WNY News Now

(WNY News Now) – SYRACUSE, N.Y. – More than 800 pounds of butter has arrived at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, N.Y., as construction of one of Central New York’s best-kept secrets and most beloved attractions gets underway – the 56^th Annual American Dairy Association North East Butter Sculpture, sponsored by Wegmans.

Over the weekend, sculptors Jim Victor and Marie Pelton unloaded their tools and began creating the annual sculpture. Prior to arriving at the Fairgrounds, the duo spent many hours working off-site to build wooden and steel frames called armatures that support the weight of the butter. Over the course of 11 days on the Fairgrounds, Victor and Pelton will mold, carve and spread the butter into a work of art.

“Every year, the iconic butter sculpture puts the spotlight on our state’s amazing dairy industry,” says John Chrisman, CEO American Dairy Association North East. “This work of art pays tribute to the hardworking dairy farmers of New York who work every single day to responsibly produce nutrient-rich milk, an excellent source of vitamins and minerals.”

The butter used for the sculpture comes from O-AT-KA Mik 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. Noblehurst Farm’s vast recycling program turns over 500 tons of food waste from supermarkets, universities and schools each month into enough energy to power the farm and over 300 local homes. The recycling program not only reduces the farm’s carbon footprint, it diverts all of that food waste from landfills, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Last year’s butter sculpture was “Dairy Every Day is a Healthy Way — Keeping Kids’ Health on Track” and highlighted the important nutritional role dairy foods play in helping brains, bones and bodies grow.

American Dairy Association North East will unveil the 56^th Annual Butter Sculpture to the media and live on their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/AmericanDairyNE/ on Tuesday, August 20^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.