Envoy Newsbreak

Omaha, Neb.—Spotlights, limousines and celebrity arrivals are just some of the Hollywood-like aspects of a special “Community Appreciation” event that will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 25, in Woodbine, Iowa. A large crowd is expected at the Woodbine High School gymnasium as Roberts Dairy thanks the community for its cooperation and participation in the filming of Roberts’ 100th anniversary commercials in July of 2005.

On the agenda for the hour-long ceremony at 7 p.m. are introductions of the local “stars” of the commercial, the presentation of a new milk vending machine for the school’s commons area, a special gift from Roberts Dairy to the Woodbine Saddle Club, remarks by Woodbine Mayor Bill Hutchinson and Woodbine Superintendent of Schools Dr. Terry Hazard, as well as a video presentation that includes new Roberts Dairy commercials featuring segments shot in Woodbine. Everyone in attendance will be invited to sample free Roberts Dairy milk and ice cream.

A pep rally-type event involving the elementary, junior high and high school students precedes the community celebration. At 2 p.m., students will compete in a Hiland-Roberts Dairy ice cream cone stacking contest, as well as an ice cream eating contest that pits students against faculty. Also at this time, the final results will be announced of a class-by-class fundraising effort to collect money for the purchase of the new milk vending machine. Students raised money in a variety of ways, including the sale of special “Tigers Got Milk” T-shirts. The winning class will receive a Roberts Dairy ice cream party.

The appreciation night event has been the talk of the town since it was first announced in late December. The local newspaper, The Twiner, has featured front-page stories on it the past three weeks. The potential exists for the first standing-room-only crowd in the school’s newly renovated gymnasium. Its capacity is 1,500—roughly the same as Woodbine’s population.

Roberts Dairy selected Woodbine because of its abundance of period homes from the turn of the century. A horse-drawn milk cart, wagons, buggies and actors on horseback in period costumes from the 1900s were part of the commercial, which was shot on a stifling hot July day.

“The entire community of Woodbine, particularly the Chamber of Commerce and Mayor Bill Hutcheson, were so helpful and cooperative that we wanted to give something back to them,” said Roberts Dairy Marketing Director Al Streeter.