In 2026, the butter cow gets a new, even cooler home! Enjoy air-conditioning, more space to roam, and plenty of delicious ice cream and milkshakes in the renovated Dairy Building.
In 1903, the first-ever butter cow-and-calf sculptures were featured at the Ohio State Fair when they were entered into a butter-sculpting contest sponsored by The Ohio State University and the Dairy Processors of Ohio. The subjects of this early contest were not restricted to specific subject matter, but the life-size cow sculpted by A.T. Shelton & Company, distributors of Sunbury Co-Operative Creamery butter, became such a popular attraction that it later became a permanent attraction.
Eventually, the butter cow and calf found a permanent home in the Dairy Building, which was built in 1925. New cow and calf sculptures have become a time-honored tradition. They are created each year, along with a mystery sculpture that reflects the positive ideals and cultural trends in Ohio.