With National Ice Cream Month in full swing, there is still time to enter Fresno State’s Dog Bowl Ice Cream Eating Contest at the Rue and Gwen Gibson Farm Market .

The contest — part of the Eighth Annual Fresno State Farm Festival from 8-11 a.m. Saturday, July 12 at the Gibson Farm Market (5368 N. Chestnut Ave.) — will be held at 11 a.m.  A few slots remain open until entry closing time at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

Teams of four will compete to dethrone the reigning inaugural champions, “Garbage Guts” of Clovis — Rob Wike, Bruce Henderson, Brandon Williams and Dakota Daffron. Teams will compete to see who can devour 12 scoops (two pounds) of Fresno State ice cream the fastest.

National Ice Cream Month was established in 1984 by Presidential proclamation because “ice cream is a fun and nutritious food that is enjoyed by a full 90 percent of the nation’s population.”  The proclamation called “for all people of the United States to observe these events with appropriate ceremonies and activities.”

Produced on-campus with cheese and other dairy products, Fresno State ice cream is available in 65 flavors ranging alphabetically from Apple Pie to Rum Raisin. Flavors can be special-ordered if they’re not available in the market.

The creamery enterprise is one of 20 on the 1,000-acre University Agriculture Laboratory within Fresno State’s Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology. Student-produced products will be showcased during the farm festival.

With activities for adults and children, this year’s festival will also feature samples of olive oil, grapes and Italian ice. Fresno State’s food truck operated by University Dining Services, bulldogbites, will also be on site providing free samples.

Agricultural awareness among younger generations will be promoted through coloring contests, puzzles and educational workshops in the new Kids Zone. Some workshops have a fee for supplies. See original press release.

One example of the fun for the Kids Zone is a “Name That Fruit” game where blindfolded children standing in front of a box of unidentified fruits will be asked to pick out the correct fruit based on touch only. Face-painting will also be available.

After the festival, guests 21 and over can sample award-winning wines at a wine tasting and food pairing event in the store from noon-4 p.m. for a $3 fee (to taste the featured wines). Guests can also vote for the best tasting blends of special Sangria wine made by enology students from 1-2 p.m. (or while supplies last). Meat science students will offer samples of Fresno State salami and a special wine sale will feature Touriga for $4 per bottle.

Proceeds from the Gibson Farm Market benefit the university’s agriculture programs and students.

For more information, contact Charmayne Hefley or Nina Palomino at 559.278.4511 or farmmarket@fresnostate.edu.       

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