By Jamie Martin
The American Dairy Association Indiana has revealed one of the State Fair’s most popular attractions — a 1,400-pound cheese sculpture created by award-winning cheese artist Sarah Kaufmann. Known nationally as “The Cheese Lady,” Kaufmann carved the piece from yellow and white cheddar provided by Pace Dairy in Crawfordsville. Fairgoers can view the sculpture in the Agriculture Horticulture Building through August 17.
Brooke Williams, Director of Communications for the association, praised the artistry on display, saying, “Sarah Kaufmann always delivers a memorable masterpiece.” Visitors are invited to enjoy the sculpture, then sample dairy treats like milkshakes or grilled cheese at the Dairy Bar.
Kaufmann’s career began in Wisconsin in 1981, and her passion for cheese art quickly grew. By 1996, she left her commercial art job to focus full-time on sculpting cheese. She has since produced more than 4,000 creations, ranging from two-pound novelty pieces to giant works weighing thousands of pounds. Her record-breaking designs include a 3,121-pound carving that earned her a Guinness World Record.
“Cheese found me!” said Sarah Kaufman, a.k.a. “The Cheese Lady”. “I was so busy carving cheese that I had to quit my real job to have time to do my unreal job of carving cheese!” And she’s been sculpting cheese across the U.S. ever since. Sarah has sculpted at supermarkets, tradeshows, conventions, sporting events, hall of fame celebrations, TV network talk and news shows, for social media, blogs, state fairs, festivals, and special events of all kinds – birthdays, weddings, bah mitzvahs, anniversaries, retirements – “You name it, I’ve carved for it.”
After the fair, the sculpture will be taken to BioTown Ag and turned into energy, combining artistry with sustainability in a unique farm-to-fuel story.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-yuriys
Categories: National