Be There or Be Square: Meet Your 2025 Best Beards in the Pork Industry Winners

Here’s a look at the pork industry’s best beards in 2025.

By Jennifer Shike

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December 30, 2025 11:34 AM

Beards are cool, and they always have been, says Chip Flory, host of AgriTalk and one of the judges in the 2025 Farm Journal’s PORK’s Best Beards in the Pork Industry Contest.

“From the Amish style to the goatee and from the full-and-closely trimmed to the rough and ragged, they all have a place,” Flory says. “To me, the beards that draw the most admiration are full, feature a distinguishable mustache, and have some age on them to show the wearer’s commitment to the facial hair. And if a beard has a unique feature, well... that’s a tough beard to beat.”

Although Flory believes having “hair on his face for 35 years” qualifies him to judge this contest, he did consult Google to see what makes an award-winning beard. To sum it up, it’s a blend of prize-winning genetics, dedicated care, artistic styling and confident presentation to create something truly memorable for the judges and audience.

Fellow judge Mike King, director of communications for the Ohio Pork Council, has only sported a beard for just over five years himself, but he understands the “surprising ins and outs” of growing, maintaining and styling a beard. Because of this, he looked for overall aesthetic of a beard, regardless of type. Does the beard look intentional in its style or appearance? Is it groomed and trimmed for its type? Does the owner wear it with a sense of confidence?

“In a serious competition such as this, people often win by only a chin!” points out Wendy Brannen, vice president of communications and marketing for the National Pork Producers Council. “So, it’s important to have key attributes in mind when judging: Proportion, uniqueness and plain old visual appeal were tops on my list. It was a razor-thin margin in some cases, but I am glad the judges could unite and select a strong winner’s circle for 2025.”

The judges loved the diverse array of entries this year — from color to texture to grooming choices. In the end, however, there were a couple of entries that were a cut above the stiff competition.

“Interestingly, we heard one of the contestants made the jolly man in red turn green with envy – or at least that’s what was coming down the swine vine,” Brannen laughs. “I understand there was a special category created this year just to get St. Nick to stop hawing and start ho, ho, ho’ing again! Who knew a beard contest could jeopardize Christmas!”

Here’s a look at your 2025 winners.

1^st Place: Jared Jacobs

The entries this year were impressive, and Flory admits it wasn’t easy as they all have unique characteristics that made them stand out in different ways. But all three judges fell for the squareness of Jared Jacobs’ beard.

“This squared-off beauty was easy to pick out of a crowded room and went to the top of a quality class in the beard contest,” Flory explains. “As in any class, showmanship and how the entry is fit for presentation matters, and the groom on this one makes all the difference.”

Brannen says she’s never seen facial hair “so square.” For King, the wow factor was in its natural flow and length that looks effortless — even though he knows it wasn’t.

“In a humorous way, I’m also getting a ‘reverse-mullet’ overall feel as the nice, naturally long beard is having a party in the front, but the short haircut brings it all back to business otherwise,” King says.

Jacobs, a program manager for the Bayer Carbon Program, has a small pork operation where they raise butcher hogs and show pigs for their kids in Drexel, Mo.

“My family has been raising hogs on our farm in west central Missouri for over 70 years,” Jacobs says. “While we’re not at the same level of production we used to be, it’s been a great way to keep our kids involved in agriculture, gain responsibility through caring for and showing livestock and learn what it takes to produce the bacon they love to eat.”

Jacobs points out he has had facial hair since his junior year of high school, and he started dating his wife during their senior year. After 14 years of being together, she still hasn’t seen him clean shaven — and probably won’t.

So how does the 2025 winner maintain such a captivating beard? Jacobs says he uses a round brush and hair dryer every day to keep his beard in check and straight. But that’s not all, he points out.

“If you’re going to have a beard in hog barns, a good smelling oil is essential to combat the smell that sticks to your beard long after you’ve left the barn,” Jacobs says.

2^nd Place: Adam Brecht

Adam Brecht’s second-place beard brought the personality, Brannen says. She appreciates that it’s clean-shaven at the top and bushy at the bottom.

“For me, this super thick and dark goatee-style beard offers up a magician-type vibe,” King says. “It balances nicely with the rest of the face but offers a different, upfront style that’s impossible to ignore.”

Brecht has been a part of the swine industry his entire life. A fourth-generation purebred swine producer, he grew up watching his father raise purebred Hampshires and went on to work for Ledger Swine Farm in Williamsburg, Iowa.

He later began raising show pigs and recently helped his daughter, Mia, start MB Genetics in Belle Plaine, Iowa. He focuses most of his time on day-to-day management, herd health and breeding decisions. In addition to Mia, his wife and son help when and where they can on the operation.

When it comes to managing beards, his advice is to have patience and brush it every night.

3^rd Place: Daniel Tubbs

Daniel Tubbs was out in the barn working away when his nominator asked him to send a picture of his beard. This “natural approach” won over Brannen.

“The piglet, and the beard, are giving cute,” she says. “Like Ben & Jerry’s Wavy Gravy ice cream, this beard is a classic flavor with its own unique waves. Neat, well proportioned, yet hip.”

King also appreciates the wavy texture of this entry and adds that this bi-colored beard demands attention and respect for its impressive length and symmetry.

Tubbs is the owner of Tubbs Livestock Company in Oakman, Ala. One fun fact about Tubbs is that although he lives in the south, he prefers the cold. He also likes honey on his pizza.

To keep up his beard’s appearance, Tubbs believes in a good conditioner and oil regimen.

4^th Place: Cody McKinley

When Cody McKinley’s daughter was born in 2017, he stopped shaving. The results speak for themselves.

“That is about 12 lb. of ‘beard excellence’ hanging off his face,” Flory says. “Steer jocks spend top dollar on nutrition, hair product and environmental controls to get hair that thick – and this guy does it walking around and living his life.”

Flory adds McKinley’s beard is “well-groomed with just enough feral in the mustache to show this is the natural state of a top-notch entry.”

McKinley lives in Ankeny, Iowa, and serves as vice president of operations and state and national relations for the National Pork Producers Council. His tip for growing a beard that makes people stop and look is simple.

“Throw away the razor – have you ever done the math?” McKinley laughs.

5^th Place: John Csukker

The fifth-place beard of John Csukker, environmental senior services manager for The Maschhoffs in Shelby, Neb., impressed judges for its versatility.

“A great example of a traditional goatee-style beard that works well in everyday business context, yet retains a sense of intrigue with its full-grown state that seems to suit the owner’s sense of style and personality,” King says.

Csukker says he has been rocking a mustache since 1985 when Alabama released “You Can’t Keep a Good Man Down” and added a goatee of varying lengths in 2007.

“It takes superior genetics (no false modesty here), a dab of beard conditioner to prevent full-scale chin rebellion, and above all, unbreakable commitment,” Csukker says. “That’s what turns an ordinary chin into a full-blown Declaration of Independence from the men stuck in the clean-shaven life. The kind of goatee that storms into boardrooms, ends debates with one raised eyebrow and a thoughtful stroke, and quietly announces: ‘I’ve been at this longer than most of you have been using email.’”

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Santa’s Choice

As Brannen notes, the judges had to create a whole new category for this beard. Jason Pooley, health programs manager for PIC, dominated the entries in 2024, and his Santa-like beard was a stand-out again this year.

Pooley hails from Hendersonville, Tenn., where he enjoys spending time with his dogs.

“The complementary background and the undeniable resemblance to maybe the most decorated beard of all time, makes this beard deserving of our Santa’s Choice Award,” Flory says.