The RDU Buzz

By Chelsea Nallenweg 

Howling Cow Dairy Education Center- Raleigh

The Howling Cow Dairy Education Center and Creamery in Raleigh is a 329 acre farm where families can enjoy homemade ice cream while supporting local college students at NC State! It is also a great place to learn about the art of dairy production. For over 50 years, Howling Cow has been a beloved tradition for North Carolinians, offering ice cream made from fresh milk and cream sourced directly from NC State University’s Raleigh farm cows. Crafted in the university’s Feldmeier Dairy Processing Lab in Schaub Hall, Howling Cow ice cream supports the education of future dairy professionals while delivering a variety of delicious flavors. In the 1940s Howling Cow was a research project started in a lab, then in the 1970s the ice cream made its first appearance at the NC State Fair, and now North Carolinians can buy the ice cream all over the state!

The Education Center and Creamery’s atmosphere is perfect for a nice family outing. While adults can sit back and relax in the Adirondack chairs on the shaded porch, kids are free to run and play in the grassy farm fields or look at the cows, creating a welcoming and laid-back environment for everyone. Visitors can enjoy a full menu of treats, including scooped ice cream, banana splits, sundaes, milkshakes, specialty coffees, and non-dairy smoothies. Visitors can even take home Howling Cow ice cream in pints or 4 oz. cups, milk, or branded merchandise. Visitors can also tour the farm to see firsthand how the ice cream ingredients are produced, offering a true farm-to-cone experience in a fun, family-friendly setting. The creamery is open 7 days a week from 12-7pm so it’s a perfect place to enjoy some ice cream outside in the beautiful fall weather in Raleigh!