(Photo courtesy of Washington State Archives)

Ah, Dairy Day.

Along with Potato Day, Beef Day and, of course, Sine Die, it’s one of the favorite days of session for legislators, staffers, lobbyists and anyone else who works around here. It’s the day when the Washington Dairy Products Commission brings free ice cream to the Legislative Building for all to enjoy.

Wednesday was this year’s edition and it was a great hit. Ice cream bars with Seahawks blue sprinkles were excellent.

Our State Archives dug up this photo showing Gov. Albert  Rosellini and two Dairy Queens during Dairy Day in 1960.  The photo is part of the Archives’ Susan Parish Photograph Collection.

Here are some dairy facts for you stat geeks, courtesy of the Dairy Farmers of Washington’s website: There are about 480 dairy farms and 262,000 dairy cows in Washington (as of 2012). Lotta moo.  WA ranks 10th in total milk production among the 50 states, and fourth  in milk production per cow. Dairy foods make up the second largest agricultural commodity produced in Washington, with a direct economic impact valued at $1.28 billion.

Dairy farms can be found in 29 of the state’s 39 counties, with Whatcom County having the largest number (123 dairies and more than 50,000 cows in Whatcom.) Those number are sure to moooove anyone!