COLUMBUS – Fifty years after the first moon landing, this iconic moment in American history is being honored in this year’s butter display at the Ohio State Fair. The sculptures are made from more than 2,200 pounds of butter, capturing the most memorable moments from the July 1969 Apollo 11 mission to the moon.

“Those who remember the moon landing often recall exactly where they were and how they felt, and the 50th anniversary is the perfect time to pay tribute to this amazing event and share that excitement with a new generation,” said Jenny Hubble, senior vice president of communications for the American Dairy Association Mideast. “Ohio also has a special connection to that day, as one of our own took the first-ever steps on the surface of the moon.”

The butter display includes a life-size sculpture of Neil Armstrong, a native of Wapakoneta, Ohio, standing next to the lunar module Eagle and saluting the American flag after planting it on the moon’s surface. The 2019 display also includes a butter sculpture of the entire spacecraft crew: Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins and, of course, the traditional butter cow and calf.

The annual butter display is presented at the Ohio State Fair by the American Dairy Association Mideast, and the theme is one of the best kept secrets leading up to the fair. This year’s out-of-this-world display is expected to attract more than 500,000 fairgoers to the Dairy Products Building, where they can also learn about Ohio’s dairy farmers and enjoy Ohio-produced dairy foods including ice cream, milkshakes, cheese sandwiches and milk.

The traditional butter cow and calf are a mainstay of the annual butter display at the Ohio State Fair. This year’s display pays tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

https://www.sidneydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2019/07/web1_6-cowcalf.jpgThe traditional butter cow and calf are a mainstay of the annual butter display at the Ohio State Fair. This year’s display pays tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

The annual butter display honors the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing and includes sculptures of Neil Armstrong saluting the American flag next to the lunar module, the full Apollo 11 crew, the official Apollo 11 patch and the traditional butter cow and calf.

https://www.sidneydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2019/07/web1_5-fulldisplay1.jpgThe annual butter display honors the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing and includes sculptures of Neil Armstrong saluting the American flag next to the lunar module, the full Apollo 11 crew, the official Apollo 11 patch and the traditional butter cow and calf.

Full-scale models of the entire Apollo 11 crew, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin, are sculpted in butter at the Ohio State Fair.

https://www.sidneydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2019/07/web1_4-crewvertical.jpgFull-scale models of the entire Apollo 11 crew, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin, are sculpted in butter at the Ohio State Fair.

The moment Ohio native Neil Armstrong saluted the flag after planting it on the surface of the moon is commemorated in butter at the Ohio State Fair 50 years after the Apollo 11 mission.

https://www.sidneydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2019/07/web1_7-neilvertical.jpgThe moment Ohio native Neil Armstrong saluted the flag after planting it on the surface of the moon is commemorated in butter at the Ohio State Fair 50 years after the Apollo 11 mission.

Matt Davidson sculpts the iconic American Dairy Association Mideast butter cow. As an artist and a dairy farmer, Davidson is able to create an incredibly lifelike sculpture.

https://www.sidneydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2019/07/web1_11-matt.jpgMatt Davidson sculpts the iconic American Dairy Association Mideast butter cow. As an artist and a dairy farmer, Davidson is able to create an incredibly lifelike sculpture.

One of the lead sculptors, Alex Balz, chisels the fine details on a butter sculpture of astronaut Michael Collins. This year’s annual butter display honoring the first moon landing took about 500 hours to complete, 400 of which were spent in a 46-degree cooler.

https://www.sidneydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2019/07/web1_10-alex.jpgOne of the lead sculptors, Alex Balz, chisels the fine details on a butter sculpture of astronaut Michael Collins. This year’s annual butter display honoring the first moon landing took about 500 hours to complete, 400 of which were spent in a 46-degree cooler.

Erin Swearingen smooths the butter on a life-size sculpture of Neil Armstrong. This year’s annual butter display at the Ohio State Fair is a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

https://www.sidneydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2019/07/web1_12-erin.jpgErin Swearingen smooths the butter on a life-size sculpture of Neil Armstrong. This year’s annual butter display at the Ohio State Fair is a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

A larger-than-life sculpture of the official Apollo 11 patch is featured in this year’s butter display at the Ohio State Fair.

https://www.sidneydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2019/07/web1_8-seal.jpgA larger-than-life sculpture of the official Apollo 11 patch is featured in this year’s butter display at the Ohio State Fair.