Albert is a giant Hereford bull statue in Audubon, Iowa, created as a tribute to the nation’s beef industry and to the cattle trade that played a vital role in the community’s economic progress. Conceived by Donald C. Olesen of the Audubon Jaycees, the project began in 1963, when western Iowa had few major tourist attractions and local leaders hoped the statue would draw travelers to the area. The City of Audubon donated land on the south edge of town for its construction, and after completion the property was returned to the city, which operates it as Albert the Bull Park. Built over two years with help from a local manufacturer, technical and cash support from the American Hereford Association and its Iowa officers, and much of the labor supplied by the Jaycees themselves, Albert stands 30 feet tall, weighs 45 tons, is 33 feet long, has a 15-foot horn span, and required 65 gallons of paint. Dedicated on October 31, 1964, to coincide with Audubon’s 14th annual Operation T-bone, the statue was named in honor of Audubon banker Albert Kruse, whose suggestion had started Operation T-bone. That event, involving about 50 carloads of prime Audubon County beef sent to Chicago markets, helped promote Iowa’s beef industry and brought worldwide attention to the town. Albert later became a successful tourist attraction, drawing more than 20,000 visitors each year, and also gained wider recognition through a Hollywood film, national magazines, and a Jeopardy question.