State Fair's real animals are no competition for Snoopy The polyurethane pooch-on-a-pedestal is popular, as proven by plenty of people posing for pictures.: [METRO Edition]

They're everywhere! Even the State Fair has its own Snoopy statue - Snoopy with Corn Dog - near the Administration Building on Cosgrove Street. And, as in other locations all around St. Paul, this Snoopy is a people magnet. Streams of picture-takers wander over, mini- donuts in hand, to pay homage to the pooch and late cartoonist Charles Schulz, whom the statues honor.

State Fair officials put their Snoopy on a fine-looking pedestal made expressly for the long-eared beagle.

There's also a Snoopy statue - holding a turkey - across the street from the fairgrounds at Midway Parkway and Snelling Avenue. Habitat for Humanity also has a Snoopy statue at its fair exhibit near the 4-H building. And about a dozen more of the popular statues will be brought in next week and placed in various fair locations.

Early to rise, and eat

The early birds get the foot-longs at the fair. Last year officials tried moving the opening time to 7 a.m., back from the traditional 6 a.m. start. But after two days when lots of people were waiting at the gates at the earlier hour, they gave up. So the gates officially open at 6...