For decades, the Illinois State Fair in Springfield has featured a butter-cow sculpture inside a refrigerated case.
This year, the butter cow is back, but with a new Route 66 element.
The State of Illinois reports the sculpture is titled “Take a Spin on Route 66”:
While the iconic Butter Cow remains the centerpiece of the display, this year’s companion sculpture features a woman and her dog heading out on a Route 66 adventure aboard a classic scooter in search of ice cream (and a pup cup, of course). As in years past, 13 hearts have been hidden throughout the butter display to represent the 13 essential nutrients found naturally in dairy.
“Every summer, the Butter Cow display manages to blend nostalgia with creative new features,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This year’s sculpture beautifully honors the 100th anniversary of Route 66 while celebrating Illinois dairy as well.”
“For generations, families have made the Butter Cow a must-see stop during their visit to the fair,” said Jerry Costello II, Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture. “This year’s Route 66 theme offers visitors a memorable way to celebrate the centennial anniversary.”
“This year’s sculpture was designed to connect the iconic Butter Cow and its timeless appeal with the excitement of Route 66’s centennial celebration,” said Sarah Pratt, Illinois State Fair Butter Cow sculptor. “As I explored the history of Route 66, I was drawn to the many iconic ice cream stops that became part of the journey for generations of travelers. That made ice cream a natural feature of this year’s sculpture. We hope fairgoers enjoy the whimsy of the display, share memories of their own Route 66 adventures, and remember the important role dairy has played in so many of those journeys.”
The sculpture is in the Dairy Building at the fairgrounds. Up to 500 pounds of unsalted butter are used over a five-day period to create the sculpture, which has been part of the fair for about 100 years.
Because of Route 66’s centennial, the state fair has gone all-out for the Mother Road this year, including a new addition to the Route 66 Experience neon park and Route 66 itself being a grand marshall for its kickoff parade.
(Image of the 2026 butter sculpture via the Illinois Department of Agriculture)