The iconic 56th Annual Butter Sculpture at the New York State Fair may be gone, but its journey doesn’t end there. This year’s 800-pound sculpture, depicting a family enjoying the benefits of dairy while a farmer plants a tree, has been repurposed in a sustainable and innovative way.
The butter, provided by O-AT-KA Milk Products and unsuitable for sale or consumption, was transported to Noblehurst Farms in Pavilion, New York. This farm, known for its commitment to sustainability and food waste reduction, utilizes a digester to convert food waste into energy. The butter, combined with other food waste from local manufacturers and educational institutions, is broken down in the digester, generating enough electricity to power the farm, its on-site creamery, and approximately 350 homes for a year.
This process, which takes about 28 days, showcases the farm’s dedication to reducing methane emissions and sequestering carbon. Jack Klapper, co-owner of Noblehurst Farms, emphasizes their commitment to recycling the butter sculpture for the ninth consecutive year, highlighting the positive impact of their innovative practices.
Noblehurst Farms, recognized nationally for its sustainability initiatives, diverts a significant amount of food waste from landfills every week. Their efforts demonstrate the crucial role dairy farmers play in addressing global food waste issues and promoting a greener future. The butter sculpture, a symbol of the dairy industry’s commitment to sustainability and its positive impact on the environment, finds a new purpose in powering homes and contributing to a cleaner planet.
