WORCESTER — Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding visited Merrymead Farm on Thursday as “Scooped: An Ice Cream Trail” commenced in Montgomery County. The seventh annual agricultural initiative created in partnership between the state’s agriculture and tourism agencies spotlights 41 dairies across the commonwealth. Those who follow the trail can earn prizes by accruing points for stopping at multiple locations through Sept.
7. “Ice cream brings us together. It brings us together today.
It brings us together this season. We’ll have 41 stops on this trail for the seventh year,” Redding said. “You get a chance to see Pennsylvania.
You get a chance to see farms of all sizes, topography, little communities and big, small farms and big farms, but all have one common denominator: ice cream.” Redding was joined by fellow state representatives, elected officials and family members associated with the Worcester Township-based dairy farm that has served as a local institution for more than five decades. Established more than 100 years ago, Maynard and Betty Jean Rothenberger started the enterprise as a dairy farm, according to their granddaughter, Kelsey Givler.
The Rothenbergers later opened a retail store in 1971 , Givler said, which offers milk, ice cream and other food items for purchase. Givler now serves as the farm manager and expressed her appreciation for the customers who’ve come back year after year. “It’s the support of a community like ou.