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LINN, MO. -- The Osage County City of Linn is turning 100 years old.

City leaders are celebrating with a centennial celebration full of food, fun and contests.

Linn’s Terry Wolfe started growing his beard at the end of January.  He’s been grooming his face for the past 8 months for a beard contest at the Show-Me Linn, Now and Then Centennial Celebration.

Wolfe said, “In ’76, I was in a beard contest with 2 other brothers of mine.  One of them won it for the longest beard.  The other brother won it for the best groomed beard.  I thought, well, one is deceased and the other one has cancer, I have to hold up the Wolfe tradition here.”

It’s been decades since Wolfe sported a beard on his face.  People are having a tough time recognizing him.

Wolfe said, “If my wife stays hid, they don’t recognize me.  Once she walks up they know who I am, or my dog.”

Peter Radmacher keeps Wolfe looking sharp and has been a barber in Linn for more than 40 years.  Radmacher is the judge in Wolfe’s beard contest.  The judge looks for cleanliness, length, thickness and overall appearance.

Radmacher said, “I heard some of them are going to come with some colored beards, but I don’t know how I’m going to judge that, yet.”

Wolfe said there’s no way he’s dying his beard.  In fact, he might keep it for a White Christmas.

Wolfe said, “I’ve had several people say it looked natural like Santa Claus.  They say I should play Santa Claus.  It’s very possible that I will keep it and play Santa Claus a time or two.”

Wolfe said it took a while to get used to his beard, but now it’s finally growing on him.

You can see Wolfe compete at the Show-Me Linn Now and Then Centennial Celebration that takes place Friday and Saturday.