Beard Growing Contest: Big Beards Take Center Stage at the Iowa State Fair

[Travis Graven] Beards come in all varieties— long, short, thick, scraggly, even some fancy ones. My sad short scruff can't compete with these professionals, but let's see who does win blue ribbons at this year's Beard Growing Contest.

[Judge] 25. So how long have you been growing this thing?

[Contestant 1] I'm thinking 25 years.

[Judge] Oh my gosh. The yardstick's not long enough, you guys.

[Travis] So how much time do you have invested in this?

[Ryan Smelcer, Fairfield] About 8 years ago, it really took off.

[Travis] That's dedication.

That's what I aim for.

[Travis] What work was involved in putting all this together?

[Nate Anderson, West Des Moines] Honestly, I'm just lazy and don't like to shave. I just started curlicuing the mustache because I cut my dreadlocks off last year, and I needed to do something to look at.

[Travis] How many years do you have invested in this?

[Anthony Perdue, Des Moines] Uh, I haven't been clean-shaven since I got out of the Army in 2013.

[Travis] So you don't remember what it's like to have a smooth face?

[Anthony] No, my beard's older than my marriage.

[Travis] And what are these?

[Paul Swanson, Dayton] They're sideburns. I call them Stubbs and Lefty. I've actually named them.

[Travis] And what kind of reactions do you get about them?

[Paul] Usually, do you know the Civil War's over?

[Travis] Do you always have this beard? Or you grow it special for this?

[Rex Hall, Birmingham] Special for this. Yep. My wife says it gotta go.

[Bearded Ladies] Iowa, that's where the tall corn grows.

[Travis] And what category are you entered in?

[Bearded Ladies] Participation.

[Travis] Participation.

(Laughter)

[Emcee] First place for 2026, number 147. Congratulations. Good job.

[Will Garriott, West Des Moines] I grew a beard and wondered if I'd be able to grow some handlebars because not everyone can. I could, and then last year was my first time competing. Had a lot of fun, thought I'd come back and do it again.

[Nate] It's all in fun for me, honestly. I'm not, I'm not a huge competitor when it comes to that, but I mean, I love all the beards. They're great. They look amazing. There's like super long beards, short manicured beards, curlicue mustaches. I mean, I'm all for it.

Barry Knowles from Holiday Lake. My 5-year-old daughter does my grooming and my propane forge does the trimming.

[Emcee] All right. First place for 2026 is number 114. 114.

(On screen text: Best Groomed — Justin Fisher, Des Moines)

First place for most unique, 126.

(On screen text: Most Unique & Most Historic in Nature — Ben Pullen, Spencer)

With 32.5 inches, our first place winner, number 149. 149! Woo-hoo!

(On screen text: Longest Beard — Bulmaro Martinez, West Des Moines)

[Bulmaro Martinez, West Des Moines] I was growing it up to here, and then I just let it go. I mean, I really take care of it, like, a lot. I wash it, everything, oils at night before I go to sleep. Yeah, it's a lot of care. It takes a lot of care.

[Travis] I mean, it wouldn't look this nice without doing that, right?

[Bulmaro] Oh yeah, for sure. For sure. You want something to look nice, you need to take care of it.