Thursday Tails - The Butter Cow

Like I mentioned in an earlier post, this year was the 100th Anniversary of the Butter Cow at the Iowa State Fair.  We made a quick trip to see the sculpture before the kiddos crashed for naps.

The "companion" sculpture was a replica of the first butter cow.

The "milk-maid" was a tribute to Norma "Duffy" Lyon's spirit.  Duffy sculpted the Iowa State Fair Butter Cow from 1960 to 2005.  She passed away this past June.  Duffy was only the fourth person and first woman to sculpt the Butter Cow.

The 2011 Butter Cow

In addition to the Butter Cow, there were more than 60 painted, concrete cows across the fairgrounds.  Here are a few of our favorites

Glimpse of a Grand Ol' Fair

Butter Up!

Gone to the Fair (side 1)

Gone to the Fair (side 2)

Barrettville

Until next time...

Monday Memories

It's time for the Iowa State Fair! 

And this year is the 100th anniversary of the Butter Cow!

The kiddos and I are heading to Ma-maw and Pa-paw's house today, and then leaving on Tuesday morning for Iowa.  I am not taking the computer, so you will have to wait for the updates when I return. 

Until then...enjoy looking back at our previous trips to the Iowa State Fair!

2010

2009

2008

Until next time...

Iowa State Fair - Day 2

On Thursday, we were able to walk around and enjoy the different sites of the state fair. We had bought a package of tickets for Dallas, Doug and I. The package included a ride on the sky glider, a ride on the giant slide, a pony or camel ride, one ride on the mid-way, admission to the model train or snake exhibit and $5 worth of fair food! It was well worth it, and Dallas had a blast.

As we were going through the cattle barn, Dallas caught this steer before it got out the door :) Dallas going down the giant slide with Dad

It was so fast, he lost his hat!

Dallas even got to take a trip with Momma

A trip to the fair wouldn't be complete without seeing the butter cow.

We had to take in all the antique tractors

and the new tractors

The view from the sky glider

Dallas on his very first mid-way ride...just call him the "king"

There is building at the fair that has various birthing animals (pigs, cattle, sheep, goats, ducks, chicks, ostrich, etc.) Dallas got this great looking hat after seeing the piglets

Dallas absolutely loved the pony ride!

There was a small petting zoo as well - apparently, the goat was tired of the feed and went for Dallas' hat instead

Dallas was a bit shocked when this big guy licked his hand

Until next time...

Butter Michael or Not

OK...some of you may know that Iowa State Fair is famous for the Butter Cow. It has been a long standing tradition for I don't know how many years...you can read more about it here. This year, in honor of the 40th Anniversary of Neil Armstrong landing on the moon, they are doing a butter sculpture of him as well. Then, there was the sudden passing of the King of Pop (Michael Jackson), and they decided to immortalize him in butter too. Well...someone got mad and raised a stink about it. The state fair has now put it up to a vote - to butter Michael or not.

I'm not really a Michael Jackson fan, but Doug was SUPER excited when he first heard they would make the sculpture of Michael Jackson. Now, he is upset at the possibility that there may not be one. So...get to the point Rajean...if you would like to vote simply click here - http://www.iowastatefair.org/entertainment/butter-vote.php. This will lead you to the Iowa State Fair page where you would have to enter your vote, your email address, and zip code. I have already submitted my vote and haven't received anything from the fair website (if you are concerned about spam mail).

Thanks for your help...and hopefully, I'll be able to post a picture later this summer of the Butter Michael Jackson!

Here is my post from last year with a picture of the butter cow...http://drbergman.blogspot.com/2008/08/iowa-state-fair-day-2.html

Until next time...