Yes, the butter board trend is revolting but you’ll try it anyway
TikTok’s latest viral food trend is, like many TikTok trends, a little questionable. The butter board, popularized by recipe developer Justine Doiron (AKA @justine_snacks), is sweeping the platform with creators trying out their own sweet and savory takes.
Doiron’s version of the butter board, inspired by chef Josh McFadden, is topped with flaky sea salt, lemon zest, herbs, red onions, edible flowers, and a “honey coriander situation” which is arguably a great indie electronica band name.
In theory, the butter board is fine–just a prettier way to serve a communal loaf of warm bread and soft butter. But in practice there’s something many find gag-inducing about the trend. People on the internet are criticizing everything from the amount of cholesterol to the difficulty of cleaning an oily wood board. It’s divisive enough that some Twitter users are threatening to end friendships if they’re served a butter board at the next party. Then again, the direction the sun rises couldn’t gain a consensus on Twitter.
Maybe we’re just not ready for communal foods again in this post-Covid world? But as Dorian points out in a comment to the hundreds of TikTok users who have never heard of cutlery, “YOU CAN USE A KNIFE JUST LIKE A CHEESEBOARD CALM YOURSELVES.”
All of this isn’t to say the butter board trend is without merit. At least it is exactly what it claims, unlike “nature’s cereal,” a 2021 TikTok food trend that boldly asked us to believe a bowl of berries drowned in coconut water was a suitable replacement for Cap’n Crunch.
The butter board is more akin to baked feta pasta or the tortilla wrap hack–a low-effort dish that relies on simple ingredients, requires little culinary ability, and offers endless options for customization.
Some TikTok users are opting for sweet ingredients like figs, strawberries, and honey. Others are infusing butter boards with popular flavors from their own cultures like this Desi butter board from @zaynahsbakes. Infused butter is nothing new, but the butter board trend eliminates the prep work of combining ingredients making it an easier way to experiment with new flavors.
Doiron mentions she wants to make butter boards the next charcuterie board, and if ever there were a year this could happen it would be one where food prices are predicted to jump 9 to 10 percent. Even with a butter shortage that’s caused a 24.6 percent year over year increase in price, assembling a butter board remains a more affordable option than loading up your grocery cart with cured meats, pricey cheeses, nuts, olives, fruit, and jam.
There’s a reason the phrase “bread and butter” has become synonymous with basic, ordinary sustenance; the cheap and filling combination has been a staple for hundreds of years. So if creatively plating that staple and topping it with fresh herbs and pretty edible flowers can make it feel a little more special, why not? It wouldn’t be surprising to see the butter board pop up on more holiday tables this year as a budget-friendly but striking addition to the turkey and mashed potatoes.
If smearing a bunch of butter on a cutting board becomes an acceptable appetizer to bring to potlucks and it can be assembled for less than $15, you can count my chips-and-dip bringing self sold on the trend. Even if just looking at it makes my blood pressure rise.
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.KALIM A. BHATTI
Jim Victor of Conshohocken, Pa., touches the 800 pound butter cow sculpture he carved at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pa., Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003. The project took nearly 10 days and has been a farm show tradition for the last 12 years. (AP Photo/Kalim A. Bhatti)
KALIM A. BHATTIJim Victor of Conshohocken, Pa., touches the 800 pound butter cow sculpture he carved at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pa., Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003. The project took nearly 10 days and has been a farm show tradition for the last 12 years. (AP Photo/Kalim A. Bhatti)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.CHARLIE NEIBERGALL
Norma "Duffy" Lyon works on a butter sculpture of golfer Tiger Woods, Tuesday Aug. 9, 2005, at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa. Lyon, who has carved a life-size dairy cow out of butter at the fair for more than 40 years, has in the past made butter sculptures of actor John Wayne and country singer Garth Brooks. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
CHARLIE NEIBERGALLNorma "Duffy" Lyon works on a butter sculpture of golfer Tiger Woods, Tuesday Aug. 9, 2005, at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa. Lyon, who has carved a life-size dairy cow out of butter at the fair for more than 40 years, has in the past made butter sculptures of actor John Wayne and country singer Garth Brooks. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.Bradley C Bower
The Pennsylvania Dairy Industry rolled out their 1,000-pound "Butter Sculpture" prior to the opening of the 95th Annual Pennsylvania Farm Show, Thursday, Jan 6, 2011, in Harrisburg, Pa. The sculpture depicts a dairy farmer providing milk to children playing. Following the Farm Show the butter will be converted into biofuel. (AP Photo/Bradley C Bower)
Bradley C BowerThe Pennsylvania Dairy Industry rolled out their 1,000-pound "Butter Sculpture" prior to the opening of the 95th Annual Pennsylvania Farm Show, Thursday, Jan 6, 2011, in Harrisburg, Pa. The sculpture depicts a dairy farmer providing milk to children playing. Following the Farm Show the butter will be converted into biofuel. (AP Photo/Bradley C Bower)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.CAROLYN KASTER
A section of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Butter Sculpture is seen in a case Thursday, Jan. 6, 2005, at the show in Harrisburg, Pa. This year's sculpture is made out of 800 pounds of butter and is called "Preserving the Pennsylvania Farm." It shows a girl bottle-feeding a calf. Jim Victor created the sculpture in about 15 days. Gov. Ed Rendell plans to deliver his first speech at the annual show - halfway through his four-year term. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
CAROLYN KASTERA section of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Butter Sculpture is seen in a case Thursday, Jan. 6, 2005, at the show in Harrisburg, Pa. This year's sculpture is made out of 800 pounds of butter and is called "Preserving the Pennsylvania Farm." It shows a girl bottle-feeding a calf. Jim Victor created the sculpture in about 15 days. Gov. Ed Rendell plans to deliver his first speech at the annual show - halfway through his four-year term. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.CAROLYN KASTER
Corbin Davis, 13, of Chambersburg, Pa., looks through the glass case at the 2005 Pennsylvania Farm Show Butter Sculpture, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2005, at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, in Harrisburg, Pa. This year's sculpture is made out of 800 pounds of butter and is called "Preserving the Pennsylvania Farm." It shows a girl bottle feeding a calf as her father look on from the left. Governor Ed Rendell will deliver his first speech at the annual Pennsylvania Farm Show when it opens in Harrisburg on Saturday. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
CAROLYN KASTERCorbin Davis, 13, of Chambersburg, Pa., looks through the glass case at the 2005 Pennsylvania Farm Show Butter Sculpture, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2005, at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, in Harrisburg, Pa. This year's sculpture is made out of 800 pounds of butter and is called "Preserving the Pennsylvania Farm." It shows a girl bottle feeding a calf as her father look on from the left. Governor Ed Rendell will deliver his first speech at the annual Pennsylvania Farm Show when it opens in Harrisburg on Saturday. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.SETH PERLMAN
Sculptor Sharon BuMann, of Central Square, N.Y., creates the "Butter Cow" sculpture using 700 pounds of butter in the Dairy Barn at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill., Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2006. BuMann creates a different pose for the sculpture each year. The Illinois State Fair is scheduled to start Friday, Aug 11. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
SETH PERLMANSculptor Sharon BuMann, of Central Square, N.Y., creates the "Butter Cow" sculpture using 700 pounds of butter in the Dairy Barn at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill., Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2006. BuMann creates a different pose for the sculpture each year. The Illinois State Fair is scheduled to start Friday, Aug 11. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.Carolyn Kaster
The official butter sculpture of the 2008 Pennsylvania Farm Show is seen inside its refrigerated case at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2008, in Harrisburg, Pa. The sculpture is made of 900 ponds of butter and is of three children and a cow waiting to board a school bus. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Carolyn KasterThe official butter sculpture of the 2008 Pennsylvania Farm Show is seen inside its refrigerated case at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2008, in Harrisburg, Pa. The sculpture is made of 900 ponds of butter and is of three children and a cow waiting to board a school bus. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.Carolyn Kaster
A section of the 2009 Butter Sculpture is seen at the 93rd annual Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pa., Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009. This year's sculpture is dedicated to the Pennsylvania National Guard and depicts a Guardsman saying goodbye to his family. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Carolyn KasterA section of the 2009 Butter Sculpture is seen at the 93rd annual Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pa., Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009. This year's sculpture is dedicated to the Pennsylvania National Guard and depicts a Guardsman saying goodbye to his family. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.Carolyn Kaster
The 2009 Butter Sculpture is seen at the 93rd annual Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pa., Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009. This year's sculpture is dedicated to the Pennsylvania National Guard and depicts a Guardsman saying goodbye to his family. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Carolyn KasterThe 2009 Butter Sculpture is seen at the 93rd annual Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pa., Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009. This year's sculpture is dedicated to the Pennsylvania National Guard and depicts a Guardsman saying goodbye to his family. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.Carolyn Kaster
The butter sculpture is unveiled at the 93rd annual Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pa., Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009. This year's sculpture is dedicated to the Pennsylvania National Guard and depicts a Guardsman saying goodbye to his family. Unveiling the butter sculpture, from left, are: Nicole Wasson an alternate Dairy Princess from Centre County, Pa.; Dennis Wolff, the Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture; Jim Victor the sculptor; Leeann Kapanick Pennsylvania Dairy Princess from Crawford County, Pa., and Abby Trotter an alternate Dairy Princess from Lawrence County, Pa. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Carolyn KasterThe butter sculpture is unveiled at the 93rd annual Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pa., Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009. This year's sculpture is dedicated to the Pennsylvania National Guard and depicts a Guardsman saying goodbye to his family. Unveiling the butter sculpture, from left, are: Nicole Wasson an alternate Dairy Princess from Centre County, Pa.; Dennis Wolff, the Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture; Jim Victor the sculptor; Leeann Kapanick Pennsylvania Dairy Princess from Crawford County, Pa., and Abby Trotter an alternate Dairy Princess from Lawrence County, Pa. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.PAUL VATHIS
Pennsylvania Dairy Princess Rhonda Kieklak of Wattsburg, Pa., stands behind a butter sculpture depicting former President Dwight Eisenhower feeding an Angus calf after unveiling at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pa., Thursday, Jan. 4, 1996. The sculpture was carved from 800 pounds of butter.(AP Photo/Paul Vathis)
PAUL VATHISPennsylvania Dairy Princess Rhonda Kieklak of Wattsburg, Pa., stands behind a butter sculpture depicting former President Dwight Eisenhower feeding an Angus calf after unveiling at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pa., Thursday, Jan. 4, 1996. The sculpture was carved from 800 pounds of butter.(AP Photo/Paul Vathis)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.PAUL VATHIS
Harrisburg elementary school children view a sculpture made of butter after unveiling at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pa. Thursday, Jan. 8, 1998. The sculpture is made of 800 pounds of donated butter and depicts a school cafeteria employee serving a student a meal made of food products produced in Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Paul Vathis)
PAUL VATHISHarrisburg elementary school children view a sculpture made of butter after unveiling at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pa. Thursday, Jan. 8, 1998. The sculpture is made of 800 pounds of donated butter and depicts a school cafeteria employee serving a student a meal made of food products produced in Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Paul Vathis)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.TERRY GILLIAM
Dan Ross adds butter to his butter cow sculpture at the Ohio State Fair Friday, July 30, 1999, in Columbus, Ohio. Ross has been creating sculptures of a butter cow at the Fair since 1964. (AP Photo/Terry Gilliam)
TERRY GILLIAMDan Ross adds butter to his butter cow sculpture at the Ohio State Fair Friday, July 30, 1999, in Columbus, Ohio. Ross has been creating sculptures of a butter cow at the Fair since 1964. (AP Photo/Terry Gilliam)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.RODNEY WHITE
FILE - In this Aug. 11, 1999, file photo, Norma "Duffy" Lyon works on her version of "The Last Supper", a sculpture in butter, at the Iowa State Fair, in Des Moines. Lyon, who famously sculpted butter into cows, Elvis and even Jesus for the Iowa State Fair, has died. She was 81. (AP Photo/Rodney White)
RODNEY WHITEFILE - In this Aug. 11, 1999, file photo, Norma "Duffy" Lyon works on her version of "The Last Supper", a sculpture in butter, at the Iowa State Fair, in Des Moines. Lyon, who famously sculpted butter into cows, Elvis and even Jesus for the Iowa State Fair, has died. She was 81. (AP Photo/Rodney White)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.Carolyn Kaster
A sculpture made from nearly 1,000 pounds of butter that pays tribute to dairy farm families is displayed at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pa., Thursday, Jan. 7, 2009. The sculpture depicts a dairy cow, as well as a dairy farmer pouring a glass of milk at the breakfast table with his family. The sculpture, by sculptor Jim Victor, of Conshohocken, Pa., was crafted from butter donated by Land O' Lakes in Carlisle, Pa. The Pennsylvania Farm Show runs Jan. 9-16. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Carolyn KasterA sculpture made from nearly 1,000 pounds of butter that pays tribute to dairy farm families is displayed at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pa., Thursday, Jan. 7, 2009. The sculpture depicts a dairy cow, as well as a dairy farmer pouring a glass of milk at the breakfast table with his family. The sculpture, by sculptor Jim Victor, of Conshohocken, Pa., was crafted from butter donated by Land O' Lakes in Carlisle, Pa. The Pennsylvania Farm Show runs Jan. 9-16. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.Carolyn Kaster
A sculpture made from nearly 1,000 pounds of butter that pays tribute to dairy farm families is displayed at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pa., Thursday, Jan. 7, 2009. The sculpture depicts a dairy cow at the breakfast table with a dairy farmer and his family. The sculpture, by sculptor Jim Victor, of Conshohocken, Pa., was crafted from butter donated by Land O' Lakes in Carlisle, Pa. The Pennsylvania Farm Show runs Jan. 9-16. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Carolyn KasterA sculpture made from nearly 1,000 pounds of butter that pays tribute to dairy farm families is displayed at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pa., Thursday, Jan. 7, 2009. The sculpture depicts a dairy cow at the breakfast table with a dairy farmer and his family. The sculpture, by sculptor Jim Victor, of Conshohocken, Pa., was crafted from butter donated by Land O' Lakes in Carlisle, Pa. The Pennsylvania Farm Show runs Jan. 9-16. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.Charlie Neibergall
Seen is the Iowa State Fair butter cow sculpture Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010, in Des Moines, Iowa. The 600 lb. sculpture made of butter will be on display at the state fair that runs Aug. 12-22. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Charlie NeibergallSeen is the Iowa State Fair butter cow sculpture Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010, in Des Moines, Iowa. The 600 lb. sculpture made of butter will be on display at the state fair that runs Aug. 12-22. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.Charlie Neibergall
Sarah Pratt, of West Des Moines, Iowa, works on the Iowa State Fair butter cow sculpture Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010, in Des Moines, Iowa. The 600 lb. sculpture made of butter will be on display at the state fair that runs Aug. 12-22. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Charlie NeibergallSarah Pratt, of West Des Moines, Iowa, works on the Iowa State Fair butter cow sculpture Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010, in Des Moines, Iowa. The 600 lb. sculpture made of butter will be on display at the state fair that runs Aug. 12-22. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.Bradley C Bower
The Pennsylvania Farm Show Butter Sculpture is unveiled during a ceremony at the Farm Show complex Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015, in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Bradley C Bower)
Bradley C BowerThe Pennsylvania Farm Show Butter Sculpture is unveiled during a ceremony at the Farm Show complex Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015, in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Bradley C Bower)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.Seth Perlman
The 2014 Illinois State Fair butter cow is unveiled at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014, in Springfield, Ill. The sculpture depicts a cow being milked by a boy who is waving to a woman. The 500-pound bovine is made of unsalted butter. Built from scratch, it has been an unofficial mascot of the fair since the 1920s. Fair organizers have said they're not changing security procedures after vandals threw paint on a butter cow at the Iowa state fair last year. The Illinois State Fair begins Friday, Aug. 8 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 17. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
Seth PerlmanThe 2014 Illinois State Fair butter cow is unveiled at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014, in Springfield, Ill. The sculpture depicts a cow being milked by a boy who is waving to a woman. The 500-pound bovine is made of unsalted butter. Built from scratch, it has been an unofficial mascot of the fair since the 1920s. Fair organizers have said they're not changing security procedures after vandals threw paint on a butter cow at the Iowa state fair last year. The Illinois State Fair begins Friday, Aug. 8 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 17. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.Charlie Neibergall
Sarah Pratt works on a butter sculpture of actor Kevin Costner during final preparations for opening day of the Iowa State Fair, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2014, in Des Moines, Iowa. The Field of Dreams movie, celebrating it's 25th anniversary this year, was filmed in Iowa. The fair opens Thursday and runs through Aug. 17th. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Charlie NeibergallSarah Pratt works on a butter sculpture of actor Kevin Costner during final preparations for opening day of the Iowa State Fair, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2014, in Des Moines, Iowa. The Field of Dreams movie, celebrating it's 25th anniversary this year, was filmed in Iowa. The fair opens Thursday and runs through Aug. 17th. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.Seth Perlman
Visitors to the Dairy Barn at the Illinois State Fair enjoy the Butter Cow exhibit Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2013, in Springfield, Ill. The Illinois State Fair will run through Aug. 18. The butter cow has been an unofficial icon of the fair since the 1920's. 800 pounds of unsalted butter are used to sculpt the life size figure by hand over a wire and wood frame. The process takes about two days. After the fair, the butter will be removed and reused in another sculpture. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
Seth PerlmanVisitors to the Dairy Barn at the Illinois State Fair enjoy the Butter Cow exhibit Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2013, in Springfield, Ill. The Illinois State Fair will run through Aug. 18. The butter cow has been an unofficial icon of the fair since the 1920's. 800 pounds of unsalted butter are used to sculpt the life size figure by hand over a wire and wood frame. The process takes about two days. After the fair, the butter will be removed and reused in another sculpture. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.BRADLEY C BOWER
The 2013 Butter Sculpture is unveiled at the 97th Pennsylvania Farm Show Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013 in Harrisburg, Pa. The 1,000-pound tableau, featuring milk and dairy items, grapes and wine, Christmas trees, and fruits and vegetables, pays tribute to the state's home-grown agricultural products. (AP Photo/Bradley C Bower)
BRADLEY C BOWERThe 2013 Butter Sculpture is unveiled at the 97th Pennsylvania Farm Show Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013 in Harrisburg, Pa. The 1,000-pound tableau, featuring milk and dairy items, grapes and wine, Christmas trees, and fruits and vegetables, pays tribute to the state's home-grown agricultural products. (AP Photo/Bradley C Bower)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.Bradley C Bower
The Pennsylvania Farm Show Butter Sculpture is unveiled during a ceremony at the Farm Show complex Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015, in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Bradley C Bower)
Bradley C BowerThe Pennsylvania Farm Show Butter Sculpture is unveiled during a ceremony at the Farm Show complex Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015, in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Bradley C Bower)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.Seth Perlman
The 2014 Illinois State Fair butter cow is unveiled at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014, in Springfield, Ill. The sculpture depicts a cow being milked by a boy who is waving to a woman. The 500-pound bovine is made of unsalted butter. Built from scratch, it has been an unofficial mascot of the fair since the 1920s. Fair organizers have said they're not changing security procedures after vandals threw paint on a butter cow at the Iowa state fair last year. The Illinois State Fair begins Friday, Aug. 8 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 17. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
Seth PerlmanThe 2014 Illinois State Fair butter cow is unveiled at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014, in Springfield, Ill. The sculpture depicts a cow being milked by a boy who is waving to a woman. The 500-pound bovine is made of unsalted butter. Built from scratch, it has been an unofficial mascot of the fair since the 1920s. Fair organizers have said they're not changing security procedures after vandals threw paint on a butter cow at the Iowa state fair last year. The Illinois State Fair begins Friday, Aug. 8 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 17. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.Charlie Neibergall
In this Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017, photo, Sarah Pratt works on a butter sculpture of author Laura Ingalls Wilder with her daughter Grace, left, at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa. More than 1 million people typically visit the Iowa State Fair annually, and sometimes it seems like all of them are clustered around Butter Cow. The creamy creation has been among the state fair's top attraction since 1911. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Charlie NeibergallIn this Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017, photo, Sarah Pratt works on a butter sculpture of author Laura Ingalls Wilder with her daughter Grace, left, at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa. More than 1 million people typically visit the Iowa State Fair annually, and sometimes it seems like all of them are clustered around Butter Cow. The creamy creation has been among the state fair's top attraction since 1911. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.HOGP
This Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018, photo provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture shows a sculpture carved from a half-ton of butter in preparation for the 102nd Pennsylvania Farm Show, scheduled from Saturday, Jan. 6, through Saturday, Jan. 13, at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg, Pa. The sculpture unveiled Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018, sponsored by the American Dairy Association North East (ADANE), reflects the show's theme this year, "Strength in our Diversity," by depicting a dairy cow; a dairy farmer, second from left; an agronomist who helps produce corn to feed dairy cows, left; a milk processor, second from right; and a consumer, right, carrying agriculture products from Pennsylvania. (Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture via AP)
HOGPThis Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018, photo provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture shows a sculpture carved from a half-ton of butter in preparation for the 102nd Pennsylvania Farm Show, scheduled from Saturday, Jan. 6, through Saturday, Jan. 13, at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg, Pa. The sculpture unveiled Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018, sponsored by the American Dairy Association North East (ADANE), reflects the show's theme this year, "Strength in our Diversity," by depicting a dairy cow; a dairy farmer, second from left; an agronomist who helps produce corn to feed dairy cows, left; a milk processor, second from right; and a consumer, right, carrying agriculture products from Pennsylvania. (Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture via AP)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.Matt Rourke
Show is the butter sculpture depicting the mascots for the Philadelphia Eagles' Swoop, left, Pittsburgh Steelers' Steely McBeam, center, and Philadelphia Flyers' Gritty during the 104th Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pa., Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Matt RourkeShow is the butter sculpture depicting the mascots for the Philadelphia Eagles' Swoop, left, Pittsburgh Steelers' Steely McBeam, center, and Philadelphia Flyers' Gritty during the 104th Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pa., Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.Matt Rourke
Shown is the annual butter sculpture Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016, at the Farm Show complex in Harrisburg, Pa. Starting Saturday, thousands of visitors are expected to descend on the state capital for the 100th Pennsylvania Farm Show, a weeklong celebration agriculture and rural life. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Matt RourkeShown is the annual butter sculpture Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016, at the Farm Show complex in Harrisburg, Pa. Starting Saturday, thousands of visitors are expected to descend on the state capital for the 100th Pennsylvania Farm Show, a weeklong celebration agriculture and rural life. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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Yes, the butter board trend is revolting. But you’ll try it anyway.Matt Rourke
Shown is a detail of the annual butter sculpture Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016, at the Farm Show complex in Harrisburg, Pa. Starting Saturday, thousands of visitors are expected to descend on the state capital for the 100th Pennsylvania Farm Show, a weeklong celebration agriculture and rural life. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Matt RourkeShown is a detail of the annual butter sculpture Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016, at the Farm Show complex in Harrisburg, Pa. Starting Saturday, thousands of visitors are expected to descend on the state capital for the 100th Pennsylvania Farm Show, a weeklong celebration agriculture and rural life. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
