21 Oct Now … About That Steer Butter Sculpture

In our blog post celebrating photos taken at the 2016 State Fair of Texas – which are showcased in an Egowall public space – we referred to a “butter sculpture of a steer” which was on display for this year’s fairgoers.

Butter sculptures at state fairs – or anywhere else – are far from a new thing. 

And they did not originate in Texas, though we like to think so (hey, we’re Texan – it comes with the territory).

This year’s sculpture, found in the Creative Arts Building at the State Fair of Texas, is the Real Frickin’ Deal. Seriously.

Created by Dallas painter and sculptor Ken Robison, it was inspired by the 2015 Youth Livestock Auction Grand Champion steer of the same name (a.k.a., RFD), who sold for a record $130,000 (!) at the auction.

Proceeds from that auction went to the the state fair’s college scholarship fund, which has raised more than $20 million since 1990.

To sculpt RFD, Robison had to spend many frosty hours in a refrigerated case at Fair Park.

But we think he did an exceptional job, as you can see in the picture below.

You’ll find another picture of RFD’s butter doppleganger in the State Fair of Texas Gallery – a customized Urban Gallery space. We hope you’ll check it out along with our other state fair pictures.

Oh, and for the record, RFD is still around.

The winning bid came from Dallas’ III Forks steakhouse and its charity-oriented Big Tex Champion Club.

RFD is happily living out his life at the Harkey Ranch in Katemcy, four hours southwest of Dallas, so everyone’s a winner here.