PHOTO PROVIDED Officials unveiled the 35th annual Pennsylvania Farm Show Butter Sculpture on Thursday, honoring the 250th Anniversary of the United States.

HARRISBURG — American Dairy Association North East and the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, unveiled the 35th annual Pennsylvania Farm Show Butter Sculpture on Thursday, a beloved tradition that continues to captivate visitors year after year.

In honor of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, this year’s butter sculpture pays tribute to Pennsylvania’s central role in both the birth of our nation and the growth of American agriculture.

According to a release from American Dairy Association, the striking tableau transports viewers back to 1776 Philadelphia, where Benjamin Franklin and the Founding Fathers are depicted signing America’s founding document — and commemorating the moment with a celebratory toast of milk.

The sculpture also features iconic symbols of American democracy, including the Liberty Bell, as well as a nod to Betsy Ross and the first American flag.

Red, white, and blue accents are woven throughout the design, reinforcing the patriotic spirit of America’s semiquincentennial celebration.

Beneath the scene, the sculpture’s pedestal honors the Commonwealth’s rich agricultural heritage with carved imagery highlighting farming and food production.

PA Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding was one of many officials to take part in the unveiling.

“The butter sculpture is a people-pleasing favorite every year at the Pennsylvania Farm Show,” Secretary Redding said in a press release. “In this America250 year, it takes on a deeper meaning reflecting how agriculture has been the roots of our nation’s growth and prosperity for 250 years, and how Pennsylvania farmers will continue to lead us forward.”

“Pennsylvania’s agricultural roots date back to our nation’s earliest days,” said Carolyn Matthews Eaglehouse, dairy farmer at Milky Way Farm in Chester Springs, Pa. “While the Founding Fathers were shaping a new country, farmers here were building a strong dairy industry that continues to thrive today. I’m incredibly proud to be part of that legacy.”

The sculpture was brought to life by artists Jim Victor and Marie Pelton of Conshohocken, Pa., who spent several weeks crafting the piece onsite using more than 1,000 pounds of butter, generously donated by Land O’Lakes in Carlisle, Cumberland County.

“What a meaningful year to create the Farm Show Butter Sculpture,” said Victor. “We’re honored to tell Pennsylvania’s story of dairy and democracy through this unique art form.”

“Highlighting agriculture’s vital role in the growth of our nation is truly special,” added Pelton. “This sculpture celebrates the deep roots of dairy farming in the Commonwealth.”

The butter sculpture is on display in the Main Hall of the Pennsylvania Farm Show, where it is expected to delight more than 500,000 visitors during the show’s eight-day run from Jan. 10-17.

After the Farm Show concludes, the butter will be recycled at Reinford Farms in Juniata County and converted into renewable energy through the farm’s methane digester — continuing the tradition of sustainability that defines Pennsylvania dairy.

The 2026 Farm Show runs Saturday, Jan. 10, through Saturday, Jan. 17. The theme, Growing a Nation, celebrates Pennsylvania’s critical role in shaping the United States through agriculture. It highlights how the Commonwealth’s farming heritage helped feed the early nation and continues to drive economic growth, innovation, and community through its agriculture and food industries.

The Pennsylvania Farm Show draws scores of visitors to our capital city every January to connect with the people and products who make Pennsylvania agriculture great. The largest indoor agricultural expo in the nation, the Farm Show features nearly 5,000 animals, 12,000-plus competitive entries from more than 4,600 competitors, plus more than 250 commercial exhibits and hundreds of educational and entertaining events. Admission is free. Parking is $15 per vehicle.

Pennsylvania’s State Fair showcases top competitors from 108 county and local fairs, the diversity and quality of Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry, the innovative people who make it thrive and the faces of our proud past and promising future. The show offers visitors a look at the industry that supports 593,000 Pennsylvania jobs and contributes $132.5 billion to the state’s economy each year.

Hours, a daily schedule of events, maps and additional information to help visitors enjoy the show are available at farmshow.pa.gov under the 2026 Farm Show section.