There will be at least one of the 76 trombones in the butter cooler this year as butter sculptor Sarah Pratt works to celebrate the Iowa connections to The Music Man in 2022.
With its roots in fictional River City, Iowa, "The Music Man" centers around a traveling salesman selling instruments to more than Iowa Nice Midwesterners. The Broadway musical, written by Mason City, Iowa, native Meredith Willson in 1957, celebrates its 60th year in film history in 2022 by rebooting on Broadway. Drew Minard, an Iowa native, is the only actor from the Hawkeye State to be currently on the cast of Meredith Willson's "The Music Man" running in Broadway.
The Music Man scene will be joined by a relief celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Ye Old Mill along with the iconic 600-pound butter cow. The butter cow has been sculpted at the Iowa State Fair since 1911. Various companion sculptures and scenes have joined the butter cow since 1996, including the American Gothic, Elvis Presley, the Peanuts Gang, Harry Potter and the Last Supper as well as many other popular events, people or characters.
The John Deere Agriculture Building is open 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. during the Fair. The building includes flower and vegetable judging, giant pumpkins, jumbo fruits and vegetables, the Discovery Garden, daily stage presentations and more. Find Your Fun at the Iowa State Fair August 11-21, 2022.