciate fair vendors who are local to the state, and their support makes it all worthwhile.

“I had a great time,” Walker exclaimed. “I am looking forward to working at the state fair again next year!” 

Rodammer agrees. “It’s a hot week, it’s a long week,” she said, smiling, “but it’s a fun week!”