Beard Growing Contest Brings Bold Styles to the Iowa State Fair

[Hayley Schaefer] It's a hairy showdown years in the making. These beards didn't just grow overnight. Awards will be given for longest beard, best groomed, most unique, best beard with costume, and most historic in nature. Let's go comb through the competition.

My name's Levi Walter. I'm from Grand Mound, Iowa. It's better than shaving.

[Contest Emcee] Now today we have the new Iowa State Fair Queen, and she will be the one measuring the length.

First place with 28 inches is number 275.

[Hayley] What made you decide that you wanted to start growing a beard?

[Harold Stephenson] Well, I saw the PBS show on the winner 15 years ago and I thought I could beat him.

[Hayley] How many times have you won?

[Harold] 15 out of 16.

[Hayley] And how long do you think you'll keep continuing to enter this contest?

[Harold] Well, this might be my last year because it keeps breaking off shorter and shorter.

[Emcee] And first place for 2025 for the best groomed beard is. Number 283.

[Hayley] Is this your first time at the Iowa State Fair?

[Ron Spradling, Biloxi, Mississippi - Best Groomed] Yes, it sure is.

[Hayley] How did you hear about the best beard competition? Did you know this was a thing before, like, this week?

[Ron] No, I didn't, actually. I was standing at the Waldorf booth over by gate 11 in that building, and those two gentlemen I just yelled at came by and said, “you need to be at the beard competition.” Figured I'd at least give it a shot. I had no idea I'd win.

[Emcee] And now a tie for first, and that is between 115 and 274.

[Hayley] And what made you decide that you wanted to enter?

[John Shaffer, Cedar Rapids - Most Unique] I look good in a beard, man. Why not?

[Hayley] How long have you had your beard for?

[John] I've been growing the beard for about two and a half years. I only have about six, seven months on the mustache, though. Took about an hour and a half to get this whole look done.

[Hayley] What made you decide to start growing a beard in the first place?

[Nathan Anderson, West Des Moines - Most Unique and Most Historic in Nature] It was a two year challenge. It was two years, keep it growing, no trimming. And I pulled it off and I just started loving it. My daughter will not allow me to shave it now, so I'm pretty much stuck with it.

[Emcee] And first place for 2025, number 276.

[Hayley] And what made you want to enter this competition?

[Will Garriott, West Des Moines - Best Beard with Costume] I've been growing a beard for the past four years or so. Knew that they had a competition down here. Thought it would be fun.

[Hayley] Is this your first time entering? It is.

[Will] Yeah, it is.

[Hayley] Okay. And you walked away with first place?

[Will] I did. I got first place in the costume competition.

[Hayley] And then talk me through your costume. Who do we have here with us today?

[Will] We have, I will just say, an iconic sea captain.