The Illinois State Fair Butter Cow has long been a celebrated fair tradition. For over 90 years, the fair has featured this staple item. The butter cow uses 500 pounds of unsalted butter and can take up to 120 hours of work.

For the last 20 years, Sharon BuMann has been the artist behind the sculpture. This year, however, will be her last. The sculptor’s farewell piece features a grandfather showing his granddaughter about life on the farm alongside the main attraction, the cow. The inspiration for BuMann’s art comes from her family farm.

If you are in northern Illinois this summer, consider going to Rock Cut State Park to unwind and enjoy the outdoors. You won’t leave disappointed.

Located in Loves Park, Rock Cut State Park is known for its bodies of water that offer opportunities for recreation and fun.

Illinois is home to the world’s largest catsup bottle, located just 20 minutes from St. Louis in Collinsville.

“The catsup bottle was originally built as a water tower for the Brooks catsup processing plant,” said Mike Gassmann, President and CEO of World’s Largest Catsup Bottle, Inc. “Little did anyone realize that over 60 years later it would become a historic landmark known worldwide.”

As the Tour de France grinds on across the ocean, another group of equally dedicated cyclists pedals on right here in Illinois.

On Thursday afternoon, dozens of bikers clad in matching blue and gray kits rolled into Springfield and stopped at the Illinois Police Officers Memorial on the west side of the State Capitol. The riders were members of the Illinois chapter of COPS, which stands for Concerns of Police Survivors. The group is dedicated to helping survivors of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

The charity ride began earlier Thursday at the Mississippi River in Alton The riders arrived at the Capitol at about 4 p.m. and stopped to rest and reflect at the Police Officers Memorial. After about 30 minutes, the group resumed their ride, heading north. They are due to arrive at Gold Star Families Park and Memorial in Chicago sometime Sunday.
The national COPS organization was founded in 1984, and the Illinois chapter was established in April 2005.

Lincoln Trail State Park is named after the trail Abraham Lincoln’s family followed on the way from Indiana to Illinois in 1831.

The state acquired the first 31 acres of Lincoln Trail State Park in 1936. Today, the park has grown to have 1,023 acres.