Christmas in July: Annual butter display celebrates classic Ohio-made moo-vie

This year’s butter display features scenes from “A Christmas Story,” including Ralphie in his bunny pajamas, a Christmas tree decorated with real lights, Randy in his snowsuit, the iconic leg lamp and the butter calf and Flick with their tongues stuck to a pole, while the traditional butter cow looks on. Submitted photo.

Each year, the American Dairy Association Mideast chooses a butter display theme that honors Ohio’s history and culture. This year, they celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the classic holiday film, “A Christmas Story,” which was filmed in Cleveland. Submitted photo.

Matt Davidson works on the iconic American Dairy Association Mideast butter cow. He uses his knowledge as a dairy farmer to create the life-like butter sculpture. Submitted photo.

Alex Balz, one of the lead sculptors, molds a butter sculpture of Ralphie in his bunny suit. It took sculptors about 400 hours to complete this year’s butter display, working with about 2,200 pounds of butter in a 46-degree cooler. Submitted photo.

Sculptors first build steel frames to support the butter, then spend hours molding and smoothing while the sculptures take shape. Submitted photo.

The butter calf was incorporated into this year’s butter display theme at the Ohio State Fair. Someone must have “triple dog dared” her and Flick to stick their tongues to a pole. Submitted photo.

Sculptors incorporated twinkling lights into the Christmas tree butter sculpture. This year’s butter display pays tribute to a classic holiday movie filmed in Cleveland, Ohio, “A Christmas Story,” which was released 35 years ago. Submitted photo.

Paul Brooke is one of the lead sculptors for the American Dairy Association Mideast’s annual butter display at the Ohio State Fair. Each year, Paul and his team design and build a representation of Ohio’s history and culture – completely out of butter. Submitted photo.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State Fair’s best kept secret has been unveiled, and it’s bringing some holiday spirit to a summer tradition. This year’s butter display, presented by the American Dairy Association Mideast, celebrates 35 years of the classic holiday film, “A Christmas Story,” which was filmed in Cleveland in 1983.

Inside the cooler, sculptors have recreated some of the movie’s iconic scenes in butter, including Ralphie in his bunny suit, a Christmas tree decorated with real twinkling lights, Randy in his snowsuit and, of course, the iconic leg lamp. And someone must have triple-dog-dared the butter calf because her tongue is stuck to a pole right alongside Flick as the traditional butter cow looks on.

“Watching A Christmas Story is a holiday tradition for people across the country, and we’re proud that it’s one that started right here in Ohio,” says Jenny Hubble, senior vice president of communications for ADA Mideast.

Sculptors spent about 400 hours in a 46 degree cooler to create the buttery works of art from more than a ton of butter.

The butter sculptures are on display in the Dairy Products Building at the Ohio State Fair from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. through August 5. Fairgoers can also learn about Ohio dairy farmers and enjoy treats like ice cream, milkshakes and cheese sandwiches.