Butter Sculptures Steal the Show at Michigan State Fair
The annual Michigan State Fair is back in full swing, offering an enjoyable long Labor Day weekend for attendees. Based in the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, the fair has been a beloved tradition since its inception in 1849.
One of the most notable attractions catching everyone’s attention is the butter cow, which welcomes visitors at the entrance. Apart from the butter sculpture of a cow named Mel, other buttery figures include Margie the dog, Punchy the goat, and Jojo the calf.
The butter sculptures, which collectively weigh over half a ton, are crafted by a team of four sculptors over five days, amounting to an impressive 250 man-hours of work.
A list of buttery facts worth knowing:
- The Butter Cow tradition at the Michigan State Fair started around 1940.
- After World War II, the Butter Cow became a symbol of the return of dairy products, including butter, post-rationing.
- The sculptures not only welcome visitors but also pay tribute to Michigan’s booming dairy industry.
- According to milkmeansmore.org, Michigan ranks 6th in the nation’s milk production, churning out over 11 billion pounds of milk.
A prodigious amount of butter is supplied in 55 pound blocks for these sculptures. After letting the butter soften for up to two days, it’s ready to be moulded just like clay.
Rachel Wolski, a seasoned sculptor who has contributed to 15 butter cows over the years, shares that “the hardest part of putting them all together” is not the sculpting itself, but rather handling the chilly temperatures as the sculptures require a refrigerated environment.
After the fair concludes, the butter from these sculptures goes to a good cause; most of it is used as feed by local farmers for their animals.
In addition to the iconic butter sculptures, the fair also offers attractions such as pig races, logging demonstrations, and live music performances. The Michigan State Fair offers an entertaining and enriching way to say ‘farewell’ to the summer season. Make sure to swing by before it ends on Monday.
