New York State Fair unveils 58th butter sculpture

The 2026 New York State Fair butter sculpture, unveiled as the 58th annual piece, is titled “Milk. Memories. Tradition. Rooted in New York” and weighs about 800 pounds. Created by Jim Victor and Marie Pelton over roughly 11 to 12 days, the artwork uses butter from O-AT-KA Milk Products and reflects New York’s 250-year-tradition of American culture, including baseball in Cooperstown, the state’s first fair in Syracuse, the NYC skyline, fireworks, and ice cream. The sculpture has long been a fair staple since 1969, with the artists repeatedly delivering new scenes while the butter is repurposed rather than wasted. The display continues to celebrate enduring American traditions tied to New York, from sports to landmarks to summer treats, highlighting the state’s dairy industry’s role in these memories. The butter sculpture was unveiled ahead of the fair’s official opening, marking another installment in the ongoing collaboration between the American Dairy Association North East and sculptors Victor and Pelton.