Nearly 100 people packed the Depot Theater on Saturday, July 23, when the Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau hosted the first Whisker Roundup Mustache Contest. Sponsored by the Rusty Edge Tonsorial Parlor, eight contestants took to the stage to flaunt their pruned, shaped, and waxed mustaches in their bid to claim the crown of Dodge City’s first Mr. Mustache.
“This event has been so much fun to put together,” said Megan Welsh, manager of the Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Our partners at the Depot Theater and Boot Hill Museum, have been amazing to work with. Offering support and expertise to make this event a successful.”
National Day of the Cowboy was also observed during the event. Miss Kitty spoke to the crowd about the meaning behind the day and recited the Code of Conduct for Cowboys & Cowgirls. Attendees were also treated to performances from Miss Kitty and Doc from the Long Branch Variety Show, the Boot Hill Medicine Show, and warm peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream.
The mustache contest saw contestants answer silly questions and present their mustaches to the crowd and judges. The panel of judges consisted of Shawn Nguyen from the Rusty Edge Tonsorial Parlor, Clinton Contant from Red Beard Coffee, and Lee Griffith from the Boot Hill Distillery. The judges graded each mustache on a scale of one to ten across four categories: size, quality, color, and style/presentation. When the dust had settled, and the scores had been tabulated Loren Ashlock was named the winner and crowned Dodge City’s Mr. Mustache.
Mr. Ashlock was presented with a trophy, 2022 Mr. Mustache sash, and his mustache will be immortalized on the Dodge City Convention & Visitors Bureau 2022/2023 Mustache Fan. The Mustache Fans are distributed at various local and regional events as a fun way to promote Dodge City events and attractions.