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- Iowa is famous for the butter cows at its state fair.
- But a recent Tweet revealed something shocking.
- The butter cows aren't made entirely of butter?
Iowa is famous for its farming and that one baseball field, yes, but it's perhaps best known for its confusing and early role in the presidential nomination process.
The Iowa caucuses are traditionally the first contest to help determine who the nominee for both parties will be. As such, presidential hopefuls spend a disproportionate amount of time in the state hoping to win over potential voters, and a crucial part of that process is the candidates visiting the Iowa State Fair, which famously features cow statues made of butter. But a recent tweet revealed something shocking:
—217Problems (@217Problems) August 21, 2023
The cows aren't made entirely of butter! Even more disturbing? This information has been hiding in plain sight, presumably for years.
"The Butter Cow starts with a wood, metal, wire, and steel mesh frame and about 600 lbs. of low moisture, pure cream Iowa butter," per the Iowa State Fair's official website. "Once inside the 40-degree cooler, layers of butter are applied until a life-size butter cow emerges - measuring about 5-1/2-ft high and 8-ft long."
Based on a slightly unscientific poll of my co-workers and my wife, all educated and worldly people, no one knew the butter cows were a wood-and-wire-based lie. The one exception was my colleague Brent, who hails from the neighboring state of Nebraska.
Good job Brent, though I'm left wondering what other secrets are in the hearts of Midwesterners. Is there actually any corn in the Midwest? Does no one really say "pop" instead of "soda"? Is the Midwest not, in fact, in the middle of the West?