The woman who sculpts the Butter Cow at the Iowa State Fair every year will be speaking at the Newton DMACC Auditorium this evening, as the last guest of the free Fall “Voices of Inspiration” speakers series presented by the United Way of Jasper County. Sarah Pratt has been sculpting butter for over 30 years, and was an apprentice under the original sculptor of the Butter Cow, Norma “Duffy” Lyon.  When Lyon retired in 2005, Pratt took over as the Iowa State Fair Butter Sculptor. She also sculpts annually at state fairs in Illinois and Kansas. She and her daughters have a sculpture on display at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C. It’s part of an exhibit called “State Fairs: Growing American Craft,” that will be displayed through September 7, 2026. United Way of Jasper County Executive Director Jessica Lowe-Vokes says Pratt also has a full-time job.

“She’s actually a teacher by day. She’s going to talk about her Iowa State Fair experience, the Smithsonian, and share the history of the Butter Cow. So I am really excited. When I announced her, people said, “Oh my gosh, the Butter Cow lady is coming.” 

Doors to the Newton DMACC Auditorium will open at 6 p.m. this evening, with free-will admission collected to help continue and grow the speaker series. Seating is first come, first served, with a capacity of 325 people.