Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – You can’t have the Illinois State Fair without the butter cow.

Jerry Costello II, director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture, knows the drill. “For over 100 years, 800 pounds of butter has been sculpted into this sculpture,” Costello said at Wednesday’s unveiling of the butter cow in the Dairy Building on the fairgrounds. “We want to thank our sculptor, Sarah Pratt,” who is from West Des Moines, Iowa. “Year after year she churns out an amazing sculpture.”

Steps away, in a cabinet along the wall, a butter dog checks out other dairy entries, also rendered in butter.

The Illinois State Fair begins today and continues through Sunday, July 17.