THE ANNUAL “GRASS IS A GAS” POKER RUN WAS A HUGE SUCCESS!!!
It just keeps getting better!! On Saturday, September 9th, THIRTY planes arrived KBRD from 23 different Minnesota towns & airports to participate in this popular annual event. Event Organizer extraordinaire Mike Petersen provided a pre-flight briefing to 52 eager participants. As in the past, Remer, Hill City, Bowstring and East Gull Lake were the grass strip destinations. The 5th playing card would be handed out upon their return to KBRD.
AND...since there were 52 participants, all 52 cards from 5 decks...in hermetically-sealed envelopes stored the night before in a mayonnaise jar at Funk and Wagnalls...would be played.
The weather for the most part was “OK”. While ceilings and winds were in everyone’s favor, Bowstring experienced some light rain showers.
What else makes this particular Poker Run a huge success is the support contributed by individuals within the communities of these grass strips. THANK YOU all!!
Above are the volunteers, welcomers, marshallers and photographers at Remer. Elizabeth Blundell, Remer city administrator, handed out slices of pie (Yes...that's correct...PIE!!) and insulated mugs with the help from her granddaughter. Not pictured are the community volunteers at Bowstring who served pork sandwiches and home made cinnamon rolls.
By 1:30 pm, all planes were safely back at KBRD, envelopes were opened and poker hands were posted on the Leader Board by our two judges...Howard and Steve.
Steve Wattner came in with the winning hand...a queen-high straight...for the Grand Prize: a $100 Maddens Gift Card. Congratulations Steve!!
Even though the song says, “Every hand’s a winner, and every hand’s a loser,” each player at this event is a winner during the raffle drawing. The picture above shows Mike handing out door prizes at the close of this year’s event.
The website “editorial staff” would like to express a hearty JOB WELL DONE and THANK YOU to Mike Petersen for organizing and facilitating this popular event. Upon observing what has to happen behind the scenes, what Mike accomplished is impressive.
Behind every good leader is a band of volunteers who need to be equally recognized. They are…
At KBRD: Michelle and Joe, Mark Crist, Mark Bearss, Trudi, Howard McCollister, Roger Macy, Howard, and Steve.
At REMER (52Y): Rick and Jon
At BOWSTRING (9Y0): Mark & Marla, Scott & Lois, & the Bowstring Flyers
At EAST GULL LAKE (9Y2): Jon, Adam, and Don Lee
At HILL CITY (07Y): Steve and Rick
And last but not least, a sincere THANK YOU and recognition to those who donated prizes. They are…
Deerwood Bank, NorthPoint Aviation, Mark Crist, Visit Brainerd.com, Paul Bunyan Land, Maddens on Gull Lake, Wings Café, Kimmy Kay Fox, Mark Bearss, Lifelink III, Mead and Hunt North Air Care, Avemco Insurance, Forrest Rothwell, Precision Aircraft Service, Lynne Adair, AvFuel Corporation