SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Sharon BuMann has been sculpting the butter cow for the past 13 years. This has been an Illinois State fair tradition that’s been around for more than 90 years.

The sculptor announced she was retiring after the 2015 season. "After I retire, I am writing a book about butter sculptures and the fond memories," she noted.

This year’s sculpture, BuMann said, reflects the fair’s "Growing Illinois" theme. The sculpture is inspired by her own family’s farm and represents a grandfather showing his prized cow at the fair and teaching his granddaughter the ropes.

When asked how she started sculpting butter cows, she said, "I am a professional sculptor, and there was a job opening in the paper for a butter sculptor. I applied and the next year I got hired."

That started her journey, but BuMann first did the butter cow for the New York State Fair, then went on to Dallas, Kansas, Illinois and then, she said, "It snowballed from there. I do bronze (art) the rest of the year."