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5.0 (3 votes)

A new Montana club based in Helena is growing - and grooming - and although the group is small in number, the members cast some lengthy five o'clock shadows: it's the Bruigher Beard Club, and they're getting ready to put their beards to the test in an international judging contest.

Bruigher Beard Club president Steffen Rasile explained, "When I was in college I was growing a beard, and I was Googling it one day and stumbled upon this wonderful website of the National Beard Club. There were some great pictures of some amazing beards around the world and I thought, 'I need to be a part of this'."

As a result, the Bruigher Beard Club of Montana was born. Rasile said, "So we have a bi-monthly meeting where we get together and talk about beards. We talk about different styling techniques, anything from beard dandruff to mustache wax."

But Montana's National Beard Club Chapter isn't all talk - they are on their way to the National Beard Championships, and three members are competing for the $1,000 prize.

Andy Stobie, the Bruigher Beard Club freestyle captain, noted, "I think the greatest part about going to this competition isn't about the winning part, it's mostly about representing Montana and growing beards."

Rasile added, "We have got a whole slew of Montana flags that we will be waving during the Parade of Beards and really bringing the Montana lifestyle to Bend, Oregon."

As interesting as this club looks, membership isn't exactly open to everyone; Rasile jokes, "We have a term for these people who can't grow beards, and we call them 'skin faces'. We consider it a disease."

The championship will be held on Saturday, and then Bruigher Beard Club will return to Montana on Monday - hopefully with some cash prizes.

Click here to visit the Bruigher Beard Club website to learn more.