A sculpture carved from a half-ton of butter depicting the diversity of Pennsylvania agriculture-- specifically careers and roles that support the dairy industry-- was unveiled Thursday at the 102nd PA Farm Show in Harrisburg.

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 sculpture, sponsored by American Dairy Association North East (ADANE), features renderings of a dairy cow and dairy farmer; an agronomist who helps seed become the corn farmers provide to their dairy cows; a milk processor who tests, processes and delivers dairy products to retailers; and a consumer with a basket full of Pennsylvania products.

“This sculpture captures the diversity of careers and roles that make just one industry of our broader agricultural sector possible,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, who noted the theme of the 2018 Farm Show is Strength in our Diversity. “Over the next eight days, the breadth of Pennsylvania agriculture will be on display here in Harrisburg as we celebrate the men and women from all walks of life who contribute so much to our economy, our Commonwealth, and our quality of life by growing and producing the food we enjoy three times a day when we sit down to eat.

“While we want to celebrate the diversity of this incredible industry, we also want to raise the public’s awareness of the wide variety of careers that are available in agriculture. Regardless of your interests, there is a rewarding professional role for you in agriculture,” Redding added.

Redding unveiled the sculpture with help from Lancaster County dairy farmer Maria Forry, Pennsylvania State Dairy Princess Yvonne Longenecker of Blair County, and sculptors Jim Victor and Marie Pelton of Montgomery County.

“The butter sculpture is a creative way to showcase the dairy industry, and this year it also provides an opportunity for us to join with our partners in agriculture and show Strength in Our Diversity,” said Maria Forry of Oregon Dairy in Lititz. “Providing milk and food for our communities is important to us all, so I’m proud to represent Pennsylvania’s dairy farm families today.”

The sculptors began work in mid-December to craft the work of art from butter donated by Land O’ Lakes in Carlisle, Cumberland County.

ADANE is funded by dairy farmers to promote milk and dairy products. For more information, visit the American Dairy Association website.

The Pennsylvania Farm Show is the nation’s largest indoor agricultural event, featuring 12,000 competitive exhibits, more than 5,200 of which are animal competitions, plus 300 commercial exhibitors.

The show runs January 6 – 13, 2018. Admission is free and parking is $15 in Farm Show lots.

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[Posted: Jan. 5, 2018]

1/8/2018