BUTTER BELIEVE IT: CONSTRUCTION OF 800 POUND BUTTER SCULPTURE BEGINS AT NEW YORK STATE FAIR

Construction of the 57^th Annual Butter Sculpture at the New York State Fairgrounds is Underway

SYRACUSE, N.Y., Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Eight-hundred pounds of butter has arrived at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, N.Y., signaling the start of construction on one of The Fair's most beloved attractions and best-kept secrets - the 57^th Annual American Dairy Association North East Butter Sculpture, sponsored by Wegmans.

Over the weekend, sculptors Jim Victor and Marie Pelton, who have assembled the past 22 buttery creations, unpacked their tools and broke ground on this year's sculpture, a process that takes approximately 11 days onsite to complete.

"This annual butter sculpture is more than a fair tradition - it's a tribute to around 2,800 hardworking dairy farmers across New York State who work tirelessly every day to produce high-quality, nutritious milk and dairy products," says John Chrisman, CEO, American Dairy Association North East. "Through this sculpture, we honor their contributions to our state's economy, communities, and proud agricultural heritage."

The butter used for the sculpture comes from O-AT-KA Milk Products in Batavia, N.Y., and is out of specification for retail sale for a variety of reasons, so American Dairy Association North East works with the sculptors to put it to good use by creating a beautiful piece of art.

Following its 13-day stint at The Fair, the butter will return to Western New York where it will be recycled into renewable energy at Noblehurst Farms, a dairy farm in Pavilion, N.Y. This year marks the 10^th anniversary of Noblehurst Farms recycling the butter after The Fair. Over the past decade, Noblehurst has recycled a total of 8,000 pounds – or four tons – of butter, preventing it from ending up in a landfill while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating enough energy to power one home for about a month.

American Dairy Association North East will unveil the 57^th Annual Butter Sculpture to the media and live on their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/AmericanDairyNE/ on Tuesday, August 19^th, the day before The Fair officially opens. It will then be on display in the Dairy Products Building for the duration of The Fair

SOURCE American Dairy Association North East