Fur for food: Beard contest a fundraiser for Palmer Food Bank

PALMER — Fur-faced men descended on Klondike Mike’s on Jan. 26 to put their fuzz on display for a good cause.

Sherri Lilly, the AK Lady Barber partnered with Permafrost Beards to sponsor a beard competition to raise money for the Palmer Food Bank.

Those who shy away from razors competed in mustache, natural beard under and over six inches, barbered beard, freestyle beard and partial beard. A silent auction on items and a gun raffle was held to help raise money for the Food Bank, and bearded competitors had to pay an entry fee.

“If you’ve never tasted chicken soup out of your own beard, you’re missing it,” said emcee James Hastings.

Competitors came to the stage to have their beards judged on size, cleanliness, shape, style, showmanship, color and overall quality. Pilots, firefighters, veterans and men who just wanted to support the cause came to compete with the facial hair they grew themselves.

“My name is Alex, and all I can say is witness protection,” Alex Valdez joked.

Valdez competed in natural beard under six inches classs and says he has worn a beard ever since he served in the military. His wife says that she hasn’t seen his face for a long time, but she’s learned to love it.

“We’re part of the crew for Alaska Healing Hearts so there’s other veterans who support each other and try to get everybody else to understand where we come from and how we unite,” Valdez said.

Anaka Thorsted was among the group of ladies who took the opportunity to run their fingers through the natural beards six inches and over, a crowd favorite.

“It can’t be patchy it’s got to be full,” Thorsted said.

Competitors were asked to either give a speech to explain their beard or do an ‘interpretive beard dance.’ Very few chose to talk, and a pair of competitors even chose to do their beard dance together. A competitor with a long, white beard chose to incorporate ‘elves’ into his dance, and the crowd went wild.

Two-time Mr. Fur Face Alaska Jon Smiley has worn his beard for more than 10 years and maintains it not only with daily shampoo and conditioning, but with beard oil.

“It’s definitely like a way of life though once you’re this far into it,” Smiley said.

Julie Gottfried likes her husband Shawn’s beard, but wishes he would quit talking about it.

“It catches all your extra crumbs and keeps your face warm when it’s cold. It’s just so stylish,” Gottfried said.

Before the winners of the competition were announced, Quilts of Valor were awarded to both Hastings and Zack Lanphier. The Carhartt Brothers played music in between rounds, and though they are all bearded themselves, donned fake beards to ‘compete’ in the six inches and over category.

Dennis Dawson won Best in Show and Best Natural Beard over six inches. Hannibal Jordan won Best Mustache and Best Natural Beard under six inches. Shawn Gottfried won Best Barbered Beard. Adam Bruck won Best Freestyle Beard. Rocky Fanning won Best Partial Beard. Lilly started the beard competition this year after attending a competition last fall.

“I will tell you with beard competitors, the first question they ever ask is what charity is this going for,” Lilly said. “So they come out in force for charity.

Contact bearded Frontiersman reporter Tim Rockey at tim.rockey@frontiersman.com.