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Our Ice Cream History

It’s been more than a century since the first commercial ice cream was made at SDSU. Over time, it has evolved from a dessert bought for special occasions at the drug store to a regularly eaten food found in the freezer of many American homes.

• 1910: SDSU made its first commercial ice cream.
• 1929: A service counter was built in the south end of the creamery where college students sold ice cream, butter, cheese and milk.
• 1948: 5-cent ice cream cones were sold at the original Dairy Bar.
• 1960: The price of sugar and other ice cream ingredients began an upward spiral, driving up the price of ice cream. Half-gallon containers were sold in U.S. stores for 79 cents.
• 1962: Glenda Rasmussen, wife of Wayne Rasmussen — SDSU football player and subsequently for the Detroit Lions — was the Dairy Bar sales clerk.
• 1979: Oreo ice cream, later named cookies ‘n cream, was invented by dairy plant manager Shirley Seas and dairy science students Joe Leedom and Joe Van Treeck.
• 1990: The department became a recognized leader in the development of low-fat cheese and ice cream products.
• 2004: SDSU ice cream sales went statewide. Proceeds help support the dairy student education.
• 2006: In honor of the 125th anniversary of SDSU, the Department of Dairy Science launched Campanile Crunch ice cream. The flavor captures SDSU’s contributions to the state in the past 125 years, containing a unique mixture of wheat, oats, honey-roasted soy nuts, sunflower seeds, corn sweetener and chocolate chips.
• 2011: The newly renovated Dairy Bar and Davis Dairy Plant opened.
• 2013: SDSU Cookies ‘n Cream ice cream named best ice cream treat in South Dakota by Food Network Magazine.
• 2015: Student edition ice cream and 4 oz packages introduced.