Harrisburg News personalities, government officials and youth dairy exhibitors joined forces in heated competition to make the coolest milkshakes on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at the 2011 All-American Dairy Show in Harrisburg.
All-American Milkshake Madness participants (l-r) Elizabeth Weber, Caitlin Pool, Matt Barcaro, Sen. Judy Schwank, Tom Russell, Cassie Musser, Sen. Elder Vogel, Jr., Valerie Pritchett, Lane Kummer, Agriculture Secretary George Greig, Jesse Kline, Cody Stephenson and Rep. Stephen Bloom.
The All-American Milkshake Madness contest is a new addition to the show, pitting four teams in a competition to create the best milkshake, evaluated on taste, creativity and presentation by a panel of judges.
Each team had 15 minutes to create a milkshake, a name for it and a team name. The energetic, festive and hectic atmosphere was punctuated by shouts of encouragement, the flutter of camera shutters and the smell of decadent dessert fixings.
Team Yeah Baby, We Got Milk was first to finish, with their All-American milkshake. Agriculture Secretary George Greig joined WHTM-ABC27 anchor Valerie Pritchett and Butler County youth exhibitor Lane Kummer in creating a chocolate-based milkshake using peanut butter, pretzels, chocolate chips, chocolate fudge and low-fat milk.
Low-fat milk ensures that our milkshakes arent just tasty, but healthy, too, quipped Jean Kummer, contest coordinator and emcee.
I cant wait, said Senator Kim Ward, one of the contest judges. The entries look like theyll taste great!
Senator Judy Schwank, of the 11th Senatorial District, joined Matt Barcaro, WGAL -TV News 8 reporter and Caitlin Pool, a Berks County youth exhibitor, in a tropically themed Strawberry Margarita Milkshake, which featured French vanilla ice cream, crushed strawberries and crushed pretzels to add salt, served in a margarita glass.
The Senators, a team comprised of Senator Elder Vogel, Jr. of the 47th Senatorial District, WHP- CBS 21 meteorologist Tom Russell and Lawrence County youth exhibitor Cassie Musser, created the Classic Western PA Milkshake. Vanilla based with a generous helping of pretzels and butterscotch, the teams twist involved a generous helping of chocolate syrup in the bottom of the milkshake.
All-American exhibitor Caitlin Pool, Sen. Judy Schwank and WGAL-TV News 8 reporter Matt Barcaro pose with their “Strawberry Margarita Milkshake” Tuesday during the All-American Milkshake Madness at the 2011 All-American Dairy Show in Harrisburg
The final entry was a nod to the Guernsey breed by the Golden Guernseys, consisting of Representative Stephen Bloom of the 199th Legislative District, Pennsylvania Alternate Dairy Princesses Jesse Kline and Elizabeth Weber and Butler County youth exhibitor Cody Stephenson.
The Golden Guernseys described their product as capturing the essence of Golden Guernsey milk, through creating a rich, French vanilla base using tans and browns, with nuts, chocolate chips and chocolate sauce. The product was aptly named the Guernsey Special.
During evaluation by judges Ward, Centerplate Concessions Chef Kasey Kirk, Franklin County dairy producer and All-American Dairy Show exhibitor Claire Burdette and Pennsylvania Dairy Princess Marissa Weidensaul, team members lobbied the judges on behalf of their creations.
After lengthy deliberation, judges settled on the following awards:
- Best Overall Classic Shake The Senators
- Healthiest Yeah, Baby, We Got Milk
- Freshest Flavor Strawberry Maragrita Milkshake
- Best Presentation Golden Guernseys
The ice cream was donated by PA Preferred member, Way-Har Farms of Berks County, and the winning team members received PA Preferred prize packs.
The 48th All-American Dairy Show, the worlds largest dairy show, runs Sept. 17-22 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg. This years show features 23 shows in six days, the nations only all-dairy antiques show, more than 2,400 animals and 935 exhibitors from 24 states and Canada. For more information, visit www.allamerican.state.pa.us or call 717-787-2905.
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