GEDDES, N.Y. — The American Dairy Association North East unveiled the 57th annual Butter Sculpture at The Great New York State Fair on Tuesday.
Officials with the New York State Fair said the unveiling of the famous butter sculpture serves as the unofficial opening to the NYS Fair, which starts on Aug. 20.
The sculpture is 800 pounds of butter that is unsuitable for sale or consumption. It took around 11 days to complete. Officials said the butter sculpture is sign of the hardworking culture of New York’s farmers.
This year, the butter sculpture theme is “Dairy for Good: Nourish, Grow, Thrive.” Officials said it celebrates the nourishment that dairy provides throughout life.
It’s inspired by the 125th anniversary of the “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” The famous story’s author, Lyman Frank Baum, was born in Chittenango, N.Y.
It features a cow with red hoofs, symbolizing the iconic ruby slippers Dorothy wore in the story. That cow is in a hot air balloon. Inscribed on it is the phrase, “Dairy defies gravity.”
The butter will be recycled into renewable energy once the fair concludes. The last day of the fair is Sept. 1.