Like the very idea of the state fair, butter sculptures are about as Heartland American it gets. Often depicting pastoral or rural scenes, mostly with a focus on dairy, the art of sculpting butter is tedious and completely overlooked. That is, until fair season rolls around. Whether you visit the Minnesota State Fair, the Pennsylvania State Fair, the New York State Fair, or the State Fair of Texas, you will, undoubtedly, find a section where butter sculptors are quietly carving into their yellow blocks in seriously cold temperatures.
Videos by Wide Open Country
If state fair butter sculptures are a given, then you can imagine the types of images spotted in butter. We've seen everything from a dairy cow or two dancing to a depiction of The Last Supper in butter. However, dairy farmers and the American Dairy Association alike sure love butter sculptors, and shouldn't we all? Across America, those who take pride in their skills show up to be judged at banquet tables in every state to take home the blue ribbon prize for butter sculptures.
Whether you're heading out to the Iowa State Fair or the Ohio State Fair this year, one cannot miss the butter sculpting competitions. The Midwest in particular has a way with the dairy products, but no matter where you are in the country, chances are you can find a contest near you. You're not going to believe the following photos are made out of butter.
1. American Gothic
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZDHFJJFlea/?tagged=buttersculpture
Made from 700 pounds of butter, this farm show butter sculpture is so life-like!
2. Calf Rescue
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYzn4H7hrp3/?tagged=buttersculpture
Now that's a dairy princess.
3. Gritty
Did someone ask for a butter mascot?
4. Family Tradition
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZM0C02hZjU/?tagged=buttersculpture
5. Darwin, of IKEA Fur Coat Fame
6. Butter Squirrel, Butterfinger
7. Proud Peacock
8. In Honor of the Chef
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXqKAM0jb0I/?tagged=buttersculpture
9. Butter on the Lake
10. The Home Cook's Butter Unicorn
This one is not winning any Olympic gold medals.
11. Moon Landing
12. Piggy Stardust
13. The Open Field
14. The Milk Man
15. Sleepy Sheep
16. The Cow Groove
17. Butternut Squash
18. Jake the Dog
19. The John Stamos of Butter
20. Butter Beach Volleyball
https://www.instagram.com/p/BKDy0KGDxru/?tagged=buttersculpture
This article was originally published on September 29, 2017
