Looking at the animals is always a highlight of the State Fair. But some of this year's most memorable cows, chickens and horses aren't straight from the farm — they are art projects from Triangle high schools.

The "Farm Animal Frenzy" competition pitted high school art students from Wake and Durham counties to see who could decorate the best barnyard beast.

Apex High School's "Murial, the Dairy Queen," above, took home first place and the
$1,000 grand prize.

"Javier at the Fair," a chicken decorated by Fuquay-Varina High students, won second place and $750 cash. "Ms. Moo," a cow designed by Sanderson High in Raleigh, won third place and $500. Both are shown below.

Fair judges also selected "Corny Carney Carl" by Wakefield High, "Playin' Hooky" by Garner High and an unnamed horse by N.C. School of Math and Science students as honorable mentions.

Fran Martin, the owner-trainer of Smithfield the Painting Pig, called to say she’s worried some fair visitors won’t find him this week.

Apparently Smithfield’s three daily performances have been moved from the Expo Center to a spot between the Expo Center and the Kelley Building, something that’s not reflected in the fair’s printed schedule.

Smithfield demonstrates his skill with a paint brush at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Lest you think the mice in the "Mouse Game" lead a tough life, the game's workers have a disclaimer posted.

In the game, which is near the Exposition Center, a mouse is placed on a roulette-style board. He pauses for a moment, then runs into one of the multicolored holes. Players have placed 50-cent bets on individual colors. If Mr. Mouse picks your color hole, you win a stuffed animal.

The sign notes that individual mice are rotated out on an hourly basis. It also says that the mice are fed a strict, healthy diet of "commercially produced grain and distilled water."

We just hope they also are kept safe from the exhibit right across the way — the 20-foot-long, 300-pound "live snake"!

Big, blue ribbons are nice, to be sure. But for some exhibitors of animals at the fair, a winning entry also can bring some big, green cash.

How much cash? Check these prices out:

—the Grand Champion Turkey, exhibited by Garrett See, was bought for $6,600.

—the Grand Champion Lamb, exhibited by Alyson Moore, was purchased for $7,000.

—the Grand Champion Steer, exhibited by Taylor Ridling, was bought for a whopping $24,000.

All of these pricey winning animals can be seen in the Exposition Center.

And the buyer in each case? Harris Teeter.

The horse show — one of the State Fair's most popular events — will have two new breeds this year. They are Connemara ponies and Welsh ponies.

The Connemara breed is originally from Ireland. These are docile, athletic animals. Welsh ponies are from — you guessed it — Wales.

The State Fair's horse show is one of the largest all-breed horse shows in the nation. It draws riders and horses from across the country.