The annual butter sculpture for the 2024 New York State Fair has been unveiled — with a message that goes beyond dairy products.
This year's sculpture, with the theme "Dairy: Good for you. Good for the planet," shows a family along the bank of a river on one side, with a man and a child planting a tree on a farm, bordered by a river, on the other side.
The structure, according to a release, was created over 11 days by Jim Victor and Marie Pelton of Conshohocken, Pa., using more than 800 pounds of New York butter.
Organizers said in the release that the sculpture highlights how dairy farmers protect the planet in the course of their jobs.
"On our farm alone, we have planted thousands of willow trees along the eight miles of streams that run through our property," said Mike McMahon of E-Z Acres Dairy Farm in Homer. "[W]e invest heavily in practices like these to create a healthy environment for our neighbors, our family and our cows."
As always, the butter sculpture is located in the Dairy Products Building on the fairgrounds. The fair runs from Aug. 21-Sept. 2.
