Showcase Dairy Industry, Products
The Ice Cream Party has been an essential summertime event for members of Congress, their families, Capitol Hill staff and many other special guests since it began in 1982. Guests from President Ronald Reagan to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., and the late Sen. Ted Kennedy have all played a part in the annual event. For IDFA, it’s a valuable opportunity to showcase the dairy industry and its delicious products to federal policymakers. Hundreds of people from across the country—from Alaska to Florida—took to social media to share photos from the event or to offer their thoughts and comments about their love of ice cream and dairy products, using #Hillscoops. “Ice cream really brings people together. Many attendees came out in groups with friends, family and colleagues. We talked about our love for ice cream, including our favorite flavors. Several mentioned the importance of the dairy industry to their states and local communities,” Dykes said. In 2017, about 1.4 billion gallons of ice cream and related frozen desserts were produced in the United States. Ice cream is an $11 billion industry in the United States that supports 26,000 direct jobs and generates $1.6 billion in direct wages, according to IDFA’s Dairy Delivers®.The Capitol Hill Ice Cream Party is one of the most popular and anticipated events in Washington. This year, to help congressional staff shuttle bowls of ice cream from the party to their offices, IDFA provided branded cardboard carrying trays. Here are additional photos from yesterday’s successful event.
Thank You, Sponsors
IDFA would like to thank the sponsors of the event for providing the ice cream and the root beer, as well as paper goods and plasticware.- American Beverage Association
- Blue Bell Creameries
- Galliker Dairy Company
- Gifford’s Dairy Inc.
- Hershey Creamery Company
- Hiland Dairy Foods Co., LLC
- HP Hood LLC
- Hunter Farms
- Jack & Jill D.S.D.
- Ice Cream Specialties/Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc.
- The Ice Cream Club, Inc.
- Mayfield Dairy Farms/Dean Foods Company
- Perry's Ice Cream Company, Inc.
- Pierre's Ice Cream Company
- Schoep’s Ice Cream Co., Inc.
- Turkey Hill Dairy Inc.
- Wells Enterprises, Inc.