800-POUND BUTTER SCULPTURE AT NEW YORK STATE FAIR RECYCLED INTO ENERGY AT WESTERN NEW YORK DAIRY FARM

The 56^eannual butter sculpture of theNew York State Fairhas been dismantled, but it will not be wasted.

The American Dairy Association North East, in collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners and Noblehurst Farms, dismantled the 800-pound sculpture atNew York State Fairgrounds. Ultimately, the butter, which was supplied by O-AT-KA Milk Products toBatavia, NY, and which was unfit for sale or consumption for various reasons, will return toWestern New York, within 15 miles of its original production location, to be recycled on a local dairy farm.

Noblehurst Farms atPavilion, NY, (Livingston County) will combine the butter with other food waste from local food manufacturers and educational institutions and run it through the farm’s digester, converting it into energy. The digester breaks down the material and creates enough electricity to power the farm, the on-site dairy and approximately 350 homes for a year. Specifically, the butter from the butter sculpture alone will power a home for three days.

“We are honored to recycle the New York State Fair Butter Sculpturefor the ninth consecutive year,” saidJack Klapperco-owner of Noblehurst Farms. “We will mix the butter with other food waste and convert it into energy over a period of about 28 days. This energy will be transformed into electricity that will power homes in the local community.”In recent years, Noblehurst Farms has been nationally recognized for its sustainability and community partnerships to divert food waste from local landfills. The result of Noblehurst’s efforts has been to divert 200 tons of food waste from local landfills each week.

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“Our awareness of the role dairy farmers play in solving the global food waste problem has grown significantly,” Klapper said. “We hope our innovative food waste reduction practices will add value to New York State.”

which focuses on methane reduction and carbon sequestration in the coming years."This year’s sculpture, “Dairy: Good for You. Good for the Planet,” featured a family relaxing by a river on one side while a dairy farmer planted a tree on the other side, highlighting one of the many ways dairy farmers protect the planet while producing nutritious milk.SOURCE American Dairy Association North East

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