The Missouri Legislature Has Truly Agreed to and Finally Passed Legislation to Designate the Ice Cream Cone as Missouri's Official State Dessert.
During the 2008 legislative session Missouri State Senator John Loudon and Representative Charlie Schlottach sponsored a bill to designate the ice cream cone as Missouri's official state dessert on the behalf of 19 Missouri students. This act officially and permanently preserves the historic and economic importance of the world renowned ice cream cone to the great state of Missouri. On July 10th, 2008 Governor Blunt signed the ice cream cone bill, with an effective date of August 28th, 2008.
Since the ice cream cone's official world debut at the 1904 World's Fair held in Forest Park, Missouri has continued to play a significant role in the development of the ice cream cone. The University of Missouri - Columbia is home, not only to one of America's most respected ice cream research and development facilities, but also to many nationally recognized industry experts, such as Robert Marshall.
It is hoped that passage of this bill will also be of economic benefit to the state by promoting Missouri's multi-million dollar dairy and frozen dessert industries and related tourism. Missouri ranks among the top five dairy states and is ranked tenth in ice cream production.
Many major Missouri dairy farmers and ice cream manufacturers and retailers including, Cold Stone, Prairie Farms, Central Dairy, Belfonte, Serendipity, Hiland, and North Star formally endorsed the bill. The Missouri Dairy Farmer's Assocation, the Missouri Department of Tourism and the University of Missouri's Agricultural School have also endorsed the bill. See endorsers.
The bill was proposed to Senator Loudon by 19 Missouri students, Elise Kostial; Kjia Zuroweste; Garrett and Elise Floyd; Kayleigh Hecht; Jacob, Nicholas, and Bethany Frost; Alexandra D'Ordine; Grace Savage; Elizabeth and Katie Kramer; Thatcher Broyles; Anna, Nathan and Gabriel Farrell; Louisa Geyer; and Chloe and Josie Lozano.
The students also hope to lead the way in the establishment of a commemorative monument in Forest Park and development of a state pictorial emblem that could be displayed by ice cream retailers.
The Missouri Department of Tourism recommends these fine ice cream shops accross the state. Recommedations
For more information, contact Elise Kostial at Elisekostial@msn.com .