Icecream Journal

The following is an excerpt from our official history book, Turkey Hill: A Family Vision. To purchase your own copy, visit our online store.

Whenever Turkey Hill products are introduced into a new territory, the Giant Cow can be found promoting the brand at various events. By the year 2000, her calendar had so many appearances scheduled, the Dairy decided to purchase a second giant cow. Less than five years later, a third cow was added to keep up with the demand. Although the sister cows are all the same size and shape, each has different spots. All three are kept busy attending store openings, promotional events, parades, and professional sporting events throughout the Northeast.

As one would expect, the Turkey Hill Cow tends to attract attention wherever she goes. This attention often results in mishaps or other experiences that make for interesting stories. The giant cow was once ticketed for speeding at 70 miles per hour. To this allegation, the driver instinctively responded, “Now officer, you know that no cow can run that fast!”

Unfortunately, some stories are far less amusing. Because of the giant cow’s height, her head was once decapitated as she went through an underpass. The cow has also been the target of vandalism, from pranksters trying to repaint her spots to more severe scrapes and cuts. She was once even the victim of a drive-by shooting in New York City. Suffering from holes in her side, she was immediately taken to the Dairy’s garage, where she was patched, painted, and restored to her old self.

Although the three giant cows have never produced a drop of milk, they are assets wherever they go. After all, “Giant cows make people smile!”

Thanks to everyone for your great suggestions in our previous post on how to cure an ice cream headache. We’re going to summarize some of your ideas in a future Ice Cream Journal write-up and maybe even test some of them to see how well they work!

The following is an excerpt from our official history book, Turkey Hill: A Family Vision. To purchase your own copy, visit our online store.

In 1967, Turkey Hill Dairy purchased a Jersey cow that did not resemble an other Jersey cows found on the rolling hills surrounding the Dairy. The 13-and-a-half foot tall “herd of one” was made with reddish brown fiberglass, weighed in at over 3,500 pounds, and sported a set of three-foot horns. Because she was used to promote the All-Jersey line of milk, a giant milk carton was also displayed on the front of her trailer.

To name the giant cow, a contest was run asking for suggestions from schoolchildren. The contest winner suggested the name Proteina, and the newly named giant cow quickly became the company’s roving ambassador. Turkey Hill retired Proteina when the All-Jersey line of milk was discontinued. It did not take long, however, before the Dairy introduced a new cow. In 1977, Proteina was transformed from a Jersey cow to a giant black and white Holstein. At this time, her horns were permanently removed to avoid further havoc on utility lines and low underpasses.

In 1985, the Turkey Hill Cow, as she became known, made her first trip outside of central Pennsylvania to Independence Square in Philadelphia for the annual “Every Day is Sundae” Festival. Because this was the first of many ice cream giveaways, the Turkey Hill milk carton on the front of the trailer was replaced with an ice cream container.

(In the next chapter of Turkey Hill giant cow history, we’ll talk about some of the giant cow’s brushes with the law and her first trip overseas!)