you can't make this stuff up

from the des moines register:

This summer, the Iowa State Fair's famous butter cow will share its 40-degree refrigerated glass case with a sculpture of Michael Jackson.

The King of Pop died at age 50 on Thursday in Los Angeles. The man in the mirror, er, cooler, and the cow, this year a Jersey, will be on display Aug. 13-23 in the usual prominent spot in the Agriculture Building.

"My intent wasn't to honor (Jackson) as a hero," said Sarah Pratt, the West Des Moines native who in 2006 became the fair's fourth butter sculptor.

Jackson will be sculpted in his famous "moonwalk" pose, paying tribute to the fluid, backward dance step he debuted in 1983, when "Billie Jean," "Thriller" and other hit songs blanketed MTV.

In a play on words and related events, the sculpture also will honor the 40th anniversary of the original “moonwalk,” Neil Armstrong’s first small step on the moon on July 20, 1969.