2025 New York State Fair Butter Sculpture
Dairy For Good: Nourish. Grow. Thrive.
From left: N.Y. dairy farmer Jaime Mowry, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball, and Dairy Ambassador Olivia Shawley
The 57th Annual American Dairy Association North East Butter Sculpture at the New York State Fair, sponsored by Wegmans, celebrates the joy and nourishment dairy provides at every stage of life — and is inspired by the 125th Anniversary of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its local New York author, L. Frank Baum.
The centerpiece is a whimsical hot air balloon, emblazoned with the phrase “Dairy Defies Gravity,” soaring above a winding path that charts life’s journey. Along the way, three butter figures show how dairy powers every chapter — from the very start: a pregnant woman with a glass of milk, a six-month-old enjoying yogurt, and a toddler savoring a piece of cheese.
Meet the Artists
We are pulling back the curtains and taking you inside the refrigerated butter sculpture case with Jim Victor and Marie Pelton to see how the sculpture is created. They also provide some DIY sculpting tips for those who want to try it at home!
Undeniably Dairy Shake-Off
Meet the Teams
Photos from previous year’s Dairy Shake-Off!
Must-See Attractions at the Fair
Dairy Day – August 28th
Undeniably Dairy Shake-off – The 2025 Undeniably Dairy Shake-Off will take place at the fair on Thursday, August 28th at the Chevy Court Pavilion!
Dairy Products Building
- Milk Bar – A New State Fair tradition for many is visiting the Milk bar for perfectly chilled cups of $.25 cent milk. The New York State Milk Bar Operated by Cornell Cooperative Extension will serve White and Chocolate Milk, on tap every day during the Fair.
- Butter Sculpture – The Butter Sculpture is a New York State Fair must see! The Butter Sculpture, brought to you by New York State dairy farmers, was crafted from 800 pounds of butter over the course of 10 days by artists Jim Victor and Marie Pelton. It is one of the most iconic stops to visit at the New York State Fair.
Dairy Cattle Barn
- Dairy Cattle Shows – Youth and adult exhibitors will compete in their respective breeds and age divisions over the 13 days culminating with the selection of Supreme Champion of the New York State Fair! Show schedule can be found here.
- Milk Parlor Demonstrations – Throughout the duration of the fair exhibitors will milk their cows at the parlor located in the Dairy Cattle Barn. Be sure to stop by the barn for the schedule of milking times and to take some time off your feet to enjoy engaging farm videos at the milk parlor.
Dairy Cow Birthing Center
- 10 years running the NY Animal Agriculture Coalition will provide fairgoers the opportunity to see some udder miracles. Dairy Cow Birthing Center will provide a one-of-a-kind experience for their visitors. To learn more click here.
- LIVE Cow Chow – Learn all about a dairy cow’s diet in a live demo! Did you know that TMR stands for Total Mixed Ration? This is how farmers feed their cows and make sure that they have a balanced diet. Farmers have a nutrition specialist who measure and weigh different ingredients to ensure cows are getting the right amount of nutrients.
- Not able to attend the live event? Then be sure to watch it LIVE on our Facebook page HERE.
Relive the State Fair at Home
The fair doesn’t have to end once you go home! One of our favorite parts of the fair is the food! Relive it at home with these recipes, courtesy of our friends at Savor Recipes.
