SALEM — Among the roughly 80 food vendors at the Oregon State Fair, one location clearly stands out: the aptly named Red Barn, where a team of volunteers serves ice cream cones, sundaes and milkshakes to thousands of customers during the annual event.

It’s one of the state fair’s most popular attractions.

Proceeds from the Red Barn go to the Oregon Dairy Women, a nonprofit organization founded in 1959 that aims to promote Oregon dairy, the fourth-largest agricultural sector in the state.

“We’re here to help educate about the Oregon dairy industry, we’re here to help promote the products, promote the farmers, and advocacy is huge as well,” said Rebecca Noordam, a Corban University student and this year’s alternate Oregon Dairy Princess Ambassador.

Education is top of mind for the organization, and the ambassador program is one of their chief educational resources. Ambassadors, typically college or high school students, travel statewide or within their communities, visiting classrooms and attending public events to raise awareness about the state’s dairy products.

Noordam grew up on a dairy farm in the Willamette Valley, and said she’s enjoyed the outreach to students — including those who are “two or three generations removed from the farm.”

In addition to the Red Barn and ambassador program, the Oregon Dairy Women provide scholarships for college students pursuing careers in the dairy industry, as well as funding for 4-H, FFA and numerous other agricultural education programs. They also partner with the Oregon Dairy Nutrition Council.

The organization spent close to $240,000 on various services in 2022, according to an annual filing.

“One really important message we’re focusing on is the importance of nutrition. We have a hunger crisis and a nutrition deficit in our country and our state,” said Emma Clark, a former dairy princess who now leads the ambassador program. “So we’re educating our children, our teachers about utilizing dairy as a low-cost but nutrient-dense way to meet those traditional needs.”

Some of the resources go toward battling common misconceptions about the dairy industry, Noordam said, including perceptions of animal cruelty. The dairy women often work with local partners on events like cattle shows.

“A big one is always animal care,” Noordam said. “I think it’s vital that everyone knows the care that is put into our animals that farmers give. Cows need to be cared for 365 (days a year), 24/7.”

Noordam and her counterpart, college student Mackenzie Mitchell, will continue to occupy their roles through next March.

In the meantime, there are many more ice cream cones to be served.