The Rotary Club of Urbana is celebrating its 60th birthday and there have been some new and exciting changes to the club. But one thing that hasn’t changed is the traditional Dairy Bar at the Champaign County Fair, evidenced by the many fair-goers in line for a delicious ice cream treat to beat the heat.
The Dairy Bar is one of the many treats people look forward to every year at the fair, according to project chair Bill Borland.
“One of the reasons we have been successful is that we strive to serve a quality product and that’s what people depend on,” Borland said. The club serves hand-dipped vanilla, chocolate and strawberry in a cone, dish or shake with chocolate shakes being the perennial favorite.
“We serve nearly 5,000 milkshakes every year. That’s a lot of ice cream!” Borland said. “Swiss cheese on rye sandwiches are another item we continue to serve that’s popular.”
Club members volunteer to work shifts scooping ice cream, serving at the counter or running the milkshake machines. “We couldn’t do what we do without our members and other volunteers who step in to help us out,” Borland said.
Many fair-goers can remember the days when the club operated two dairy bars, including one on the midway. That changed when the club consolidated to a single building, operating 11 a.m.-11 p.m. But the tradition of serving great-tasting ice cream remains the same.
Proceeds from the Dairy Bar sales support local projects such as Rotary Manor, college scholarships, Freedom Grove and community event sponsorships, and more, all of which can be seen on the distinctive plastic cups in which the single-sized milkshakes are served.
For more information on the Rotary Club of Urbana, its projects, or about joining, contact any Rotarian or email [email protected].
