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WNIJ's summary of news items around our state.

Illinois State Fair's 'Butter Cow' Tradition Continues

Illinois Department of Agriculture

A "must" of any visit to the state fair is the Butter Cow: a large -- though not life-sized -- sculpture of a cow, made entirely of butter.

Illinois has had one for some 90 years.

But the woman who's been doing it recently, is "mooving" on, to retirement. State fair organizers and the Midwest Dairy Association held a search for a replacement.

With a little "bovine intervention," they found Sarah Pratt, of Des Moines; she's made butter art at the Iowa State Fair for the past decade -- and not just of cows.

According to a press release, she's also sculpted the likeness of an Illinois hero -- Abraham Lincoln.

Her first butter cow for the Illinois State Fair will be unveiled next month.

Amanda Vinicky moved to Chicago Tonight on WTTW-TV PBS in 2017.
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