For the first time since 2019, the annual butter cow display is back at the Ohio State Fair and is bigger than ever, paying homage to the fair’s rich agricultural heritage.
The Ohio State Fair began more than 170 years ago and since then, the fair has grown, welcoming hundreds of thousands of guests each year to enjoy a variety of food, attractions, rides and concerts. But the roots of the fair remain grounded in agriculture, highlighting farm families and their contributions to our communities.
This year’s display features 10 life-size butter sculptures including the traditional cow and calf, and for the first time ever, other livestock — a pig, a lamb and a chicken — all being proudly shown by kids at the fair where they are being recognized for their hard work.
The display was created by technical sculptors over hundreds of hours in a 46-degree cooler that houses the sculptures. While the butter sculptures typically weigh-in around 2,000 pounds, this year’s record-breaking display uses 2,530 pounds of butter.
The annual butter display is presented by the American Dairy Association Mideast and attracts more than 500,000 visitors to the Dairy Products Building, where they can also learn about Ohio’s dairy farmers and enjoy ice cream, milkshakes and cheese sandwiches. Each year, the theme of the butter cow display is one of the best-kept secrets leading up to the fair.
To learn more about the butter cow display and the sculpting process, check out this video.
What did you guys do with the butter after the fair?
Great question! After the fair is over, the butter is recycled and refined into an ingredient used in a variety of non-edible products. You can learn more about the butter cow display here: https://www.drink-milk.com/5-fun-facts-about-the-butter-cow-display
-Tristen, ADA Mideast Communications Manager