(Radio Iowa) – A replica of the Iowa State Fair’s iconic butter cow is part of an exhibit that’s opened today (Friday) at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C. Iowa State Fair C-E-O Jeremy Parsons will travel to D-C in mid-September to attend a celebration of the exhibit — which has 240 works of art from State Fairs around the country.

(as said) “We’re just excited to have the Iowa State Fair represented at the Smithsonian,” Parsons says, “and obviously Sarah’s butter cow being the centerpiece of that.”

Sarah Pratt has been the lead sculptor of the Iowa State Fair butter cow since 2006. The Smithsonian staff reached out to her two years ago as they were planning the exhibit.

(as said) “Through a lot of problem solving, decided it was going to be the easiest to go and sculpt it on site,” she said. “…It was just over the moon, more than you could ever dream would ever occur, right? To be able to be invited to come to the Smithsonian to sculpt in a custom cooler in a beautiful building.”

Iowa State Fair entries from 73-year-old Rod Zeitler of Coralville are featured in the exhibit, too. The Smithsonian calls him a “canning superstar.” Over 700 glass jars of the preserved fruits and vegetables he’s won State Fair blue ribbons for in canning competitions are stacked in a pyramid in the museum.