Credit: PA Internet News Service
There is no better way to celebrate America and Pennsylvania’s history than a a 1,000-pound butter sculpture.
The butter sculpture depicting the signing of the Declaration of Independence was unveiled Thursday at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, which serves as the state’s kickoff to the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The sculpture was crafted by Conshohocken artists Jim Victor and Marie Pelton and serves as the centerpiece for the 2026 Farm Show theme, “Growing a Nation.”
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding unveiling the 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show Butter Sculpture. Credit: PA Internet News Service
Credit: PA Internet News ServiceThe display features Benjamin Franklin and the Founding Fathers in 1776 Philadelphia. They are commemorating the birth of the country with a toast of milk.
The tableau includes several historical symbols, including the Liberty Bell and a tribute to Betsy Ross and the first American flag. The design is accented with red, white, and blue, while the pedestal features carvings of farming and food production to honor the state’s agricultural history.
The project is a collaboration between the American Dairy Association North East, the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program, and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
Credit: PA Internet News Service“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,” Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said.
Carolyn Matthews Eaglehouse, a dairy farmer from Milky Way Farm in Chester Springs, stated the state’s dairy industry was being built at the same time the Founding Fathers were shaping the country.
“I’m incredibly proud to be part of that legacy,” Eaglehouse said.
The butter used for the sculpture was donated by Land O’ Lakes in Cumberland County.
Once the Farm Show ends, the butter will be transported to Reinford Farms in Juniata County. At the farm, it will be processed in a methane digester and converted into renewable energy.
“We’re honored to tell Pennsylvania’s story of dairy and democracy through this unique art form,” Victor said of the annual tradition.
The 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show, which functions as the state fair, opens Saturday and runs through Jan. 17.
