Sculptors start buttering up an Ohio icon for the 2015 fair

COLUMBUS — As the summer heats up, a cool tradition at the Ohio State Fair is starting to take shape. One ton of butter arrived at the Ohio Expo Center and sculpting of the 2015 butter cow and calf, and additional surprise sculptures, will begin July 13.

The sculptors start by building wooden and steel frames to support the weight of the butter. From 55-pound blocks, sculptors slice the butter into manageable loaves and layer it to cover the frames. After many hours of molding and smoothing the butter in a 46-degree cooler, each sculpture begins to take shape. Fine details are added last.

Tradition

Each year, the American Dairy Association Mideast selects an icon or theme to feature in butter that is non-political, non-controversial and reflects optimism and broad audience-appeal. The 2014 sculpture was a collection of Ohio State symbols and the 2013 sculpture sung the praises of the All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir.

The butter display at the Ohio State Fair attracts more than 500,000 visitors each year, reflecting positive ideals and cultural trends in Ohio for over 45 years. Several of its exhibits gain national media attention with themes that have universal appeal.

This year’s fair

The butter display is located in the Dairy Products Building at the Ohio Expo Center, home of the Ohio State Fair. The Dairy Products Building is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and offers a variety of Ohio-produced dairy foods including ice cream, milkshakes, cheese sandwiches and milk. The fair will run from Wednesday, July 29 through Sunday, August 9.

Sponsor

American Dairy Association Mideast, Ohio’s dairy-farmer funded marketing and promotion program serving more than 2,700 of the state’s dairy farms, sponsors the butter sculpture display and the Dairy Products Building.

Last year’s butter display can be seen on the American Dairy Association Mideast’s multimedia newsroom.