DES MOINES, Iowa — The 2025 butter sculptures at the Iowa State Fair are now fully complete, and there’s a story behind the four displays. 

This year, the iconic Butter Cow is accompanied by characters of the Toy Story franchise in celebration of its 30th anniversary. The display is a storyboard with four scenes.

The first scene shows Andy’s room, and depicts characters from the movie like Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, Rex, Ham, and more. It also has a real television covered in butter. The TV is playing a video of the Iowa State Fair’s fiddle contest. 

In the next scene, four of the characters escape and head to the Iowa State Fair. Jesse, Bullseye, Buzz Lightyear, and Woody are all shown in this display. They are on a turning table, and spectators can see a 360-degree view of each sculpture. 

Of course, one of the main attractions for the Toy Story adventure seekers is the Butter Cow, which is why the third display is the 2025 cow. 

Finally, the fourth scene brings the display full circle and showcases what the Toy Story characters were on a mission to see: a fiddler at the Iowa State Fair. It also shows Forky from Toy Story 4. 

The display is also honoring the 100^th anniversary of the Iowa State Fair’s Fiddle Contest. 

Since 2006, Sarah Pratt has been the butter sculptor for the Iowa State Fair. For years, she and her two daughters and apprentices, Hannah and Grace, have sculpted the butter displays inside the Agriculture Building on the Fairgrounds. Pratt said this year’s butter sculpture is special because this is the first year her son, Dean, also worked as an apprentice and helped with the display. 

When the fair started, they were still completing some finishing touches on the sculptures. 

“We can hear the voices up and over the cooler when we’re coming in and out, and so, all day long we hear excited voices from kids going, ‘Oh, it’s Buzz,’ and it like lifts our spirits,” said Pratt. 

Now, all four displays are completed. The Agriculture Building opens at 9 a.m. every day for the public to view. It’s not uncommon for there to be long lines for people to catch a glimpse of the sculptures, and now the interest is growing nationally.  The Butter Cow will be on the move and will go on display in the nation’s capital. Click here for more information.