Iowa State Fairgoers of all ages are again standing in line to get a glimpse of Americana art — the butter cow sculpture crafted by “Duffy” Lyon. One woman said you can’t go to the State Fair without seeing the Butter Cow. A bunch of elementary kids on a day trip to the Fair said things like “nice cow,” and “that cow is big and I can’t believe it’s made out of butter.” Another fairgoer said she appreciates the artist who “sticks with that old job.” Duffy Lyon has been sculpting a cow out of butter for every state fair since 1960. “It’s just part of the fair,” said one man. “Where else are you going to see the butter cow?” one woman said, laughing. Duffy Lyon and her husband, Joe, have just received the Fair’s “Outstanding Lifetime Accomplishment Award” for their community work on and off the fairgrounds. The Fair has had a butter cow every year since 1911. Governor Vilsack says the butter cow was featured as one of the top 10 plays of the day on ESPN this week.
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