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Fairly odd: Quirky things to do at the State Fair of Texas

The State Fair of Texas is delightfully odd sometimes. Want proof? We've got it right here.

Rooster crowing contest

The competitor who can coax his or her rooster to crow the most will win during this competition. Catch it Oct. 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Poultry Barn.

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See the other Big Tex

One Big Tex is not enough for the State Fair of Texas. The new Neon Big Tex at Fair Park's Cotton Bowl Plaza used to be at Stemmons Expressway and Walnut Hill Lane, advertising Centennial's liquor, beer and wine.

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Taylor Swift's baby clothes

"The Taylor Swift Experience" features all sorts of memorabilia from her rise to musical stardom, but there's also a red romper and plenty of pink and-or frilly stuff  from when she was a baby. Catch the exhibit at the Hall of State.

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A selection of Taylor Swift's baby clothes are on display at "The Taylor Swift Experience."
A selection of Taylor Swift's baby clothes are on display at "The Taylor Swift Experience."(Louis DeLuca / Staff Photographer)

Ollie the Oak Tree

It's a perfect situation for those who want to re-enact the "St. Mark's" episode of Broad City. A performer disguised as a 12-foot-tall tree hangs around the Errol McKoy Greenhouse on the Midway. He can be a bit alarming if you aren't expecting him. But he likes to give the occasional hug (tree hugger, indeed).

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Butter sculpture

The inspiration for this year's giant butter sculpture is Real Frickin' Deal (a.k.a. RFD), the Grand Champion Steer from the 2015 Youth Livestock Auction. See the sculpture, crafted from thousands of pounds of the yellow stuff, in a case in the Creative Arts Building.

Squealy Nelson is the first to make the hurdle as he and Snoop Hoggy Hog, Hamma Montana and...
Squealy Nelson is the first to make the hurdle as he and Snoop Hoggy Hog, Hamma Montana and Christina Hoguilera sprinted from the gate at their race at a previous State Fair of Texas.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

Pig races

Cheer on your favorite oinker during pig races. Expect silly celebrity-inspired names (think Sylvester Stall-oink and Christina Hoguilera) and other high jinks at the Pan Am Arena.

The Woofus

The statue on the side of the Swine Building is a blend of six animals that's definitely not found in nature. It has the head of a sheep, the horns of a Texas longhorn, the neck and mane of a horse, the body of a hog, the tail of a turkey and the wings of a duck. The unusual animal has a weird back story: It's a 2002 re-creation of the Woofus statue from the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition, which vanished.

Buford Buzzard

Don't worry, it's not you, it's him. This mildly rude buzzard puppet heckles the audience in a family-friendly way at the Kids' Boardwalk.

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Did you spot something lovably odd at the fair? Tweet us a pic. Or tag us on Instagram for a shout out.