SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The 2022 Illinois State Fair Butter Cow was unveiled on Wednesday at the State Fairgrounds in Springfield, a day ahead of the opening of this year’s fair.
This year’s rendition features a cow daintily holding a Sunflower in its mouth…apparently picked from a nearby Sunflower plant being tended to by a farmer, who is also constructed out of butter.
Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello was on-hand for the Butter Cow’s unveiling.
“The Butter Cow is obviously iconic, over 100 years old. Sarah Pratt, the sculptor of the Butter Cow, spends over a week in the cooler, sculpting over 800 pounds of butter to make this cow,” Costello said.
Gov. J-B Pritzker said this is the sixth time Pratt has sculpted the Butter Cow for the Illinois State Fair.
“Every year I am gobsmacked by her artistry. She doesn’t just craft us a cow, she creates an entire scene…showing her commitment to sustainability by only using recycled butter,” Pritzker said.
You can see the 2022 Illinois Butter Cow in the Dairy Building at the State Fairgrounds. The fair begins Thursday and runs through August 21.
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