Providing a Better Way to Recycle 800 Pounds of Butter

Butter sculptures have become a staple at state fairs across the country. But what happens to those buttery masterpieces once the fair gates close? While most get thrown away, the New York State Fair has found a way to prevent the product from going to waste.

After the fair, the American Dairy Association North East, in conjunction with Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners and Noblehurst Farms, dismantled this year’s 800 lb. butter sculpture. The butter, which was provided by O-AT-KA Milk Products in Batavia, N.Y., was unsuitable for sale or consumption. To prevent it from going into the trash, Noblehurst Farms, a dairy operation located in Pavilion, N.Y., will combine the butter with other food waste from local food manufacturers and run it through the farm's digester, converting it into energy.

"We are honored to be recycling the New York State Fair Butter Sculpture for the seventh year in a row," said dairy farmer Chris Noble of Noblehurst Farms and Craigs Creamery. "We will mix the butter sculpture with other food waste and convert it to energy over the course of about 28 days. That energy will be created into electricity which will power homes in the local community."

According to Noble, the digester breaks down the material and creates enough electricity to power the farm, the farm's on-site creamery and about 350 homes for a year. Specifically, the butter from the butter sculpture alone will be able to power one house for three days.

In recent years, Noblehurst Farms has been recognized nationally for achievements in sustainability and community partnerships to divert food waste from local landfills. The result of Noblehurst's efforts have led to diverting 200 tons of food waste from local landfills on every week.

"Our awareness of the role that dairy farmers are playing in addressing the global food waste problem has definitely heightened," Noble said. "We are hopeful that our innovative food waste reduction practices will bring additional value as New York State focuses on reducing methane and sequestering carbon in the coming years."

This year's sculpture, "Refuel Her Greatness – Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Title IX," spotlighted female athletes and how today's athletes refuel with chocolate milk.