The Beginning of The Bash

[Barnyard]

It was one winter night in January of 2008 when Rosanne and I began to think about hosting a CubFest. So many questions swirled in our heads it was overwhelming. Do we have the right location? Can we make it work in an old barn that has no electricity? Will there be things for the attendees to do? And most importantly, Will they come? Let’s ask Big Dog, he’ll know what to do. His response was simple, “Do it”. He said everybody will find a project to work on and things will just flow. It might be small at first but people will catch on.

That sounded good to me so the first “Barnyard Bash” was held in May 2008. By then I had a new shop built in the smaller barn and had new electric service run from the street. The location was easy to reach from several interstates.

Rick Spivey had his Cub as a project and the guys got a lot done to it. Rick Prentice brought some unfinished products of some little company he was starting called KubKraft that he needed to paint. A few carbs were repaired and steel fuel lines fabricated. Big Dog kept busy helping out where ever he was needed.
By early Saturday afternoon Ralph said they needed another project. I had bought a cub a couple months earlier and said they could check it out. Susie Q had sat under a tree for about six years and not run. The guys pulled the head off her and found a ton of carbon. A cleanup, fresh plugs and gas and a little cleaning of the points and this baby was rolling along at a good clip.

We had about twenty five fine folks show up for that first event. While he guys all stayed busy with the Cubs, the women enjoyed two days of whatever women do when their husbands are getting dirty. I must admit I am forever grateful to the women for seeing to it we were fed. They all sure know how to make the sweet, sugary stuff as well as the main course too.

That weekend was declared a success by all in attendance and everyone looked forward to another the following year. When everyone left, the barnyard seemed like a lonely place. It didn’t take Rosie and I long to start planning for “Barnyard Bash II”.

We have grown quite a bit since those humble beginnings. We now have 80 to 90 folks each year over a three day period. Our guests have come from 22 different states over the years. Who would have thought the tradition would still be carried on in this little southwestern town in Ohio after all the years. We have grown.

[Winfield Dave]

Thanks Bill for the history lesson !!
Never knew the beginnings of the BASH.
Great story

[Donegal Cub]

Great story Bill, thanks for sharing.
Bernard
Donegal Cub.

[T-Mo]

Nice story, Bill. Kind of reminds me of the movie "Field of Dreams", "if you'll build it, they will come" sort of thing.