Spread the news: the Ohio State Fair's annual butter sculpture theme has been revealed.
The Ohio State Fair is here, which means its annual giant butter sculpture is on display! This weird tradition dates all the way back to the early 1900s, when The Ohio State University and the Dairy Processors of Ohio sponsored butter sculpting contests at the Ohio State Fair because, who knows, it was the early 1900s and they didn’t have internet yet maybe? Why not make some stuff out of butter, an old-timey dairy farmer might have thought? Sounds like a real fun way to pass the time before you died of consumption.
The theme of the State Fair-sponsored butter sculpture is not restricted to specific things, or even butter-themed things, but it is always a closely guarded secret. Previously featured butter sculptures include:
- 90th anniversary of the ice cream cone
- A bald eagle
- A Hasbro Tonka Truck
- A tribute to Ohio’s dairy farmers (seems a bit self-serving, but OK)
- Darth Vader
- Dave Thomas of Wendy’s
- Furby
- Mr. Monopoly
- Neil Armstrong
- The Liberty Bell
- Columbus Bicentennial birthday cake
- A tribute to the All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir (Really? Really?)
Included in each year’s display are a cow and calf sculpture along with the motif which reflects “positive ideals and cultural trends in Ohio.” This year’s theme has finally been revealed: a salute to chocolate milk. Mmm, chug it.
So, uh, this is a thing you can do and see. Butter you than me!