Iowans have a reputation for being friendly and welcoming, but that doesn’t mean that all of our ways are discernible to out-of-staters. We have some local flavor that is totally unique to Iowa and that might not make sense unless you grew up here. But, we’re perfectly happy to explain it to anyone who wants to learn. Here are 13 things that people from Iowa always have to explain to visitors from other states.

1. What we mean when we say “Knee high by the fourth of July.”
Flickr/Ed Kohler
It’s actually referring to corn. A typical farmer’s benchmark is that it should be knee high by the fourth of July.
2. That we don’t put ketchup on Maid-Rites.
Flickr/rayb777
It’s just the way we do it here. They’re delicious enough without any further embellishment, except maybe cheese sauce.
3. We aren’t insulting those women with the Pork Princess sash.
Flickr/Timothy
It’s a high honor here in Iowa.
4. What RAGBRAI means.
Flickr/Channone Arif
It’s the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, and it’s an annual Iowa tradition.
5. Why you don’t kiss this angel statue.
Flickr/Phil Roeder
The Black Angel at the Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City is the focus of many myths, and one of them is that if you kiss the angel, you’ll instantly drop dead.
6. That The Eighth Wonder of the World is right here in Iowa.
Flickr/Laura Bernhardt
The Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend is a seriously impressive spot, with the largest collection of gems in one place in the world.

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7. Why everyone is touching that statue on the way into a home Iowa game.
Flickr/Phil Roeder
That statue is Nile Kinnick, the namesake of the stadium, and people touch it for good luck.
8. Why there are tacos on our pizza.
Flickr/Cheryl Lindo Jones
It’s a brilliant concoction created right here in Iowa, so now we don’t have to choose between the two.
9. Wine isn’t only made from grapes.
Yelp/Kayla B.
Ackerman Winery in Amana, Iowa, serves all kinds of wines, from rhubarb to apple to dandelion blossom and everything in between.
10. Why we drive down the middle of the gravel road when there’s no other traffic.
Flickr/Carl Wycoff
It’s just safer that way.
11. What we mean when we say “pop.”
Flickr/Mike Mozart
We’re referring to delicious carbonated beverages, not a loud sound.
12. Why we’re punching the car roof and shouting “padiddle” in a seemingly random fashion.
Flickr/Erin Nekervis
It’s a custom in Iowa to do that if you see a car with one of its headlights out.
13. Why there are olives in our beer.
Flickr/Jenni Konrad
It’s a beertini. It may sound disgusting, but it’s actually delicious.

For more of Iowa’s quirks, Every True Iowan Has Had These 12 Bizarre Experiences At Least Once.

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