Iowan Steve Higgins sees his butter sculpture at the Iowa State Fair

DES MOINES, Iowa — It’s a sight hundreds of fairgoers wait in line for every year, to see butter sculptures that attract visitors to the agriculture building and pay tribute to Iowa natives.

“If you’re from Iowa, being sculpted out of butter is pretty much… what other big honor is there?” Higgins said.

It’s an honor Steve Higgins wasn’t going to miss. He’s the announcer on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and the Iowa connection that led to them both being sculpted.

“Steve has been on our list for the past 10 years,” Sarah Pratt, the Iowa State Fair butter sculptor, said. “When he and Jimmy took over The Tonight Show, my sister was like you know Steve Higgins is from Des Moines, he’s gotta be in butter! So we have a running list and we just look for the right time.”

Believe it or not, this is only the second time Pratt has been able to meet the person she’s sculpted.

“We’re just tickled that he took the time to come in his busy schedule,” Pratt said.

It made sense for Pratt to add Iowan Johnny Carson to the cooler. He’s one of their predecessors on The Tonight Show. Jimmy Fallon took over as host in 2014, and Higgins says working on Saturday Night Live together led to his opportunity to join.

“Jimmy was a cast member when I was the head writer and producer and so we just got along so well,” Higgins explained. “When the show started, he goes ‘do you want to be my announcer?’ And I go ‘if it’s OK with Lorne [Michaels], it’s OK with me.’ And so 15 years later I’m still there.”

The Des Moines native and Roosevelt High School graduate doesn’t forget where he comes from. He has fond memories of going to the Iowa State Fair as a kid, and is now happy to be back to make this memory with family.

“My first thought was I wish my mom could be here to see it,” Higgins said. “And the second thought was like… it’s surreal.”

A surreal moment only a select few can experience, to see their likeness sculpted in butter.

Calyn Thompson asks: “When people walk by your butter sculpture, what do you hope they take away?”

“He looks thin,” Higgins said with a chuckle. “That’s what I’m hoping they take away.”

Higgins said he was able to make the trip because he had time off due to the Olympics airing on NBC. The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon will have all-new episodes this week.

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