DES MOINES (SPECIAL) – After a week of voting, the results of the Iowa State Fair online poll are in. With a margin of 65.24% “no” to 34.76% “yes,” fairgoers have voted down the inclusion of Michael Jackson in the moonwalk butter sculpture planned for the 2009 Iowa State Fair.

“While we know some people will be disappointed, we believe the vote was the only way to let fairgoers voice their opinion in a meaningful way,” says Gary Slater, Fair CEO/Manager. “With the Fair just over three weeks away, we are pleased to now move on with final preparations for all the events at the Fair.”

More than 100,000 votes were cast in the unscientific online poll conducted from July 9 to July 16.

“The Iowa State Fair has long been recognized as one of the top fairs in the U.S.,” Slater says. “Participation in our online poll has demonstrated how important the Iowa State Fair is to fairgoers.”

In addition to the butter Jersey cow, a separate sculpture will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Neil Armstrong’s moonwalk on July 20, 1969. In honor of Armstrong’s “giant leap for mankind,” this year’s sculpture will include an astronaut, an American flag and a buttery rendition of the surface of the moon. The butter sculptures will be on display in a 40-degree cooler in the Fair’s Agriculture Building.