APLU Hosts Capitol Hill Reception Showcasing the Impact of Public Universities’ Agriculture Programs

APLU hosted a Capitol Hill reception on June 2 showcasing the joys and real-world impact of public and land-grant university creameries. The reception featured ice cream and cheese products from public and land-grant university colleges of agriculture, highlighting the societal benefit of university-based research, teaching, and Extension in food and agricultural sciences. Nearly 1,000 congressional staff, members of Congress, and other stakeholders attended the event. View a roundup of photos from the event.

APLU President Waded Cruzado gave welcoming remarks, thanking congressional staff and members of Congress for attending and sharing about the extraordinary impact of the education, research, and community engagement and Extension missions of public and land-grant universities.

Lawmakers and congressional staff had the opportunity to sample ice cream and cheese from 20 university creameries. The showcase included classics like cookies and cream and flavors highlighting state agricultural products. such as muscadine from Mississippi, pecans from New Mexico, and even sweet corn from Iowa and Nebraska all spun into bite-sized scoops.

The participating public university creameries collectively served over 6,000 cones and 30 unique food products: 

• California Polytechnic State University
• California State University, Fresno
• Clemson University
• Cornell University
• University of Delaware
• The University of Georgia
• Iowa State University
• Louisiana State University Agricultural Center
• Michigan State University
• University of Minnesota
• Mississippi State University
• University of Nebraska
• New Mexico State University
• North Carolina A&T State University
• North Carolina State University
• Penn State University
• South Dakota State University
• The University of Tennessee
• Washington State University
• University of Wisconsin–Madison

APLU thanks the University of Delaware for its leadership role helping organize the event and all participating institutions for highlighting the vital role of public and land-grant universities in society at large. APLU also thanks to Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) of the House Committee on Agriculture for serving as the congressional event sponsor.