2024 Nevada Day Beard Contest results

2024 BEARD CONTEST RESULTS

Most bearded community

Washoe County: 11

Storey County: 3

Lyon County: 7

Douglas County: 3

Carson City: 29

All others (Mineral County): 1

Longest beard

First place: Jimmy Johnson, 26 inches

Second place: Scott Perry, 25 inches

Third place: Boyd Lester, 23 inches

Blackest beard

First place: Dan Hague

Second place: Nick Chaparro

Third place: Joe Yazbeck

Whitest beard

First place: Tom Simmonds

Second place: Robert Beeler

Third place: Kevin McDermott

Reddest beard

First place: Lex Garraway

Second place: Jackson Uselman

Third place: Shawn Smee

Blondest beard

First place: Tristan Hein

Second place: Cody Tucker

Third place: Kevin Liston

Best salt and pepper beard

First place: Brian Burris

Second place: Jeremy Litka

Third place: Anthony Ramos

Jessica Garcia/Nevada Appeal

First-place winners Dan Hague, far left, Matt Wagner, Brian Burris, Mi’Chal Giancontieri and Tristan Hein were narrowed down for the overall winner according to the audience’s vote with Wagner taking the ultimate prize.

 

Scruffiest beard

First place: Michael Giancontieri

Second place: Patrick Justice

Third place: David Clemensen

Best groomed beard

First place: Brian Burris

Second place: Brant McDaniel

Third place: Kris Kaltenbacher

Fullest beard

First place: Matt Wagner

Second place: Anthony Borrero

Third place: Kevin Liston

Best overall winner

Matt Wagner

Jessica Garcia/Nevada Appeal

Reddest beard winners were, from far left, Jackson Uselman, Lex Garraway, first place, and Shawn Smee, third place.

 

Some take a few weeks or months to grow and trim their whiskers and some take the year in careful preparation to groom themselves for the best beard on Nevada Day.

Matt Wagner of Carson City, who works for the state, defended his title again as best overall winner and in the fullest beard category.

“I feel great,” he said.

Wagner said he continues to be groomed by Jeremy at the East 50 Barbershop, he said.

“I do it for the fun, get out and see everybody,” he said.

Carson City’s Cipriani’s Downtown Barber Shop and Paradise Salon-Spa-Wellness sponsored the event.

The contest’s traditional categories were still in place, with judges bringing in entries for longest beard, blackest beard, whitest beard, reddest beard, blondest beard, best salt and pepper beard, scruffiest beard, best groomed beard, fullest beard and the overall winner. Reddest and salt and pepper were among the larger groupings for men to jump on the stage for when master of ceremonies Perry Nixdorf, owner of Paradise, made the call.

The crowd continues to grow and draw support from Northern Nevada’s local counties as they celebrate Nevada Day.

Richard Lopiccolo of Minden gave the stage his shot as an entrant but didn’t make the cut. He said it was great fun.

“I haven’t won yet … this is great small-town stuff,” he said.

Jessica Garcia/Nevada Appeal

Fullest beard contest winners, from far right, Anthony Borrero, second place, Kevin Liston, third place, and Matt Wagner, first place, enjoy their moment of victory on the stage.

 

The contest not only rallies the men but draws in the ladies, who find the judging a good time for their special someone.

Bailey Liston, a former Nevada Appeal employee, said her husband Kevin Liston has enjoyed the contest but has yet to take a first-place prize. Kevin managed to nab two third-place plaques for blondest and fullest beard.

Nixdorf, owner of Paradise Salon and co-sponsor of the event, said the event has been going on for about 60 years and he has been involved for nine years. The goal is to bring in different judges each year with a mix of generations to make sure the contest remains impartial and there are no preferences with entrants.

“I think it’s just a good time,” he said. “I think everybody enjoys hamming it up on stage and showing off their beards, right? So it’s good stuff.

Judges included Cipriani’s Nick Fontanez, Taylor Lynch and Brian Halverson.

Jessica Garcia/Nevada Appeal

Contest co-sponsors Starr and Perry Nixdorf of Paradise Salon-Spa-Wellness, far left, and co-sponsor Nick Fontanez of Cipriani’s Downtown Barbershop, and judges Taylor Lynch and Brian Halverson gather for a photo after the contest Saturday.