I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!
The dairy industry has had a way of bringing people together since before “networking” became popular. This tradition held true during a recent event here where connections were realized when a 2018 Landus Cooperative scholarship recipient, Natalie Eick, showcased the value of her education with her new business, Hightail Ice Cream.
In recent years, Landus Cooperative has collaborated with Iowa State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, to award more than $40,000 in scholarships to freshmen majoring in agricultural business and agricultural studies. The scholarships not only support students’ academic endeavors but create an environment to build relationships with our employees. Eick was a recipient of a Landus Cooperative scholarship and used this opportunity to turn her dream of being an entrepreneur into reality.
Growing up on a small dairy farm in Northeast Iowa, Eick’s passion for agriculture was sparked at a young age. This passion influenced her lifelong dream – to open her own creamery and market her own dairy products.
“I love ice cream and decided it would be a great way to take the plunge without taking on as much risk as building a multi-million-dollar creamery,” Eick said while serving ice cream at Landus Cooperative’s main office for June’s dairy month recently.
With the help of a program called the Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative
Incubator, she opened Hightail Ice Cream during the Spring of 2019. To make her ice cream she adds locally-sourced ingredients to a base mix from Anderson Erickson in Des Moines, Iowa.
“Soybeans are cared for by our farmers, processed into dairy feed by our team, and fed to cattle whose milk is then made into Anderson Erickson products. This kind of connection is only made possible by the relationships we have built along every step of the supply chain. Being able to taste ice cream sourced from this full circle process allowed the Landus Cooperative team to see our SoyPlus and SoyChlor products come full circle.”
When asked what her favorite part of owning Hightail Ice Cream is, Eick says, “I love interacting with the public and educating people about the importance of agriculture in our amazing state!”
Our Landus Cooperative team enjoyed trying Eick’s numerous ice cream flavors and look forward to seeing where this venture takes her.
Hightail Ice Cream can be found on Facebook and is near Sumner, Iowa, so make sure to stop by and try Hightail’s premium ice cream flavors!
