The 50th annual Beard-A-Reno showcased facial hair of the blackest, wildest and most original varieties.
Belt buckles went home with all the winners at Elks Rodeo Lodge, including the longest beard grown over the course of the three-month competition.
Judges analyzed beards for authenticity and scored contestants on beard thickness and style.
For its fiftieth incarnation, the Elks Lodge introduced a brand new category: Ladies’ Choice.
This article appears in Summer Guide ’09.