And This Year's Butter Sculpture Is ...

The richest of Pennsylvania Farm Show traditions was unveiled Thursday evening in a nearly 1000-pound creamy carving. 

This year’s life-size butter sculpture  traditionally kept secret until the show's about ready to start -- depicts a young 4-H member and his prized calf at a county fair.

The sculpture -- displayed in the Main Hall of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center in Harrisburg -- was created by Jim Victor of Conshohocken, Montgomery County. 

According to WFMZ-TV, Victor and his wife, Marie Pelton, served as consultants for “Butter,” the movie comedy starring Jennifer Garner, Ty Burrell, Alicia Silverstone and Hugh Jackman. The film, directed by Britain's Jim Field Smith, is set to be released March 16.

Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary George Greig, members of the Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association and the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program attended the unveiling.

Butter for the creation was donated by the Land O'Lakes plant in Carlisle and will be recycled locally into biodiesel fuel after the show.

Previous butter sculptures depicted Ben Franklin with the Liberty Bell, a soldier saluting his farm, and a family sitting at a dinner table.

About the 96th Pennsylvania Farm Show:

• The Pennsylvania Farm Show, set for Jan. 7-14, is the largest indoor agricultural event in the U.S. and is free to visitors.

• The Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg houses 24 acres under roof, spread throughout 11 buildings and includes three arenas.

• Nearly 400,000 people come from around the world to see the show, which includes roughly 300 commercial exhibitors and over 13,000 competitive exhibits.

• The annual show opens with a visit from the governor and two performances by the Pennsylvania High School Rodeo Association-sanctioned rodeo.

• The show features a 60-year-old art deco merry-go-round with 30 horses and two chariot seats. A ride costs $2 and benefits the PA Farm Show Scholarship Fund and the Pennsylvania State Showmen's Association.