HARRISBURG — The 2024 Pennsylvania Farm Show butter sculpture has been revealed.
The 1,000-pound diorama in dairy was designed and crafted by Jim Victor and Marie Pelton of Conshohocken. It reflects the 2024 farm show theme, “Connecting Our Communities,” according to state Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding.
“Pennsylvania’s $14 billion dairy industry provides jobs 53,000 Pennsylvanians and makes up a third of our state’s food agriculture industry,” Redding said. “Our hardworking dairy farm families are connecting Pennsylvanians to opportunity and feeding our prosperity together.”
Pennsylvania dairy farmer Walt Moore of Walmoore Holsteins in Cochranville, Chester County, and a host of state dairy industry leaders joined Redding to unveil the sculpture, which depicts urban and rural Pennsylvanians connecting around a meal of local food against a backdrop of a cityscape and farm skyline. The diners are celebrating a harvest of state products with a centerpiece of the keystone-and-checkmark PA Preferred logo.
“Agriculture plays an important role in all of our lives, and I’m proud that the wholesome food we produce brings people together,” Moore said. “This year’s butter sculpture illustrates the important connection between farmers and their local communities. That is very meaningful to me because I love what I do as a dairy farmer.”
The sculpture is sponsored by American Dairy Association North East and the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program.
“Creating art that showcases the hard work of dairy farmers is an immense source of pride for us,” said Jim Victor. “We also enjoy knowing that the sculpture tells an impactful story about the importance of agriculture,” added Marie Pelton.
The pair has crafted 22 farm show butter sculptures since 1995. This is the 33rd year of the crowd-pleasing annual attraction.
Following the farm show, the butter from the sculpture, which was donated by Land O’ Lakes in Cumberland County, will be recycled at Reinford Farms in Juniata County and converted into renewable energy in the farm’s methane digester.
The Pennsylvania Farm Show, which is celebrating its 108th event this year, is the largest indoor agricultural expo in the nation, featuring nearly 6,000 animals, 12,000-plus competitive events and exhibits and nearly 250 commercial exhibits.
If you go
The 2024 Pennsylvania Farm Show runs from Saturday, Jan. 6 through Saturday, Jan. 13 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg. Admission is free. Parking is $15 per vehicle.
Hours, a daily schedule of events, maps, and much more information to help visitors enjoy the show can be found at farmshow.pa.gov under 2024 Farm Show.
