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Juniata County Dairy Farm Turns 1,000 Pound PA Farm Show Butter Sculpture Into Renewable Energy

The Pennsylvania Farm Show's 33rd butter sculpture, "Table for All: Pennsylvania Dairy Connects Communities," celebrated the important connection between the Commonwealth's farmers and their local communities through the wholesome food that they produce.

The deconstruction and recycling of the 1,000 pounds of butter showcases how dairy farmers make a positive impact on the planet.

American Dairy Association North East and the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program, in conjunction with Reinford Farms and the Friendship Community 4-H Club of Dauphin County, dismantled the 1,000-pound sculpture today at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center.

Dairy farmer Brett Reinford then transported the 1,000 pounds of butter to his dairy farm in Mifflintown, Juniata County..

Among the 1,350 acres of land and 750 cows at Reinford Farms are two methane digesters. The butter, along with thousands of pounds of food waste from nearby retailers, is broken down in the digester to create renewable energy.

In the course of one year, the Reinfords divert about 50,000 tons of food waste from landfills, turning it into a resource while also reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions.

"It's the perfect example of a sustainable and cyclical operation," said Brett Reinford. "Our digesters provide an ideal solution for our farm and retailers to turn waste into energy."

"The Shapiro Administration is pleased to join the American Dairy Association North East and the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program in introducing hundreds of thousands of PA Farm Show visitors to Pennsylvania dairy farmers like the Reinford family," Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. "The Reinford family is a vivid example of PA dairy farmers who are not just working hard to feed our families, but are feeding our futures by the way they do business."

Click Here to watch a video of the deconstruction process and Dairy Farmer Brett Reinford talk about recycling the butter sculpture and sustainability on dairy farms.

Click Here for complete American Dairy Association North East announcement.

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