Abraham Lincoln immortalized in butter

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Aug. 14 (UPI) -- A butter sculpture of former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln is part of this year's 2009 Illinois State Fair Butter Cow display, a sculptor says.

Sculptor Sharon BuMann said in addition to adding the beloved 16th U.S. president to the fair's annual sculptures made of butter, her work of edible art includes a butterfly, kitten and a hidden mouse, The Springfield (Ill.) State Journal-Register said Friday.

"I suspect he's supposed to be milking the cow and splitting the wood, but has decided to read instead," BuMann said of Lincoln's appearance in the butter sculpture.

"The inspiration came from the early years. I wanted to depict him doing what he was most famous for: reading," she added.

The butter cow sculpture has been a mainstay at the Illinois State Fair since 1922 and this year's sculpture marks the sixth time BuMann has been tabbed for the honor.

Not that creating the butter sculpture for the fair, which runs this year from Aug. 13-23, is easy for BuMann.

"I love butter," the artist told the Journal-Register. "I bake with it and cook with it. But, after this, I do not eat butter until January."