Illinois State Fair Butter Cow

It's not often a sculptor works with something that also tastes good on a cracker.

But sculptor Sharon BuMann's 2009 butter cow will be unveiled later this week at the Illinois State Fair.

The butter cow is a fixture at the fair but it's always a secret what it will look like and what kind of barnyard scene it might be in.

Last year's butter cow was accompanied by a creamy calf and a couple of skunks.

This year's mystery will be solved Thursday when the butter cow is unveiled in the dairy building at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

The fair runs Aug. 14-23.