American Dairy Association North East is celebrating a decade-long partnership with Noblehurst Farms of Pavillion, NY, to recycle the butter sculpture from the Great New York State Fair.
Along with Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners, ADA North East dismantled the sculpture that was created with 800 lbs. of butter supplied by A-AT-KA Milk Products in Batavia, NY.
Noblehurst Farms will combine the butter with other food waste from local grocery stores, cafeterias and manufacturers, along with manure, to process in the farm’s anaerobic digester, converting it into energy. Over the past 10 years, the farm has recycled 8,000 lbs. – 4 tons – of butter in the digester that creates enough energy to power the farm, the farm’s on-site creamery and more than 600 homes for a year.
“We are extremely honored to be the ‘official’ recycler of the New York State Fair’s butter sculpture,” said Noblehurst Farms co-owner Jack Klapper. “We take great pride in being good stewards of the land, and recycling the 800 pounds of butter is just another opportunity to showcase how we are sustainable by diverting food waste from landfills and creating renewable energy.”
Noblehurst recycles more than 100 tons of food waste per day in the digester and has more than doubled its electricity production since starting its recycling program in 2015.
Klapper said, “Dairy farmers are resourceful at recycling, and we try not to let anything go to waste. Focusing on how we can be sustainable and being environmental stewards is very important to our team at Noblehurst.”
This year’s butter sculpture, “Dairy for Good: Nourish. Grow. Thrive,” celebrated the joy and nourishment dairy provides at every stage of life – and was inspired by the 125th anniversary of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” book.
Click here to watch a video about ADA North East’s 10-year partnership with Noblehurst Farms.
For more information contact ADA North East at 315.472.9143.
