Contest rewards facial hair extraordinaires
April 14, 2017 by Jamie Ward

Scott Sykora takes his beard, and other people's beards, very seriously. That's why he and emcee-stylists Emily Gambrel and Kim Lloyd inherited the Geauga County Maple Festival Beard and Mustache Competition five years ago. Because it takes that kind of guy.

Scott Sykora takes his beard, and other people’s beards, very seriously.

That’s why he and emcee-stylists Emily Gambrel and Kim Lloyd inherited the Geauga County Maple Festival Beard and Mustache Competition five years ago. Because it takes that kind of guy.

The competition continues this year April 20 at 2:30 p.m. on the festival’s main stage.

Sykora, 42, is known in many places for his beard, which he has been growing since March of 2009. In fact, the Chardon graduate also has a pocast — The Beardcaster, available wherever podcasts are downloaded — entirely dedicated to all things facial hair.

“It’s more popular the last seven or eight years,” said Sykora, sitting across the street from where the Maple Festival is held, at the Square Bistro. “Sometimes there are people yelling from their cars.”

Sykora won the competition all three times he entered, but hasn’t entered since 2006. Today, he travels for his competitive beard events.

“Once you’ve won, you’re hooked,” he said.

The competition on Chardon Square started with about 10 guys and has blossomed into hosting as many as 35 people onstage. However, Sykora stresses it is a family-friendly event; the first two categories are Kids Fake Creative and Whiskerina Beard.

“Generally kids and women craft a beard out of some medium and accompany it with a matching costume,” Sykora said.

Last year was a record crowd, he added. Bearded and mustachioed competitors come from all over Ohio and Pennsylvania.

The rest of the categories are pretty straightforward, like fullest beard, longest beard, best chops, best mustache and more. A Maple Festival Grand Champion is also crowned, since participants can enter more than one category.

Sponsors to this year’s contest are Barbatus Grooming Beard Care of Pittsburgh, which makes beard care products and hand-crafted combs, and Emily Gambrel’s Compliments and Kim’s Kreative Hair Design, both located on Chardon Square at Salon 135, still commonly known as Marci’s Hair on the Square.