1. The Legendary Butter Cow
Every summer in Iowa, fairgoers line up just to stare at a life-sized cow made entirely of butter. It’s been a thing since 1911, and yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like. Created inside a chilled glass display, the butter cow has become an icon of the Iowa State Fair. Over the years, it’s been joined by butter tributes to Elvis, Star Trek, and even Olympic athletes. According to Belt Magazine. Sarah Pratt is the current butter sculptor. It may sound bizarre, but this buttery beauty symbolizes generations of Midwestern pride and craftsmanship.
2. Cheddar Block Carving
You’d expect cheese to be big in Wisconsin but carving it like marble is on another level. During the Wisconsin State Fair, artists take massive 40-pound cheddar blocks and sculpt everything from tractors to portraits. They’re judged on creativity, detail, and, well, cheesiness. Research lets us know that the Winsconsin State fair dates back to as far as 1851. It’s a race against time and temperature. The best part? After the judging, the leftovers are sometimes donated or turned into cheese spreads. It’s a fair tradition that blends dairy devotion with artistic talent and plenty of cheddar charm.
3. Butter Bust Royalty
Each year, Minnesota’s dairy royalty gets immortalized in butter. The Princess Kay of the Milky Way contest selects a young woman to represent the state’s dairy industry, and one of her first duties is to sit in a rotating freezer while her head is carved in butter. “It’s cold, but worth it,” a former princess said in an interview. Most winners take their buttery likeness home after the fair and freeze it. Some even use it for baking. It’s odd, heartfelt, and completely Minnesotan. “It is Grade AA salted butter, and it has to be salted, because unsalted butter is gummy, and it sticks to my knife” says Linda Christensen in an interview with CBS News
4. Llamas in Costume
Only at a state fair can you see a llama strut by in a full cowboy outfit. At events like the Oregon State Fair, llama costume contests are a serious crowd-pleaser. Owners and handlers spend hours crafting themed outfits, complete with hats, boots, and glitter, to match their animals. “She was Cleopatra last year,” one handler told The Oregonian with pride. Some fairs even add storytelling, where handlers narrate a mini drama featuring their costumed llamas. It’s quirky and also shows off the strong bond between people and their pets. The laughter and applause say it all, it’s impossible not to smile.
5. Racing Armadillos
Leave it to Texas to turn armadillos into mini racecars. At county and state fairs, these armored animals compete in slow-motion races while handlers cheer them on. Participants guide their dillos by gently blowing on them or tapping the ground. “They’re not fast, but they’ve got heart,” said one race host to Texas Monthly. The races are lighthearted, but there are real prizes and trophies. Kids especially love picking a favorite and cheering them to the finish line. It’s a dusty, oddly competitive, and completely Texas-style tradition that combines wildlife appreciation with pure fairground fun. And somehow, it works.
6. Deep-Fried Everything
Fairs and fried food go hand in hand, but some take it to the extreme. At the Texas State Fair, innovation meets indulgence in the form of deep-fried butter, beer, and even Kool-Aid. One year, someone even deep-fried Thanksgiving dinner. “We try to shock people, and keep them coming back,” one vendor told Dallas News. The competition is fierce, and winning Best New Fried Food is a serious brag. The creations might not be healthy, but they’re a feast for the senses. There’s a comfort in knowing there’s no limit to what can be battered, fried, and served on a stick.
7. Loudest Pig Calls
There’s an art to yelling “Soo-ee!” across a fairground, and some folks have perfected it. At state fairs in places like Arkansas and Illinois, pig-calling contests draw huge crowds. Contestants use pitch, volume, and pure charisma to summon imaginary pigs. “It’s not just noise, it’s storytelling,” said one longtime caller to NPR. Some dress in costumes or add dramatic flair, turning the whole thing into a performance. Kids and adults compete, hoping to win ribbons, trophies, or sometimes even cash. It’s loud, ridiculous, and surprisingly heartwarming, just the kind of fun that keeps people coming back for more.
8. Giant Cabbage Crowning
Alaska’s summer sun does something wild to vegetables, it super-sizes them. At the Alaska State Fair, gardeners compete to grow the biggest produce, with cabbages stealing the show. Some tip the scales at over 100 pounds. Winners are dubbed the Cabbage King or Queen, and their giant greens are celebrated like royalty. “It’s about pride and soil,” one grower said in Anchorage Daily News. Growing a cabbage this massive takes strategy, patience, and lots of sunlight. The tradition is so beloved that kids take part too, hoping to grow their own veggie giants. It’s farming fun with a trophy-worthy twist.
9. Chile Roasting Battles
In New Mexico, chiles are serious business. At the state fair, green chile roasting contests bring in farmers and chefs to show off the best blend of fire and flavor. Giant rotating roasters fill the air with smoky spice, drawing curious noses from across the fairgrounds. “It’s the scent of New Mexico,” a local told Santa Fe Reporter. Contestants compete not only for heat but for taste, with different regions boasting their own styles. Fairgoers get to sample, vote, and leave with bags of fresh-roasted chiles. It’s part cooking show, part cultural pride, and for many, it just smells like home.
10. Spam, Gobbles & Outhouses
At first glance, Spam and racing don’t go together. But at the Minnesota State Fair and others like it, creativity runs wild. From Spam carving with real Spam to turkey gobble impressions and full-on outhouse races, these competitions bring out the oddball genius in folks. “There’s a fine line between weird and wonderful,” one announcer joked to MPR News. Outhouse races feature teams pushing decorated porta-potties on wheels, sometimes dressed in full costume. Meanwhile, gobble contests test how well you can sound like a turkey. It’s silly, loud, and unforgettable, the kind of thing fairs are built on.
11. Livestock Beauty Shows
Animal pageants are a thing, and they’re as serious as any human contest. At many state fairs, kids and farmers show off their well-groomed cows, goats, rabbits, and even chickens in judged competitions. Grooming, posture, and temperament all count. “These animals are like family,” one teen contestant told AgWeek. Some owners use special shampoos, trims, and even glitter to highlight their animal’s best features. There’s pride in every detail. Winning can mean scholarships, ribbons, and recognition in the agricultural community. Behind the sparkle is a lot of love and effort, making these shows more than cute, they’re full of real heart.
12. Ugly Cake Contest
Forget perfect frosting, at Michigan’s state fair, the uglier the cake, the better. This hilarious competition invites bakers to bring their most flopped creations, from sunken middles to frosting fails. “We laugh, not judge,” said one fair organizer in Detroit Free Press. Some cakes lean, others explode, and a few defy gravity entirely. Judges don’t just look for mess, they reward originality and effort, no matter how chaotic the result. It’s a chance to laugh at failure and celebrate effort over outcome. Even spectators walk away smiling. Because sometimes, the best dessert isn’t the prettiest, it’s the one you remember forever.
13. Pie-Throwing for Points
What’s better than pie? Throwing it at someone’s face for points. At a few old-school fairs, pie-throwing contests combine fun and food in the messiest way possible. Judges score for splatter size and target accuracy. “It’s the only time food fights are encouraged,” one mom told Midwest Living. The pies are often made of whipped cream and paper plates, less about flavor, more about the splat. It’s a laugh-filled event, especially for families. Kids love getting messy, and adults love the nostalgia. It’s the perfect ending to a day at the fair, sweet, silly, and completely unforgettable.
This story 13 Seriously Strange Traditions You’ll Only Find at American State Fairs was first published on Daily FETCH
