34th Butter Sculpture Unveiled: "From Moo to Marvel: Dairy Cows Power Pennsylvania"

HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dairy cows step into the spotlight as nature's superheroes, producing wholesome milk while helping to power Pennsylvania communities with renewable energy.

American Dairy Association North East and Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program, in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, proudly unveiled the highly anticipated butter sculpture at this year's Pennsylvania Farm Show.

This year's stunning creation celebrates the dairy industry's rich traditions and groundbreaking environmental innovations. The sculpture features a life-sized dairy cow alongside a methane digester — a powerful renewable energy system — set against a Pennsylvania farm backdrop, with a vibrant cityscape nestled in the distance.

"Cows are truly superheroes," said dairy farmer Kacie Hershey of Ar-Joy Farms in Cochranville, Pennsylvania. "They not only produce nutritious milk that nourishes us, but they also upcycle food scraps, enrich soil, and, with digesters, turn their waste into renewable energy. It's a marvel of nature and ingenuity!"

Renowned artists Jim Victor and Marie Pelton of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, spent several weeks crafting this masterpiece using over 1,000 pounds of butter generously donated by Land O'Lakes in Carlisle, Cumberland County.

"We're honored to bring the story of Pennsylvania's dairy farmers to life through butter," said Jim Victor. "This sculpture celebrates the incredible dedication and creativity of farmers who feed our communities and champion sustainability," added Marie Pelton. "Creating art that highlights agriculture's vital role in our lives is truly a labor of love."

The butter sculpture is proudly displayed in the Main Hall of the Pennsylvania Farm Show, where it is expected to attract half a million visitors during its eight-day run from January 4th to January 11th. After the Farm Show concludes, the butter will embark on its own sustainability journey—recycled at Reinford Farms in Juniata County and converted into renewable energy through the farm's methane digester.

About American Dairy Association North East (ADANE) 
American Dairy Association North East (ADANE) is the local affiliate of the National Dairy Council® and the regional consolidation of three promotion organizations including the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council, Inc., Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association and Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program. Committed to nutrition education and research-based communications, ADANE provides science-based nutrition information to, and in collaboration with, a variety of stakeholders committed to fostering a healthier nation, including health professionals, educators, school nutrition directors, academia, industry, consumers and media. Funded by dairy checkoff dollars from more than 8,300 dairy farm families in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and northern Virginia, ADANE works closely with Dairy Management Inc.™ to bring a fully integrated promotion program to the North East region. For more information, visit AmericanDairy.com.

About Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program (PDPP)
Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program is the farmer-directed organization funded by participating dairy farmers to build demand and sales for milk and dairy foods throughout Pennsylvania. Managed by American Dairy Association North East, Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program develops and implements local programs to drive milk and dairy sales at retail outlets and in schools. The organizations also conduct consumer education about dairy through events, traditional and social media, and in collaboration with health professionals through National Dairy Council®. For more information, visit www.americandairy.com/pennsylvania-dairy-promotion-program/ or call 315.472.9143.

SOURCE American Dairy Association North East