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Big news around these parts: The Iowa State Fair kicked off yesterday. And you know what that means – Butter Cow. Well, butter lots of things, actually, which is why today’s Q10 is a photo Q10! Although the original artist, Duffy Lyon, started out just sculpting various bovines of butter, over the years she decided to start incorporating current events along with Bessie. Michael Jackson was supposed to be the honoree this year (I’ll leave the jokes to you), but Iowans vetoed that idea and the anniversary of the moon landing is depicted in the artery-clogging substance instead. Just in case you don’t make it to the state fair every year, here are 10 buttery creations.
1. Iowa native John Wayne.
Photo by Flickr user chelseyhotel.
2. The kids from Peanuts.
Photo by Flickr user Hedgeman.
3. Tiger Woods… and his pet tiger?
AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall
4. Harry Potter and various Harry Potter accessories.
Photos by Blogadilla and Flickr user Virtual Farm Boy, respectively.
5. Shawn Johnson.
6. A Harley Davidson motorcycle.
AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall
7. Elvis.
Photo by Flickr user Poodle Superstar.
8. Superman – the Brandon Routh version, because he is also an Iowa native. Seeing a trend here?
Photo by Flickr user Luke H.
9. The Moon Landing. Notice the butter television with footage of the real event!
Photos by Sophia Ahmad
10. The Last Supper.
AP Photo
Does your State Fair do sculptures using rather unconventional mediums? I’ve seen others, but of course, I’m partial to ours. Share yours in the comments!
Have a Q10 request? I’m on Twitter and I’m all ears! Err… all keys. Something.
Comments (19)
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OH THE CHOLESTEROL!!
posted by Steven on 8-14-2009 at 5:43 pm
The New York State Fair always does a butter sculpture, as well as a sand sculpture. They recently added some small cheese sculptures as well.
posted by M on 8-14-2009 at 5:55 pm
Here, I was thinking Ohio was the first state to do the butter sculptures! This year, ours has a vet giving the cow a check-up, while the calf is off to the side. This was the first year that my husband had ever gone to the Ohio State Fair with me, and he acted like I was nuts to want to see the butter cow. Then we had to wait in line! His reaction to the entire event was priceless, as it was a fairly common tradition in my family to make it to the state fair…and the butter was a must see each and every time!
posted by Amauriel on 8-14-2009 at 9:53 pm
The PA State Farm Show has a butter sculpture each year – they’re pretty interesting looking :)
posted by gina on 8-14-2009 at 11:32 pm
I love butter! Makes me hungry. Indiana has some big cheese sculptures at the fair.
posted by Anne on 8-15-2009 at 9:48 am
The year that I went to the fair, I saw the Butter Last supper. Ah, the Butter Cow. MOOOOOO.
posted by the creature on 8-15-2009 at 1:31 pm
at the minnesota state fair the annual Princess Kay of the Milky Way (the winner of a state fair-style pageant) gets her bust carved from butter. an interesting way of commemorating winning the crown, to be sure!
posted by emily on 8-15-2009 at 1:32 pm
Ok, so what happens to the butter after the fair? Is it edible? Do they throw it out? Compost it? Put it into cattle feed?
Seems like more conspicuous American consumption. infused second-year
posted by Jonny on 8-15-2009 at 7:11 pm
Meh… Iowa ain’t got no butter…
Wisconsin. That’s butter!
They don’t even have 10% of the cows we do…
Sheesh!
IOWA – Idiots out wandering around
posted by KMFP on 8-15-2009 at 7:55 pm
You’ll need lots of bread while seeing this is person. lols
posted by orange on 8-15-2009 at 8:01 pm
Bridgeville Delaware- Apple Scrapple They carve sculptures out of scrapple. It is the most disgusting I have ever saw. I will take butter any day over that.
posted by Quincy on 8-16-2009 at 12:53 am
The Last Supper …with Toast
posted by Television Spy on 8-16-2009 at 3:03 am
The Tibetian monks have some awesome, beautiful butter schulptures that are worth going to see in person.
posted by rj on 8-16-2009 at 1:57 pm
Illinois State Fair has the Butter Cow. I used to work in the video dept. at the State of Illinois, and we interviewed the sculptor one year. She re-used the same butter every year (unless it got dirty.) After doing the cow for several years, she started doing a calf, as well. The interview stands out in my memory vividly, because her false teeth fell out of her mouth during the interview.
posted by bre on 8-16-2009 at 6:18 pm
Scrapple??!! Scra-aa-aaple…
I wonder if they have scrapple in heaven…Oh how I love that, uh, stuff. Haven’t seen it at a local grocery store in about 2 years.
posted by Bubba on 8-17-2009 at 2:22 pm
The butter at the Iowa State fair is actually recycled and reused year to year. Gross, huh? This and other exciting facts can be found in the sculptor’s book if you are so inclined to overpay for it.
posted by Rog on 8-20-2009 at 9:32 am
Check it out Stacy… This was on Entertainment Weekly!
http://popwatch.ew.com/2009/08/20/this-or-that-butter-sculptures-on-tv/
posted by Reese on 8-20-2009 at 10:20 am
The Ohio State Fair also has a butter cow display every year. This year it was of two cows and some farmhands:
http://www.ocj.com/article/41/ohio-state-fair-butter-cow-display-unveiled.html
posted by Amy on 8-24-2009 at 9:38 am
Just when I thought I had seen it all! haha. This is priceless… especially the entire cast of Peanuts! If only I had that much time on my hands…Oh wait, thats right.. I do therefor I blog!
Thanks for the post!
Best,
http://www.justchowbella.com
posted by justchowbella.com on 9-9-2009 at 2:45 pm