A couple of ex-Iowa State University engineering students are hoping to capitalize on their just completed 11-day run at the Iowa State Fair. It all began back in 1999 with I-S-U’s springtime, student-led celebration called VEISHEA. Engineering students T.J. Paskach and Will Schroeder decided to try to use liquid nitrogen to freeze ice cream. He says they refined the process after the first year and made it work. The nitrogen flash-freezes the ice cream in a fraction of a second. Schroeder and Paskach have applied for a patent for their “Nitro Ice Cream” machine, and eventually hope to become equipment manufacturers and sell franchises. The two are engineers, and they have to learn new business skills. There were lots of satisfied customers lining up for cones and dishes of the “Nitro” ice cream.Paskach estimates they sold over 500 gallons of ice cream at the Iowa State Fair. The two entrepreneurs will be in Spencer for the Clay County Fair in September, then they’ll take their machine to the Tulsa State Fair in Oklahoma. For more information on “nitro ice cream” call 515-268-4336 or visit www.nitroicecream.com on the Internet.
