South Dakotans are a breed apart. We live in one of the most beautifully diverse places in the country, and our residents are no different. Some of the insane things South Dakotans do might seem downright strange to people in the rest of the country, but we know that we're totally normal. Kind of.

1. Only in South Dakota do we decorate the exterior of a building with corn cobs and husks...and then tear it off and redo it every year with new designs.

The Corn Palace is man-made wonder that just can't be adequately explained to out-of-staters. It might be a little weird to spend $130,000 and countless hours nailing corn cobs on the outside of this palace every year, only to tear it all down the following year and start over, but our beloved Corn Palace is worth every bit of time and money we spend on it.

2. We stay home from work and school to go hunting.

I'm sorry - algebra class and punching the clock just can't even begin to compete with the bonding we do with family and friends while hunting. Plus...fresh jerky!

3. We don't lock our doors.

This isn't New York City or Detroit, people. We know all our neighbors, and they're South Dakotans just like us...why would we need to lock our door?

4. We can spend hours playing cornhole.

What better way to hang with our friends and have some good, clean fun? The beer helps, too.

5. We invite roughly 750,000 people to hang out in a town that typically has less than 7,000 residents.

You'd think that if we were going to hold the country's largest motorcycle rally, we'd at least host it in one of our bigger cities. In fact, the population of Sturgis during the rally is almost as the same as the entire population of our state! We have to admit that we love it, though.

6. We pronounce the name of our capital city the way it's supposed to be pronounced.

No, it's not pee-air. And don't give us that look. We live here. We know how to pronounce it. (It's 'peer' for those newbies who are still trying to figure it out.)

7. The state of South Dakota allows kids to get an instruction permit at age 14.

It seems like just yesterday when your kid was still watching Disney movies and playing with Barbies - now she's behind the wheel! Of course, our fourteen-year-olds can only drive with a parent or guardian, but it still seems crazy to people who don't turn over the keys until their kids are sixteen.

8. We eat our chili with a warm, gooey cinnamon roll on the side.

People in the rest of America pair their bowl of chili with some warm cornbread or a soft, fluffy dinner roll. Not us! We throw down dessert right next to our chili and eat it all at the same time!

9. We spend hours canning and pickling our fresh fruits and vegetables.

Sure, folks in other states preserve the bounties from their gardens, but ask a New Yorker if she canned green beans this fall and she'll give you a blank look. Why would you spend hours sweating over the stove if you can buy a can of green beans from the store? Because they're better when you grow 'em and can 'em yourself, that's why!

10. We suck it up when it snows and just start shoveling.

Our friends in Wisconsin and Minnesota might do this too, but those wimps in Florida and Arizona can't believe that we don't just huddle inside by a roaring fire when it snows. living in South Dakota you grow up tough - and we teach our kids early, too. Throw on a parka and a hat and get out there!

11. We clean our guns when our daughter brings her boyfriend home to meet us.

Oh wait...did you think it was just a coincidence that her dad had his gun out to clean it when you got there? Probably not. We're easygoing folk, but don't mess with our daughters.

What are some other South Dakota stereotypes that are kind of crazy? Tell us in the comments!

Even if we are a little quirky at times, here are 15 reasons my heart will always be in South Dakota.