Every year, dozens of men (and some women) from all over America gather to compete in the country's largest beard and mustache competition. For the people who take part, it's a serious affair, which could not only potentially offer bragging rights to "Best Sideburns" or "Best Imperial Partial" in America, but could also lead to an opportunity to compete in next year's world championships. The World Cup of facial hair.

GQ traveled to this year's event—in Brooklyn, because of course it was in Brooklyn—to meet some of the contests and find out what makes a championship-winning beard. And also to get photobombed by Colonial Sanders.

Chin wag to GQ.