Plains Dairy history

In 1937, Amarillo newspapers carried one of many holiday advertisements from what had become the city’s Home Town Dairy.

In 1943, A.F. Madison came to Amarillo from Roswell, N.M. to manage the operation.

But in 1945, a group of these independent retailers from Oklahoma, New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle banded together to form Panhandle Associated Grocers, Inc.

Strong growth continued through the ‘40s and into 1950.

In the fall of 1954, Plains Creamery became affiliated with National Dairy Products Corp.

In 1955, Plains became eligible for the Sealtest trademark after meeting strict laboratory regulations for cleanliness.

Meanwhile, Madison’s strong involvement in the community was rewarded when he was elected Amarillo mayor in 1960.

In 1961, he was recipient of the prestigious Amarillo “Man of the Year” by the Globe-News.

A new era in Plains history began in 1965 when the Sealtest Dairy was sold to L.B. Parker.

Growth continued, and in early 1971, one of Amarillo’s oldest businesses, Lane’s Ice Cream Co., was acquired by Plains from Gandy’s Inc., a San Angelo dairy.

The ‘70s also saw Pokey the Clown become a familiar figure in the Plains Creamery promotional efforts. It expanded in 1973 when a $220,000 modernization program was announced.

When Mitchell returned to Amarillo after graduating from the University of Oklahoma, he joined the Toot’n Totum team in 1974.

In 1987, the Amarillo Advertising Club presented its Community Service Award to Parker and Plains Creamery.

Borden sold to Dean Foods in 1989 and closed the doors locally.

Since Affiliated Foods purchased the company in 1996, Plains Dairy’s products now reach a broader market including: Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, Arizona, Nebraska, and Wyoming, as well as a warehouse in Louisiana that serves retail outlets in 3 states.

A new $1.2 million production facility at Plains Dairy Products will be in operation by the end of July (1999), pushing the company’s production capability to more than 120,000 gallons a day.

And in 2004, Fellers Marketing and Advertising of Amarillo won a district convention Gold Addy Award for its designs on Plains products trucks.

Plains held a 75th anniversary party in 2009.