It takes 2000 pounds of unsalted butter, a skilled team of sculptors, and 320 hours of labor to produce the Butter Cow display at the Ohio State Fair. The display has been a staple at the fair since 1903 and this year, Art Professor Malcolm Cochran, recommended three art students: Tammy Buerk (ceramics), Dan Jarvis (ceramics), and Erin Swearingen (sculpture) for the sculpting team.

Swearingen was both thankful and elated when Professor Cochran selected her for the team and said, “Professor Cochran is an amazing mentor who inspires and guides students. Because of his recommendation I was able to collaborate with other artists and I’m walking away with new ideas on how to approach art.”

For the past 11 years, the American Dairy Association has contracted Bob Kling to head the Butter Cow sculpting team with Alex Balz, Paul Brooke, and art alum, Matt Davidson. Kling has worked as a toy sculptor for Hasbro and currently works as a freelance sculptor. Creating this display is a very tough task. We spend days in a 40 degree cooler shaping and molding the butter, but these students are amazing and show exceptional initiative.”

This year’s butter display promotes good nutrition and physical activity. It includes a life-sized Holstein dairy cow and calf, a butter ball and the likeness of two NFL players: Joe Thomas of the Cleveland Browns and Chinedum Ndukwe of the Cincinnati Bengals, both known promoting health and wellness throughout schools in Ohio with the program Fuel Up to Play 60.

To create the display, the sculpting team builds wooden and steel frames to support the weight of the butter, which is then sliced and layered to cover the frame. After many hours of molding and smoothing the butter, the sculptors work on intricate details such as hair, eyes, and muscle tone.

Buerk graduated this past June and was finishing her senior year when offered the opportunity to join the sculpting team. “The Butter Cow is a big deal and just being part of that and being recommended is an honor. This is an awesome experience and it feels good to be a part of the Ohio tradition”, said Buerk. The butter display is located in the Dairy Products Building at the Ohio Expo Center, home of the Ohio State Fair from July 28 thru August 8.