# Your State's Weirdest Official Thingy **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 27, 2017, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-states-weirdest-official-thingy/785376 "2017-04-27T16:14:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-states-weirdest-official-thingy/785376/41 "2017-04-27T22:55:40Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I’d say having a State Appetizer leads for weirdest so far. Texas has a state snack: chips and salsa. Is that more or less weird? ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-states-weirdest-official-thingy/785376/42 "2017-04-27T23:01:16Z")
For California again: Official Fabric: Denim Official Folk Dance: Square Dance Official Gold Rush Town: Bodie Does any state have an official offal? ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-states-weirdest-official-thingy/785376/43 "2017-04-27T23:04:24Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I was surprised to find that South Carolina’s state dog was the [Plott Hound](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plott_Hound) rather than the Yellow Dog. Here’s another surprise: It’s the Boykin Spaniel. The Plott Hound is NORTH Carolina’s State Dog. N.C.'s State (most favorite, anyway) Dance: Shagging! ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-states-weirdest-official-thingy/785376/44 "2017-04-27T23:07:57Z")
We have a state mammal (small) - armadillo state mammal (large) - Texas longhorn and a state mammal (flying) - Mexican free-tailed bat ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-states-weirdest-official-thingy/785376/45 "2017-04-27T23:26:34Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > For California again: > Official Fabric: Denim > Official Folk Dance: Square Dance > Official Gold Rush Town: Bodie > > Does any state have an official offal? Pennsylvania should have has scrapple as it’s State Food. Instead, it’s milk(Drink) and cookies(Food). ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-states-weirdest-official-thingy/785376/46 "2017-04-28T00:48:01Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > But it’s still odd for a state’s Official Bird to be named after a different, not-even-bordering, state (the California Gull). It’s because of the [Miracle of the gulls](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_of_the_gulls). ---
**Author:** ![Twoflower](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twoflower/32/22_2.png) [@Twoflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Twoflower)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-states-weirdest-official-thingy/785376/47 "2017-04-28T01:09:30Z")
As a soon-to-become Oregonian, I was delighted to learn that Oregon’s State Micro-organism is brewer’s yeast. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-states-weirdest-official-thingy/785376/48 "2017-04-28T02:17:50Z")
Clearly it’s time for one or more states to name an Official official. California’s, for example, could be the side judge. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-states-weirdest-official-thingy/785376/49 "2017-04-28T16:03:38Z")
South Dakota’s state dessert is kuchen and the state bread is frybread. I’m surprised our state meat dish isn’t chislic. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-states-weirdest-official-thingy/785376/50 "2017-04-28T17:55:49Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Pennsylvania should have has scrapple as it’s State Food. Instead, it’s milk(Drink) and cookies(Food). And we have a state insect, the Pennsylvania firefly (_Photuris pennsylvanica_). ---
**Author:** ![Some\_Call\_Me.Tim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Some\_Call\_Me.Tim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Some_Call_Me.Tim)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-states-weirdest-official-thingy/785376/51 "2017-04-28T18:41:05Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > For California again: > Official Fabric: Denim > Official Folk Dance: Square Dance > Official Gold Rush Town: Bodie > > Does any state have an official offal? Hmm, Washington State takes out the folk and has the Square Dance as the full-on Official State Dance. On the other hand, we do have an Official Folk Song: “Roll On Columbia, Roll On”, by Woodie Guthrie. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-states-weirdest-official-thingy/785376/52 "2017-04-28T18:57:56Z")
> [@RobDog](#): > > Being British, I had no place being flippant about anybody else’s grub. They’re probably delicious. > > Are they delicious? They taste like wet cardboard. Mass. has a State Bean. You guessed it, the baked bean. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-states-weirdest-official-thingy/785376/53 "2017-04-28T19:03:50Z")
The students at the University of Wisconsin got all excited about campaigning for Antigo Silt Loam. And finally the crowds with handmade signs actually affected public policy. It’s now Wisconsin’s state soil (by a landslide!)… ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-states-weirdest-official-thingy/785376/54 "2017-04-28T19:49:15Z")
> [@RobDog](#): > > Being British, I had no place being flippant about anybody else’s grub. They’re probably delicious. > > Are they delicious? Well, I like steak and beef and fish and chips and sausage so I see nothing wrong with British cuisine. Except the freakin European love for seltzer water…had a nasty surprise when there was carbonated water coming from a _tap_ :eek::mad: ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-states-weirdest-official-thingy/785376/55 "2017-04-28T19:58:38Z")
> [@RobDog](#): > > Being British, I had no place being flippant about anybody else’s grub. They’re probably delicious. > > Are they delicious? They’re a lot less crunchy and a lot more legume-y (because that’s what they really are). Think peanut-flavored edamame. My wife went to grad school in Georgia and she likes them. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-states-weirdest-official-thingy/785376/56 "2017-04-28T20:48:31Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > They taste like wet cardboard. Glad you feel that way, it leaves more for me. Boiled peanuts are one of those things I’ll eat until I’m sick of, then not have for 6 months or so. Lather. Repeat. They are, most assuredly, a love 'em or hate 'em thing. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-states-weirdest-official-thingy/785376/57 "2017-04-28T21:00:46Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > California’s State Soil is [San Joaquin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Joaquin_(soil)) > To my surprise, other states have [their own soil.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._state_soils) > California’s State Animal, The [California Grizzly Bear](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_grizzly_bear), is extinct. > The California State Grass is not Marijuana but Purple Needlegrass. 😉 > > ETA: ninja’d on the dirt. It is weird. But being a subspecies (or maybe just a population) , it’s hard to say whether it is extinct or there just arent any more in the state. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-states-weirdest-official-thingy/785376/58 "2017-04-28T23:14:50Z")
There’s a list of New South Wales state things at [https://www.nsw.gov.au/about-new-south-wales/state-emblems/](https://www.nsw.gov.au/about-new-south-wales/state-emblems/) . Of those, the two that are oddest (and that I hadn’t heard of) are the state fish (blue groper) and the state fossil (Mandageria fairfaxi). ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2017, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-states-weirdest-official-thingy/785376/59 "2017-10-16T13:02:24Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Checking around, I see other states have official state soils. But Arkansas has the Dutch Oven as the official state cooking vessel. Good Lord,[it is true.](http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=530) ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2017, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-states-weirdest-official-thingy/785376/60 "2017-10-16T16:19:56Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Good Lord,[it is true.](http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=530) Texas also lists the “cast iron Dutch oven” as the official state cooking vessel, although, disappointingly, not as the official state bedroom prank. Texas has an official gemstone cut: the [“Lonestar cut.”](http://www.garysgems.com/) The official state molecule is Buckminsterfullerene, or the “Buckyball”. The official state cobbler is peach. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-states-weirdest-official-thingy/785376.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-states-weirdest-official-thingy/785376.md?page=4)