A Red Wing-area farmer hasn’t shaved his beard since 1974 — and says he won’t until the Vikings win a Super Bowl.

Emmett Pearson lives near the town of Welch in southeastern Minnesota. He said he started growing his beard after the Vikings lost the 1974 Super Bowl to the Pittsburgh Steelers and doesn’t plan to shave it until they win the big game. He’ll be waiting at least one more year after the Vikings lost to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

The 79-year-old Pearson’s now-white beard reaches well down his chest. Three of his five children have never seen his face clean-shaven. He said his wife of 53 years was desperately hoping this would be the year the Vikings would pull it off, so he could shave it off.