Beard Contest to Raise Funds For a Mental Health Officer
Attention bearded people: don’t miss this opportunity to show off your whiskers and support mental health awareness later this month.
The “You Matter” Beard and Mustache Competition will take place at Casino Hall in La Grange on Jan. 22. The event is being sponsored by Honest Amish, a company that makes organic skin and beard care products. Proceeds will benefit the Health and Behavioral Wellness Council of Greater Colorado Valley, a recently-formed local charity focusing on mental health awareness and services.
Competitors will vie for prizes and bragging rights in 13 different categories of facial hair styles. The event isn’t just open to men. Women and children can compete in their own divisions by crafting fake beards.
Shannon Clinkenbeard of Schulenburg, a seasoned beard competitor, is organizing the event. And yes, that is his real name.
“My wife and I travel around to enter beard contests, it’s a hobby of ours,” he said.
Clinkenbeard said the main goal of the event is to raise money to help fund a mental health officer for the Colorado County Sheriff’s Office. Too often, people suffering a mental health crisis end up in the criminal justice system when they really need counseling or treatment. Fayette County established a mental health deputy program several years ago. The officer here, Jeremy Castleberry, serves residents with mental health issues by connecting them with services such as Bluebonnet Trails.
The Health and Behavioral Wellness Council of Greater Colorado Valley is raising money to fund a similar position in Colorado County, Clinkenbeard said.
Clinkenbeard said the idea for the contest came during a discussion with some of his friends.
“A couple of guys popped off a number of what it would cost for them to shave their mustaches off,” he said. “The number was $25,000.”
From there, the plan for a charity contest was born.
“We wanted a mental health charity,” Clinkenbeard said. “I work with and I’m friends with John Drozd, who lost his daughter Kyla Faith two years ago, and he pointed us in the direction of this charity, so here we go.”
The 13 categories in the beard and mustache contest are as follows: Kids, Whiskerina Realistic, Whiskerina Creative, Goatee, Whaler, Chops, Full Beard 0-4 inches, Full Beard 4-8 inches, Full Beard 8-12 inches, Full Beard 12 inches and over, Mustache, Full Beard Styled Mustache, and Freestyle.
Entry fees are $25 per category except the Kids category, which is $15.
Competitors can pre-register online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-you-matter-beardand-mustache-competition-presented-by-honest-amish-tickets-215070671167, or they can register at Casino Hall on the day of the event.
The three judges will be Jake Johnson, Scott Sykora and Monty Minter – who each sport some epic whiskers. Doors open at noon on Jan. 22. Judging starts at 2 p.m.