NC State’s ‘Howling Cow Ice Cream’ Unveils Brand New Food Truck: A Fresh Chapter the School’s Legendary Dairy Tradition

The cow’s officially out of the bag. NC State’s beloved Howling Cow Ice Cream has just rolled out a shiny new food truck, bringing its farm-fresh, student-made scoops directly to hungry Wolfpackers across campus.

The truck made its debut rounds today to celebrate the end of the semester, treating students and faculty with on-the-go cones and cups (starting at the bell tower).

The details on the new truck are scarce, but apparently, they’ll be making some announcements pretty soon. But the early buzz suggests this mobile creamery is about to become a campus favorite, just like the ice cream it serves.

From Lab Experiment to Campus Icon: The Howling Cow Story

Howling Cow’s roots run deep into NC State’s agricultural heritage. In the 1940s, university food scientists in the Department of Food, Bioprocessing, and Nutrition Sciences began experimenting with ice cream using fresh milk straight from the university’s own dairy farm. At first, the creamy results were reserved for campus cafeterias.

By the 1970s, Howling Cow (though not yet named) made its public debut at the North Carolina State Fair, where lines stretched long, and it quickly became the fair’s crown jewel. In 1980, a small café opened in D.H. Hill Library, selling scoops for just 30 cents each. Demand exploded.

A major turning point came in 2005 when the North Carolina General Assembly granted the dairy program an exemption allowing direct on-campus sales, with proceeds supporting the program itself.

Then, in 2008, students Gary Cartwright and Carl Hollifield led a branding project that officially christened the ice cream “Howling Cow.” The name, the iconic black cow logo with the red-and-white flower eye, and the student-driven marketing turned a research project into a full-fledged campus phenomenon and educational powerhouse.

Today, every pint and scoop starts on the 329-acre NC State Dairy Farm along Lake Wheeler Road in Raleigh. The farm houses a herd of about 170 milking cows that supply the milk and cream. The raw milk travels directly to the Feldmeier Dairy Processing Lab in Schaub Hall on main campus, where students handle production, testing, flavor creation, and packaging, all as part of hands-on learning in food science and dairy management.

The on-site Howling Cow Dairy Education Center and Creamery at 100 Dairy Lane offers the full experience: walk-up service, interactive exhibits, and the chance to enjoy ice cream while overlooking the very farm that supplies it.

What Makes ‘Howling Cow’ Special?

It’s not just ice cream, it’s a full-circle, farm-to-freezer story that supports education, research, and North Carolina’s dairy industry. The milk never leaves the university’s hands until it’s in that cone. Popular flavors include classics like Butter Almond, Chocolate Chip Mint, Cookies & Cream, and fan favorites such as Campfire Delight (our favorite), Cookie Dough², Wolf Tracks, Banana Pudding, and Cherry Vanilla. Some pints are now available in Harris Teeter stores across the state, but nothing beats the fresh stuff made right at the farm.

The new food truck will expand the brand and give the University the ability to not just reach more students, but also the Raleigh community, who may not know the Howling Cow story.