National Ice Cream Month
July was National Ice Cream Month, and with the warm weather still keeping summer going, ice cream continues to be a hit with sports teams, families, couples, and individuals. And why not? It’s a wonderful after-dinner treat, a feel-good purchase, and one of the best ways to celebrate a spontaneous moment.
Scoop It Forward
Rochester Media was invited to Cook’s Farm Dairy on July 22 for Scoop It Forward, sponsored by the United Dairy Industry of Michigan. In the course of the two-hour promotion, the friendly team at Cook’s scooped 652 servings to both drive-through and in-store guests.
Fourth-generation, Quinton Cook, led a tour for media and industry connections to experience his family farm, meet the cows, and sample the ice cream.
Cook’s Farm Dairy is located in Ortonville, Michigan. You probably know the name. They have been around since 1933 and started selling ice cream in 1983.
Take a Tour
They offer tours—you may have been there on a school trip—where you can meet the cows and see the farm. Cook’s has about 160 cows, with 60 being Holstein milking cows. The other 100 are calves and heifers. They are friendly, and kids love meeting them, especially the baby cows.
Cook’s has a robotic milking system—installed in 2020—to milk the cows three times per day. Long gone are the days of getting up at 4:00 a.m., sitting on a stool in the dark, and milking the ladies by hand. The girls line up when they feel the need, step into the robotic machine, and in a couple of minutes they have been milked and given a nutritional treat. And that’s on the tour!
Back to Ice Cream
They sell their milk and ice cream throughout Southeast Michigan in grocery stores, but nothing beats going to the farm, saying hello to the cows, and getting an ice cream cone from their drive-through window. And when does ice cream season end? It never does at Cook’s Farm Dairy—they are open daily, year-round.
About Cook’s Farm Dairy
Since 1933, Cook’s Farm Dairy has been producing fine dairy products in Ortonville, Michigan. Visit the farm for milk, ice cream, groceries, and to meet the cows. Located at 2950 E. Seymour Lake Rd., Ortonville, Michigan, Cook’s Farm Dairy is a fourth-generation family farm. They milk their own cows, process and bottle their milk, and churn their own ice cream right on-site.
About United Dairy Industry of Michigan
The United Dairy Industry of Michigan is dedicated to securing a positive future for the dairy community, rooted in building strong relationships and trust through outreach and education. Its goal is to ensure dairy is a trusted staple in every home. Guided by a spirit of optimism and a thirst for knowledge, the organization approaches its work with the highest standards of integrity and a deep-seated commitment to the Michigan communities it proudly serves.
About Michael Dwyer