New York State Fair’s 800-Pound Butter Sculpture Recycled Into Energy at Western New York Dairy Farm
SYRACUSE, N.Y., Sept. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- After 13 days on display at the New York State Fair, the 58th Annual Butter Sculpture is headed to a Western New York dairy farm to be recycled into renewable energy.
American Dairy Association North East, in conjunction with Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners and Noblehurst Farms, broke down the 800-pound sculpture at the New York State Fairgrounds. The butter, supplied by O-AT-KA Milk Products in Batavia, N.Y., and unsuitable for sale or consumption for a variety of reasons, will return to Western New York — less than 15 miles from its origin — for recycling.
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Noblehurst Farms in Pavilion, N.Y., (Livingston County) will combine the butter with other food waste from local grocery stores, cafeterias and manufacturers, along with manure, and process it in the farm’s digester, converting it into energy. The digester breaks down all of these materials together and produces enough electricity annually to power the farm, its on-site creamery and more than 600 homes.
“We’re proud to give this butter a second life,” said Jack Klapper, co-owner of Noblehurst Farms. “It may have started as part of a 800-pound sculpture at the Fair, but it will end up helping power homes and businesses right here in New York. It’s a great example of how dairy farms can turn what might otherwise be waste into something useful.”
Last year marked Noblehurst Farms’ 10th consecutive year recycling the butter sculpture. Over that decade, the farm has recycled 8,000 pounds – or four tons – of butter in their digester, which has created enough energy to power one home for about a month. In a typical year, however, the 800 pounds of butter can generate enough electricity to power one home for three to five days.
In recent years, Noblehurst Farms has been recognized nationally for achievements in sustainability and community partnerships to divert food waste from local landfills. When the farm started its food waste recycling program in 2015, it was recycling about 500 tons of food waste per month. Now, with the help of a new modern recycling system, Noblehurst Farms is recycling over 100 tons per day and has more than doubled its electricity production.
“Dairy farmers have always been resourceful, and this is a great example of that,” said Klapper. “Focusing on how we can be sustainable and being environmental stewards is very important to the team at Noblehurst Farms.”
This year’s sculpture, “Milk. Memories. Tradition. Rooted in New York.” Celebrated America’s 250th anniversary through a New York lens. The sculpture told the story of America – New York Style – with images of baseball in Cooperstown, the legacy of America’s first state fair (held in Syracuse in 1841), summertime ice cream, the New York City skyline and fireworks illuminating the night.
Contact: Greg Szklany
Phone: (315) 729-1722
Email: gszklany@milk4u.org
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