PA Farm Show Recycles 1,000 Lb. Butter Sculpture – Here’s How
A bit of butter makes everything better – including farm shows. This year marked the 107th anniversary of the Pennsylvania Farm Show and the 32nd anniversary of the iconic butter sculpture. The theme of this year’s sculpture – “Pennsylvania Dairy: Rooted in Progress for Generations to Come” – celebrated the proud traditions of Pennsylvania farm families who have worked together for generations to produce wholesome food for their community in a sustainable way.
The deconstruction and recycling of the 1,000 pounds of butter also showcased how dairy farmers make a positive impact on the planet. With help from the Friendship Community 4-H Club of Dauphin County, the 1,000 lb. sculpture was dismantled and recycled into renewable energy via methane digesters at a nearby dairy farm, according to American Dairy Association North East.
Among the 1,350 acres of land and 800 cows at Reinford Farms, located in Mifflintown, Pa., are two methane digesters. The butter sculpture, along with thousands of pounds of food waste from nearby retailers, was broken down in the digester to create renewable energy. In the course of one year, the Reinfords divert about 35,000 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,” says Brett Reinford. “Our digesters provide an ideal solution for our farm and retailers to turn waste into energy.”
The piece was sculpted by Jim Victor and Marie Pelton, who began working in mid-December to create the sculpture using butter donated by Land O’ Lakes in Carlisle. They have been making the Farm Show butter sculpture together since 2008.
