Somethings are just too iconic to cancel! Despite the cancellation of the 2020 New York State Fair, American Dairy Association North East is teaming up with the New York State Fair to bring this year’s annual butter sculpture to life.
A longstanding tradition and one of the most recognizable attractions of the New York State Fair, the 800-pound butter sculpture will officially be unveiled on Tuesday, Sept. 1, during a livestream event at 10 a.m. ET on American Dairy Association North East’s Facebook page.
“Most people are looking for some normalcy during this time of uncertainty. So, we are happy to announce that there will be a butter sculpture this year,” said NY State dairy farmer Lynn Murray of Murcrest Farms, LLC in Copenhagen, New York. “It’s unfortunate that annual Fair enthusiasts won’t be able to experience the 52nd annual butter sculpture up close and in person as they have in the past, but everyone will be able to view this year’s sculpture virtually. We are thrilled to carry on the butter sculpture tradition and to represent the more than 3,800 dairy farmers throughout New York State.”
The sculptor duo of Jim Victor and Marie Pelton, who have created every butter sculpture at the New York State Fair since 2003, will construct this year’s sculpture in approximately 10 days.
Long after the sculpture is deconstructed, it will continue to “give back” to the community. The “scrap butter” used for the sculpture — which means it’s unsuitable for sale or consumption — will be transported to a local dairy farm where it will be recycled in a methane digester to create electricity.
And that’s not all, there will be additional opportunities for fair enthusiasts to engage with American Dairy Association North East’s Virtual 2020 Fair:
1. Opportunities for fans to be a part of the sculpture unveil event.
Five (5) lucky fair fans will win unprecedented access to this year’s virtual butter sculpture. The #VirtuallyButterTogether Instagram Contest will offer five “Fairgoers” a chance to have their “Face in the Place” at the unveiling in the form of a life-size cardboard cutout — like those seen in the stands at sporting events.
2. Create your own 2020 butter sculpture at home
For those who really want to get into the Butter Sculpture experience, the Great New York State Fair is sponsoring a butter sculpture contest for consumers of all ages. Participants can make a sculpture using up to five pounds of butter, sculpting wire, chicken wire and a base for stability. They then will take a picture of the sculpture and submit it at the contest site on the Fair’s Facebook page. Grand prize winner receives a Lifetime Admission Medal to the Fair, along with 8 individual passes for the 2021 Fair, a $25 gift card, courtesy of Wegmans, and a prize pack from media sponsor 93Q radio. There are prizes for second through fifth places. The Fair is also operating fun contests on its Facebook page that ask for a t-shirt design for a fair that didn’t happen, that reward people who buy from the brick-and-mortar stores of Fair vendors and that ask people to send in pictures of the Fair they hold at home.
3. Experience dairy at the NY State Fair virtually via Facebook
The NY State Fair is a celebration of the State’s agricultural industry and American Dairy Association North East doesn’t want anyone to miss the opportunity to interact with New York’s dairy farmers and the delicious dairy foods normally featured at the Fair. So, ADANE will host a series of virtual State Fair dairy experiences every weekday on its Facebook page. The “Virtual State Fair” begins this Monday, August 24 continuing through Tuesday, September 1 when the butter sculpture is unveiled.
Check out the American Dairy Assocation North East Facebook page for a full schedule.
