Hoover Dairy & Cornell Cooperative Extension announce 'Fair-ly New' ice cream flavor winner

Newfane resident Cici Mecca wins for second consecutive year with invention of ‘Star-Spangled Swirl’

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Niagara County press release & photos

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Niagara County (CCE Niagara), in partnership with Hoover Dairy, announced the winner of the second annual “Fair-ly New” ice cream flavor contest: 12-year-old Cecelia Mecca, a Newfane resident, won this year’s contest with “Star-Spangled Swirls.” She received 42.9% of the vote.

Cici was the winner of 2025’s inaugural ice cream contest with her flavor “S’more Fun.”

This year’s flavor is available for a short time, exclusively at the Niagara County Fair, Aug. 5-9.

Cici, who is enjoying summer break after wrapping up seventh grade, described her flavor as vanilla ice cream with a swirl of tart red cherry and sweet blueberry. The ice cream also contains red and blue popping candy coated in white chocolate. It can pop in one’s mouth like it’s a real firework, creating a great way to celebrate America’s 250^th.

“I came up with the ice cream flavor ‘Star-Spangled Swirls’ because I was thinking about America’s 250th anniversary and all the red, white and blue colors on the flag,” Cici said. “I also thought about the Fourth of July fireworks, so I wanted the flavor to feel fun, colorful and exciting – like a celebration.”

Cecelia "Cici" Mecca with "Star-Spangled Swirls."

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CCE Niagara Interim Executive Director Amanda Henning said, “We are appreciative of the 78 incredibly innovative entries we received for this year’s contest. Cici has a real knack for creating wonderful new ice cream flavors. We look forward to showcasing ‘Star-Spangled Swirls’ at the Niagara County Fair this August.”

This flavor will be made in a limited run by Hoover’s Dairy, a destination establishment in Niagara County known for its homemade ice creams and delicious milks. This flavor is sure to sell out.

The ice cream is only available at the Niagara County Fair from Aug. 5-9. The fair runs daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Get there early to make sure you get to try this tasty treat before it sells out because, when it’s gone – it’s gone!

For more information on how CCE puts knowledge to work in pursuit of economic vitality, ecological sustainability and social well-being, call 716-433-8839 or visit www.ceeniagaracounty.org.