The Illinois state fair is soon to be officially underway. The ribbon will be cut today at 3 and the Twilight Parade rolls on to the grounds as the unofficial welcome to the 11 day run in Springfield. The fair is taking time to celebrate 200 years of Illinois and one of the most visible will be the state’s Butter Cow – a tradition not quite 200 years in the making. State Director of Ag Raymond Poe has been coming to the fair for years and says this cow is a great symbol of the fair and a real part of Illinois history.
The butter cow is on display – slowly rotating around in her cooler every day inside the dairy building.