Beech Bash in the Bluegrass: How It All Began
In the early 2000s, I purchased a small farm in Hopkins County, Kentucky, following a brief visit to a quaint little town called Dawson Springs. I referred to it as a hunt camp, but it really became my getaway from the busy businesses in South Florida. The appealing aspect of this area is its remoteness, yet that same isolation has its downsides. After enduring numerous brutal 16-hour drives, I got my pilot’s certificate and began flying myself into aviation gatherings. My best option for an airport was on the north end of the county in Madisonville. Initially, I made the trip in a Grumman Tiger, but soon realized that flying faster was the key, prompting me to upgrade to a Bonanza F33A, which I became quite fond of. It was the first aircraft I owned that performed exceptionally well across the board. About a year after acquiring my F33A, a friend took me for a ride in his A36. It took only that one flight for me to see that this plane ticked all the boxes; I swiftly sold my F33A and got my A36TC shortly thereafter.
As a responsible steward of these fine aircraft, I joined the American Bonanza Society and connected with several Bonanza Facebook groups. This experience allowed me to learn more about my new airplane and meet numerous wonderful people. It’s only natural that exceptional aircraft attract exceptional individuals. My new friendships blossomed with people spread across the U.S. In November 2021, as I was flying back to my Kentucky home airport in Madisonville (2I0), I was mesmerized by the beautiful views and decided to videotape my arrival. Later that evening, while watching the footage, an idea struck me: what a perfect location for a Beech Bash where I could invite all my friends from social media. Given its stunning facilities and central location, it felt like the ideal choice.
On a side note, shortly after this idea, the south end of the county (Dawson Springs) was devastated by an F5 tornado. The significant expenses incurred from the damage made any additional revenue from the Bash a welcomed blessing.
On November 26, 2021, I posted the video of my arrival into 2I0 on a Facebook group called Beechcraft Bonanza – Owners, Pilots, and Enthusiasts. I asked if anyone would be interested in joining me for a Beech Bash and tagged 22 Beechcraft friends on social media. The response was overwhelming, with over 121 comments expressing interest in attending this aviation gathering.
My immediate thought was, “Great, now what do I do?” Years prior, I had befriended Mark Baker, the president of AOPA and a Baron owner, so I reached out to see if he would speak. To my surprise, he not only agreed but was genuinely enthusiastic about it! That’s when I realized things were becoming real fast! My next step was to reach out to Emily Herron, the airport manager for Madisonville Regional Airport (2I0). From our very first conversation, Emily was all in and bursting with excellent ideas. She presented the concept to Jimmy Riddle, the airport board, and the city mayor, and everyone became excited. We soon had a dedicated group of people fully committed to this Beech Bash concept. Emily and I brainstormed and concluded that the name “The Beech Bash in the Bluegrass” perfectly fit our vision.
Now that we had a name, venue, date, and a notable speaker, everything else seemed to fall into place. I contacted several friends in the aviation industry (who owned Bonanzas) and shared the news. Their reactions exceeded my expectations, as everyone I spoke to agreed not only to speak but also offered raffle prizes to help cover event costs.
On April 30, 2022, we hosted the 1st Annual Beech Bash in the Bluegrass, and as anyone present will attest, it was a massive success! We had initial concerns being the first event, but everything went off without a hitch. We gave away fantastic prizes at our raffle, gained valuable insights from industry experts, enjoyed incredible Bluegrass music, indulged in great food, participated in full motion simulator rides, shot a flintlock rifle, enjoyed skeet shooting, and sipped bourbon while reveling in more delicious food. Attendees (affectionately referred to as Bashers) reached out to tell me it was the most enjoyable social fly-in they had ever attended. The weather was perfect, and we featured star-studded speakers and famous YouTubers like Martin Pauly and Scott Perdue.
If you missed it, don't worry! The good news is we're planning another event next year: April 29, 2023. I encourage you to arrive the night before and stay until the day after to fully experience all the Bash has to offer. This year, we'll host dinner with a surprise guest speaker on the evening of the 28th. Saturday the 29th will follow with more guest speakers, simulator rides, raffles, and all the same Beech Bash fun that attendees enjoyed at the first gathering. Do not miss it! For updates on this and future Madisonville airport events, visit www.BeechBash.com and our Facebook page 'Beech Bash in the Bluegrass.'
I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to making this event possible:
To pull off this extraordinary event, the hard work and generosity of many people were essential. A huge thank you to our speakers (who also donated raffle prizes): Mark Baker (AOPA), Tom Turner (ABS), Scott Perdue (Flywire), George Braly (GAMI), Jerry Clemens (Clemens Insurance), and Karl Gardner (Gardner Lowe Aviation). You made this experience truly memorable!
The airport staff were instrumental in ensuring everything ran smoothly. Jimmy Riddle (Airport Board Chair and a generous unsung hero), Andy Bachman (Airport Vice Chair), and of course, the dedicated line crew.
I also want to thank the city of Madisonville: Mayor Kevin Cotton, who tirelessly dedicated his time alongside his staff, the Madisonville Lion’s Club for preparing that amazing breakfast, and Trish Noel with Hopkins County Tourism for her relentless efforts.
A special acknowledgement goes to our sponsors: Airmart (Sav), Jet Shades (thank you, Kevin for the raffle items), Just Plane Radio (Dennis and Greg), Sun ’n Fun Radio (Dave Shallbetter), Titan Fuel (thank you for the generous raffle fuel), and Scott and Sevin Layer (most recent IFR pilot) for all the excitement with the skeet shooting!
Finally, a huge thank you to Tom Turner and the American Bonanza Society, not only for their generosity but for their assistance in spreading the word. We look forward to having you again next year, Tom!
Until then, fly safe, Beech Bashers, and I’ll see you soon!
