Pictured: Babcock Hall Dairy Plant fills and packages half-gallon containers of “175 Smore Years” ice cream at UW-Madison. The new flavor celebrates the university’s 175th anniversary. Photo courtesy of UW-Madison.
The voters have spoken: 175 S’more Years will be the commemorative ice cream flavor for the UW’s 175th anniversary celebration.
Babcock Hall Dairy Plant has already begun mixing batches of the rich, chocolate ice cream with a marshmallow swirl and graham cracker crunch. It will be available on campus today and at select local retailers after that.
“With all its educational and research achievements in the past 175 years, the University of Wisconsin has improved the lives of Wisconsinites and people everywhere in big and small ways,” says Charles Hoslet, vice chancellor for university relations at UW-Madison. “What better way to celebrate that than with a generous scoop of 175 S’more Years?”
Voters were asked to choose one of four flavors in an online poll in early October. More than 8,400 votes were cast. The other options were Demi Semi Confetti, Demi-Semi-Sweet-Centennial and Flamingos on the Hill.
Student employees help produce dairy products at the Babcock Hall Dairy Plant. The plant is a laboratory and learning facility for students, university researchers and dairy industry personnel. It reopened this year after renovations of its nearly 29,000 gross square feet.
The Babcock Dairy Plant has produced more than 200 unique ice cream flavors and 20 varieties of cheese since its founding.
July 26, 2023 marked 175 years since Wisconsin’s first governor and legislature created the University of Wisconsin. UW-Madison is honoring these historic moments as part of a year-long celebration. Programming will run through May 2024 and includes annual traditions, such as Homecoming and Founder’s Day, as well as anniversary events that will take the Badger spirit to counties across Wisconsin.
