The Lebanon Area Fair held its first mullet contest on Thursday, July 25, which the new Junior Fair Board put together and ran.
Read More: First-ever Junior Lebanon Area Fair Board springs into action this year
Organizers rolled out a red carpet leading up to the stage. Contestants from the three age categories strutted the runway, shook their hair, and tried to make an impression on the three judges.
16-year-old Tanner Zimmerman brought his curly blond mullet down the runway decked out in an American-flag-patterned outfit.
He won second place in the 13 to 20 division, but his work in the event went beyond styling his hair.
“I was the one in charge of the mullet competition,” Tanner Zimmerman said. “I wanted to compete with my own mullet at the farm show, and I didn’t get the chance to, so I thought it would be a great opportunity for the fair to start something new and bring a mullet competition here.”
He said the Fair Board was receptive to the idea and helped pull the event together, though it was mainly the Junior Fair Board that kept everything running.
Fellow Junior Fair Board members Madison Copenhaver and Emma Copenhaver emceed the event. They introduced each competitor and urged the crowd to cheer for their favorite hairdos.
The three age categories were 0 to 12 years old, 13 to 20 years old and 21+. Each category had a first-place winner who took home $100, a second-place winner who took home $50 and a third-place winner who took home $25.
The love for mullets runs in the Zimmerman family.
“My brother ended up beating me,” Tanner Zimmerman said. “[I’m] a little bummed, but he deserves it.”
Drew Zimmerman, Tanner’s 12-year-old brother, won first place in the 0 to 12 age division. Once the winners from each division were brought forward for the final round, Drew brought home the overall winner trophy.
He said his strategy was simple — stand out for the judges.
He kept his button-up shirt open and drew ab muscles on his stomach.
“I wanted to be different from everybody else,” Drew Zimmerman said.
Dana Lape is a member of the Fair Board and an adviser for the Junior Fair Board.
He said he gives the Junior Fair Board all of the credit for the event — from bringing the idea forward to organizing and running it on Thursday.
“Our Junior Fair Board just pulled off one of the coolest events we ever had at the fair,” he said. “I’m a really proud adviser because this was awesome. This was totally awesome.”
He said the public’s interest started right when it was announced. People said it was a good idea, and they were looking forward to stopping by to watch.
Both Lape and Tanner Zimmerman said they’re looking to bring the event back next year.
“As long as mullets don’t die, we’ll keep going,” Tanner Zimmerman said. “Next year will be bigger and better.”
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