Last updated on June 13th, 2024
The Choose PA Dairy “Find Your Power” Campaign is being highlighted at the Pennsylvania Farm Show with a sculpture carved from a half-ton of butter. Gov. Tom Wolf and Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding attended the show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and helped unveil the sculpture, a long-time farm show staple, encouraging Pennsylvanians to support the state’s dairy industry.
“People from across the Commonwealth look forward to the farm show each year, and this sculpture is one of the most beloved parts of this annual event,” said Wolf. “But it’s more than just butter. It’s a way for us to honor our dairy industry in a fun and memorable way, an industry that we work hard to promote and support year-round.”
The sculpture is sponsored by the American Dairy Association North East (ADANE) and features several individuals donning superhero capes, including an athlete, a soldier, a doctor, a firefighter and a dairy farmer. The sculptors began work in mid-December to craft the work-of-art from butter donated by Land O’ Lakes in Carlisle, Cumberland County.
“This year’s farm show theme is Inspiring Pennsylvania’s Story, and the butter sculpture has, for many years, been a part of that story,” said Redding. “No matter which shape it takes on from year to year, it’s always a celebration of our state’s dairy industry and of the rich history of the entire agriculture industry.”
Also on hand to unveil the sculpture were Marilyn Hershey of Ar-Joy Farms in Chester County; Charlie Batch, two-time Super Bowl champion and former quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers; and sculptors Jim Victor and Marie Pelton of Montgomery County.
“The butter sculpture sends a powerful message and is a great reminder to consumers to choose local Pennsylvania milk and dairy products,” Hershey said on behalf of the state’s dairy farm families. “Milk’s nutrients fuel our body and our brain, so no matter what you do in life, be sure to get three servings of dairy every day.”
“As a professional athlete, it was important for me to fuel up on nutritious foods to not only perform my best on the field but to also give me the strength and energy I needed for the entire day,” said Batch. “Milk was one of those super foods that has powered me along the way from youth sports on up to the NFL and even still to this day.”
The butter sculpture is on display in the farm show’s main hall. Following the farm show, the butter will be moved to the Reinford Farm in Juniata County to be converted into renewable energy in the farm’s methane digester.
The Pennsylvania Farm Show is the nation’s largest indoor agricultural event, featuring 12,000 exhibits, more than 5,200 of which are animal competitions, plus 300 commercial exhibitors. The show runs Jan. 5-12.
