Indiana State Fair announces the winner of the mullet contest

Indianapolis, Indiana – The winner of the mullet competition on Saturday was a man who formerly struggled to develop one.

The USA Mullet Championship’s second annual mullet event at the State Fair featured 13 competitors, including Anderson resident John Poor. After beating colon cancer, Poor, who had donned the legendary hairdo during its prime in the 1980s, claimed he chose to grow one once more.

“I realized you only have one life to live. Live it to your fullest. Make people happy,” he said.

Gov. Eric Holcomb was among the small audience that gathered outside the Indiana Farmers Coliseum for the competition. The way each contestant’s mullet looked and the explanation they provided for it were evaluated. The majority claimed that they first developed a mullet in 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdowns, when hair salons were among those who were told to shut down their operations. They had to shake their mullets in front of the crowd as well.

Along with the Illinois State Fair and Denimfest in Iowa, the competition at the Indiana State Fair is one of three live events in the championship. The event’s emcee, Christian Hoffer, said the competition received a terrific reaction the previous year and has expanded well beyond the founders’ wildest expectations.

“To say that this thing has taken on a life of its own would be quite an understatement,” he said. “we’re so, so honored that, not only are we able to bring this on a national level digitally, but we can bring it right here into the community at the State Fair like this.”

When the judges’ results were in, Poor just barely prevailed. He claimed he never anticipated winning.

“It’s just been a whirlwind. I couldn’t believe I won,” he said.

Poor, an Air Force veteran, claimed that one of the reasons he entered the competition was to support neighborhood veterans groups, such as his American Legion post. Jared Allen’s Homes for Wounded Warriors, a nonprofit organization that constructs and renovates accessible, mortgage-free housing for injured soldiers, receives financial support from the USA Mullet Championship.

Poor will proceed to the national championship, known as the “Mane Event.” This fall, judges will select from 25 online submissions.