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Fact Sheet: Midwest Dairy Dairy Goodness Bar & All‐You‐Can‐Drink Milk Stand

Minnesota State Fair Milk Stand sign and building

Dairy Goodness Bar

Background

  • The Dairy Goodness Bar, located at the corner of Judson and Underwood, regularly ranks among the fair’s top food attractions. Located in the Dairy Building near the butter sculptures, the Dairy Goodness Bar is open throughout the fair from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
  • The Dairy Goodness Bar serves malts, sundaes, ice cream cones, yogurt, cheese sticks, and milk. In 2024, more than 156,000 ice cream treats – including 70,000 malts – were served throughout the fair.
  • This year’s Flavor of the Fair , “Cookie Butter Cheesecake,” ($9) has been added to the menu and will only be available during this year’s fair. The flavor is made with Minnesota dairy farmers’ secret, State Fair-recipe vanilla ice cream or malt and is covered in decadent cheesecake pieces, topped with cookie butter sauce, and a cookie.
  • Throughout the fair, Dairy Goodness Bar visitors can make suggestions for 2026’s Flavor of the Fair, and the top choices will be put to a vote next spring.
  • Malts and sundaes are available in chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, rhubarb‐strawberry, and other flavors.
  • Ice cream cones are available in vanilla, chocolate and twist flavors.
  • Greek yogurt is available in strawberry, and regular yogurt in peach.
  • Cheese sticks are available in cheddar and mozzarella.
  • Milk is available in chocolate or white.

Did You Know…

  • Chocolate is the most popular malt flavor sold at the Dairy Goodness Bar.
  • Strawberry is the Number 1 fruit flavor sold at the Dairy Goodness Bar.
  • The Dairy Goodness Bar features Minnesota Grown rhubarb and apples from Pine Tree Orchard in White Bear Lake.
  • Dairy is local, and items at the Dairy Goodness Bar are no exception. The white and chocolate milk is from Stony Creek Dairy, the peach yogurt is produced by Land O’ Lakes and the cheddar and mozzarella cheese sticks are produced by Bongards.
  • The current Dairy Goodness Bar debuted in 1968. In 1994, dairy farmers funded a major long‐term improvement to the Dairy Goodness Bar, installing a state-of-the-art mini ice cream plant onsite. In 2010, a new energy-efficient cooler was installed, and in 2011, dairy farmers replaced all 14 malt and ice cream machines with new, more energy-efficient units, which enable them to serve more customers faster.

All‐You‐Can‐Drink Milk Stand

Background

  • The All-You-Can-Drink Milk Stand at the corner of Judson and Clough (kitty-corner from the Coliseum) is owned by Minnesota’s nearly 1,800 dairy farmers and operated by Midwest Dairy.
  • 2025 marks 70 years of the All-You-Can-Drink Milk at the Minnesota State Fair.
  • The Milk Stand serves 2 percent white and low‐fat, 1 percent chocolate milk.
  • A 12‐oz. all‐you‐can‐drink cup costs $3, one of the best bargains at the fair and the only food or drink offered as an unlimited item.
  • Each year, the All-You-Can-Drink Milk Stand serves more than 13,000 gallons of 2% white milk and 1% chocolate milk. 
  • Chocolate milk is the No. 1 seller with a slight lead over white milk. 
  • Throughout the day, the Milk Stand is staffed primarily by dairy farm families and other dairy supporters who volunteer their time to showcase their product and answer questions. The University of Minnesota Agriculture Education Communication and Marketing Club recruits and organizes the volunteers.
  • In 1955, the “All the Milk You Can Drink for a Dime” milk tent opened on Machinery Hill, serving milk from a five‐gallon can.
  • In 1990, an octagonal building was built at the corner of Judson and Clough.
  • In 2004, a brand new, barn‐style building was constructed at the same location. Dairy farmers reinvested the proceeds of previous fairs to pay for the new building.
  • The building features a second-story “loft” where milk is stored in 10 300‐gallon totes. The loft is supported by pre‐cast concrete designed to support 64,800 pounds.
  • The loft is cooled to a consistent 38 degrees.
  • More than 200 feet of stainless-steel pipes carry the milk from tote to cup.

Did You Know…

  • The average customer drinks between two and three 12‐oz. glasses of milk.
  • Milk is never touched by human hands from the time it leaves the cow until a consumer receives it.
  • Milk, with only three ingredients (milk, Vitamin D, and Vitamin A), is the foundation for all the dairy foods you love – from the cheese on your pizza to the yogurt in your morning smoothie to the ice cream in the Flavor of the Fair malt or sundae.
  • Do you know most people live within 100 miles or less of a local dairy farm? Milk travels from farm to fair in about 48 hours – that’s pretty amazing!