{"id":81609,"date":"2026-01-08T19:49:08","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T19:49:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/81609\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T19:49:08","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T19:49:08","slug":"agriculture-secretary-pa-dairy-industry-leaders-unveil-2026-pennsylvania-farm-show-butter-sculpture-news-sports-jobs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/81609\/","title":{"rendered":"Agriculture secretary, PA dairy industry leaders unveil 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show Butter Sculpture | News, Sports, Jobs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1100\" height=\"555\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/butter-sculpture-1100x555.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p id=\"caption\">PHOTO VIA PA CAST<\/p>\n<p>Harrisburg, PA \u2013 Today, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding unveiled the 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show Butter Sculpture, a 1,000-pound sculpture that illustrates how defining moments in U.S. history and the evolution of agriculture have grown side by side to shape our nation. This year\u2019s sculpture is titled, \u201cA Toast to Our Nation\u2019s 250th Anniversary: Inspired by Founders. Grown by Farmers.\u201d The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, American Dairy Association North East, and the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program sponsored the sculpture.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe butter sculpture is a people-pleasing favorite every year at the Pennsylvania Farm Show,\u201d Secretary Redding said. \u201cIn this America250 year, it takes on a deeper meaning reflecting how agriculture has been the roots of our nation\u2019s growth and prosperity for 250 years, and how Pennsylvania farmers will continue to lead us forward.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Pennsylvania dairy farmer Carolyn Eaglehouse from Milky Way Farm in Chester Springs and a host of dairy industry leaders joined Secretary Redding to unveil the sculpture. Created for America\u2019s 250th anniversary, this year\u2019s butter sculpture honors Pennsylvania\u2019s pivotal role in the nation\u2019s founding and the growth of American agriculture and our nation\u2019s economy. Set in 1776 Philadelphia, the sculpture depicts Benjamin Franklin and the Founding Fathers at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, complete with a celebratory toast with milk. Patriotic elements, including the Liberty Bell, a tribute to Betsy Ross, and red, white, and blue accents underscore the spirit of the semi-quincentennial. At the same time, the base highlights Pennsylvania\u2019s enduring agricultural heritage.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPennsylvania\u2019s agricultural roots date back to our nation\u2019s earliest days,\u201d said Eaglehouse. \u201cWhile the Founding Fathers were shaping a new country, farmers here were building a strong dairy industry that continues to thrive today. I\u2019m incredibly proud to be part of that legacy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The sculpture, designed and crafted by Jim Victor and Marie Pelton of Conshohocken, reflects the 2026 Farm Show theme, Growing a Nation, and celebrates America250. The 2026 Farm Show is the official kick for a year of America250PA commemorations celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. America250PA emphasizes Pennsylvania\u2019s pivotal place in U.S. history as one of the original 13 colonies and its contributions to the nation\u2019s founding, democratic traditions, and future prosperity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat a meaningful year to create the Farm Show Butter Sculpture,\u201d said Victor. \u201cWe\u2019re honored to tell Pennsylvania\u2019s story of dairy and democracy through this unique art form.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHighlighting agriculture\u2019s vital role in the growth of our nation is truly special,\u201d added Pelton. \u201cThis sculpture celebrates the deep roots of dairy farming in the Commonwealth.\u201d Since 1995, Victor and Pelton have crafted 24 butter sculptures for the Farm Show. This is the attraction\u2019s 35th year.<\/p>\n<p>Following the Farm Show, the butter from the sculpture, which was donated by Land O\u2019 Lakes in Cumberland County, will be recycled at Reinford Farms in Juniata County and converted into renewable energy in the farm\u2019s methane digester.<\/p>\n<p>The 2026 Farm Show \u2013 Pennsylvania State Fair\u2122 \u2013 runs Saturday, January 10 through Saturday, January 17, 2026. The theme, Growing a Nation, celebrates Pennsylvania\u2019s critical role in shaping the United States through agriculture. It highlights how the Commonwealth\u2019s farming heritage helped feed the early nation and continues to drive economic growth, innovation, and community through its agriculture and food industries.  <\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Pennsylvania\u2019s State Fair showcases top competitors from 108 county and local fairs, the diversity and quality of Pennsylvania\u2019s 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\u2019s economy each year.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lockhaven.com\/news\/community\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">    <\/p>\n<p>                    <a style=\"color:#2a2a2a;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lockhaven.com\/news\/community\/2026\/01\/agriculture-secretary-pa-dairy-industry-leaders-unveil-2026-pennsylvania-farm-show-butter-sculpture\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>                    <a style=\"color:#2a2a2a;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lockhaven.com\/news\/community\/2026\/01\/around-the-town-2744\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>Good Day<\/p>\n<p>and Happy Birthday to Danny Greendoner, Sr., of Blanchard!<\/p>\n<p>Word of the Day<\/p>\n<p>Multitudinous \u2014 adj. \u2014 &#8230;<\/p>\n<p>                    <a style=\"color:#2a2a2a;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lockhaven.com\/news\/community\/2026\/01\/ram-seeking-volunteers-for-free-healthcare-clinic-in-bellefonte\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>                    <a style=\"color:#2a2a2a;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lockhaven.com\/news\/community\/2026\/01\/area-residents-to-compete-at-pa-farm-show-beginning-saturday\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>                    <a style=\"color:#2a2a2a;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lockhaven.com\/news\/community\/2026\/01\/around-the-town-2743\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>Good Day<\/p>\n<p>to Tucker Gardner, of Bellefonte!<\/p>\n<p>Word of the Day<\/p>\n<p>Dreidel \u2014 noun \u2014 a small, four-sided spinning &#8230;<\/p>\n<p>                    <a style=\"color:#2a2a2a;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lockhaven.com\/news\/community\/2026\/01\/calendar-of-events-1169\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>TODAY<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Prayer Shawl Ministry meeting, noon, at Bald Eagle United Presbyterian Church in Mill Hall. Use the &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"PHOTO VIA PA CAST Harrisburg, PA \u2013 Today, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding unveiled the 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":81610,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[41192,524,41193,28,30,29],"class_list":{"0":"post-81609","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-pennsylvania","8":"tag-agriculture-secretary","9":"tag-community","10":"tag-pa-dairy-industry-leaders-unveil-2026-pennsylvania-farm-show-butter-sculpture","11":"tag-pennsylvania","12":"tag-pennsylvania-headlines","13":"tag-pennsylvania-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81609","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=81609"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81609\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/81610"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=81609"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=81609"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=81609"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}