Illinois State Fair festivities underway in Springfield
Posted August 11, 2016 7:00 am
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The 2016 Illinois State Fair kicked off with the annual Twilight Parade and the unveiling of the butter cow, which this year is named Creampuff.
This year's cow is a 700 pound Jersey, a switch from the Holsteins that served as a model in the past for the sculpture in the Dairy Building.
The butter cow was sculpted for the first time for Illinois by Sarah Pratt of West Des Moines, Iowa. She's been the official butter sculptor at the Iowa State Fair since 2006 and took over the Illinois job from Sharon BuMann of New York, who retired.
Pratt was not on hand for the unveiling of work. Instead she was at Thursday's opening of the Iowa State Fair.
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner was among the dignitaries scheduled to march in the annual Twilight Parade.
After giving his Berkshire hog a bath, Hayden Brint, 12, of Goodhope, Ill., heads back to the barn in preparation for the show competition at the Illinois State Fair Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016, in Springfield, Ill. The Illinois State Fair will run from Aug 12, throughout Aug. 21. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
The Associated Press
Veterans, military service members and their families participate in the Twilight Parade at the Illinois State Fair Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Springfield, Ill. Festivities are getting underway as the Illinois State Fair kicks off in Springfield with the annual Twilight Parade and preview night. Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner is among the dignitaries scheduled to march in the parade on Thursday. The fair runs through Aug. 21. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
The Associated Press
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner greets visitors to the fair while walking in the Twilight Parade at the Illinois State Fair Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Springfield, Ill. Festivities are getting underway as the Illinois State Fair kicks off in Springfield with the annual Twilight Parade and preview night. The fair runs through Aug. 21. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
The Associated Press
Veterans and military service members participate in the Twilight Parade at the Illinois State Fair Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Springfield, Ill. Festivities are getting underway as the Illinois State Fair kicks off in Springfield with the annual Twilight Parade and preview night. Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner is among the dignitaries scheduled to march in the parade on Thursday. The fair runs through Aug. 21. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
The Associated Press
Veterans and military service members participate in the Twilight Parade at the Illinois State Fair Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Springfield, Ill. Festivities are getting underway as the Illinois State Fair kicks off in Springfield with the annual Twilight Parade and preview night. Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner is among the dignitaries scheduled to march in the parade on Thursday. The fair runs through Aug. 21. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
The Associated Press
Runners participate in a two mile run for fun before the Twilight Parade at the Illinois State Fair Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Springfield, Ill. Festivities are getting underway as the Illinois State Fair kicks off in Springfield with the annual Twilight Parade and preview night. Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner is among the dignitaries scheduled to march in the parade on Thursday. The fair runs through Aug. 21. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
The Associated Press
Visitors view the Illinois State Fair Butter Cow designed by Sarah Pratt after the Twilight Parade at the Illinois State Fair Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Springfield, Ill. Festivities are getting underway as the Illinois State Fair kicks off in Springfield with the annual Twilight Parade and preview night. Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner is among the dignitaries scheduled to march in the parade starting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. The fair runs through Aug. 21. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
The Associated Press
Visitors view the Illinois State Fair Butter Cow designed by Sarah Pratt after the Twilight Parade at the Illinois State Fair Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Springfield, Ill. Festivities are getting underway as the Illinois State Fair kicks off in Springfield with the annual Twilight Parade and preview night. Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner is among the dignitaries scheduled to march in the parade starting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. The fair runs through Aug. 21. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
The Associated Press
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