Results
48th Great Pershing Balloon Derby (2024) Results:
- 1st – Brad Craig Carlisle IA
- 2nd - Jason Jones Overland Park KS
- 3rd – Patrick Cloyd Indianola IA
- 4th - Aaron Foelske New Lenox, IL
- 5th - Joe Seymour Indianola IA
- 6th - Leroy Clair Carlisle IA
- 7th - Bret Christian Indianola IA
- 8th - Matt Riley Kansas City MO
- 9th - Jeremy King Indianola IA
- 10th - Kenny Jay Moberly MO
John Petrehn Memorial Cup
- 2024 - Jeremy King Indianola IA
- 2023 - Brad Craig Carlisle IA
- 2022 - Jason Jones Overland Park KS
- 2021 - Bret Christian Indianola IA
- 2020 - Jason Jones Overland Park KS
- 2019 - Layne Wolters Columbia MO
2023 Basil Downey Memorial Launch Site Nite Lite
- 1st - Jim Phelan Lincoln IL
- 2nd - Jamie Hohman Olathe KS
Great Pershing Balloon Derby Winners Thru The Years
- 1977 James Baker
- 1978 Jeff Thompson
- 1979 Jerry Brown
- 1980 No Flights – Weather
- 1981 Nick Saum
- 1982 Jim Thompson
- 1983 No Flights – Weather
- 1984 Jim Thompson
- 1985 Col. Rowland Smith
- 1986 David Rapp
- 1987 Don McMullen, Jr.
- 1988 Dennis Cox
- 1989 David Edmister
- 1990 Gary Tarter
- 1991 Gary Tarter
- 1992 Gary Tarter
- 1993 Jim Wolters
- 1994 Jan Sines
- 1995 Frank Hines
- 1996 Jim Thompson
- 1997 Maury Petrehn
- 1998 Jim Wolters
- 1999 Maury Petrehn
- 2000 Ken Schroeder
- 2001 Maury Petrehn
- 2002 Gary Tarter
- 2003 No Flights – Weather
- 2004 Gary Tarter
- 2005 Benji Clemons
- 2006 Bill Clemons
- 2007 Cory Bloom
- 2008 George Thomas
- 2009 Jeremy King
- 2010 Jeremy Rubin
- 2011 Johnny Petrehn
- 2012 Johnny Petrehn
- 2013 Todd Isley
- 2014 Brad Craig
- 2015 Brad Craig
- 2016 Todd Isley
- 2017 Aaron Foelske
- 2018 Scott Armstrong
- 2019 Rick Goosey
- 2020 Cory Bloom
- 2021 Bret Christian
- 2022 Jason Jones
- 2023 Patrick Cloyd
- 2024 Brad Craig
Dorothy Grafton Memorial Sponsor of the Year Award
- 2009 Lloyd Grafton Farms, Inc.
- 2010 Gerry Elson Agency - Gerry Elson Family
- 2011 Rhodes Funeral Home
- 2012 Tooey's
- 2013 DD-Norm-BillyO-Reams
- 2014 Myron Peacher Memorial (Carolee and Ronnie Hall and Cole Griggs)
- 2015 Family of J Monroe Rusk
- 2016 NCM Graphics
- 2017 Hauser Electric
- 2018 BeefByTheSide.com
- 2019 Brockmere Farms, Inc
Participating Pilots
1. Kenny Jay
Myron Peacher Memorial |
2. Jason Davis
Dorothy Grafton Memorial |
4. Jeremy King
The Dorsey family |
5. Anthony McCollum
Bank of Brookfield-Purdin |
6. Andrew James
Brookfield Area Chamber of Commerce |
9. Joe Seymour
WAC Show Cattle |
10. George Thomas
Gerry Elson Family |
11. Matt Riley
Family of J. Monroe Rusk |
12. Denis Sutter
Brookfield Lions Club |
14. Patrick Shocklee
Verimore Bank |
16. Benji Clemons
Brookfield Rotary Club |
17. Leroy Clair
Devoy Insurance powered by Inszone Insurance Services |
19. Bret Christian
Jack Boley Family |
20. Lynn McVay
Kenny & Joyce Williams Family |
21. Bill Clemons
Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company |
22. Rick Goosey
Todd & Lisa Young and family/UnWined & Shop |
23. Jim Wolters
Southern Bank |
24. Penny Doll
Milford's Service/Nu-Rest Bedding |
25. Eric Smith
McDonald's/Linn County Law Enforcement Association |
26. Jim Phelan
In Memory of Noel, Blythe and Wendy Clark |
27. Patrick Cloyd
McLiney & Company a division of SAMCO Capital |
28. Matt Fenster
Brockmere Farms Inc. |
29. Aaron Foelske
Clark Brothers - Tom Clark & Hunter Tharp |
31. Preston Gebhart
Ferrellgas |
32. Troy Ohnemus
Green Hills Ballooning, Inc |
34. Terry Montague
KMZU/Midwest Customs |
36. Jason Jones
SEV - Saving Every Victim |
37. Theron Riley
Robert Devoy Family & Pershing Park Memorial Association |
42. Jamie Hohman
Stanbury Uniforms |
47. Brad Craig
Apex Plastics |
51. Scott Armstrong
Overton's Helm Street Inn |
Schedule of Events
FRIDAY – August 30, 2024
7:30 pm - South Main Night Flame - South Main Street
approximate Sponsored by:
time McDonald's Restaurant
American Family Insurance
Tequila Jalisco Mexican Restaurant
Sonic Drive-in
SATURDAY - August 31, 2024
7:15 am* - Great Pershing Balloon Derby - John Petrehn Memorial Cup Flight
10:00 am - TWIN PARKS ACTIVITIES
till 3:00 pm Craft Vendors, Direct Sales Vendors, Garage Sales, Flea Market, Food and More
12 x 12 booth space - $20 without electricity/$30 with electricity
Multiple spaces may be purchased (electricity only charged once)
Spaces are numbered and assignments ready by 7:00 am
No driving is allowed in the Park
Assistance with unloading is available - advance notice appreciated
Noon - Balloon Derby Parade - Main Street
- Everyone Welcome
Lineup at 11:30 - Trinity United Methodist - 300 South Main Street
4:00 pm* - Gates Open Launch Site
6:00 pm* - Great Pershing Balloon Derby - Balloon Flight
7:30 pm* - Basel Downey Memorial Launch Site Nite Lite
approximate time
SUNDAY - September 1, 2024
7:15 am* - Great Pershing Balloon Derby - Balloon Flight
4:00 pm* - Gates Open Launch Site
6:00 pm* - Great Pershing Balloon Derby - Balloon Flight
7:30 pm* - Basel Downey Memorial Launch Site Nite Lite
approximate time
MONDAY - September 2, 2024
7:15 am* - Great Pershing Balloon Derby - Balloon Flight
*Indicates Event Takes Place at the Myron Peacher Memorial Launch Site
BOLD indicates Event with Balloons
All events subject to weather conditions
Balloon rides are not sold at this event
Drones are NOT permitted in the restricted airspace during our event
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Twin Parks Activities: Sandra Kimball ......660-412-3094 (phone/text) -
General Information: Chamber of Commerce .....................660-258-7255
History of the Event
2024 is the 48th year the Great Pershing Balloon Derby has held Balloon Federation of America sanctioning.
This is the Longest Running Continuously Sanctioned Balloon Event in the Nation.
Plans are currently underway for the 49th GPBD Labor Day weekend 2025. Green Hills Ballooning Inc. would like to thank all sponsors, landowners, volunteers and spectators for helping make the Great Pershing Balloon Derby successful.
History of the Great Pershing Balloon Derby (GPBD)
The Pershing Memorial Development Association along with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR) launched the GPBD competition as a way to raise funds for a Pershing Museum. This group later became the Pershing Balloon Federation (PBF) and sponsored the GPBD through its 7th year. Starting with the 8th GPBD and continuing through today, the event is sponsored by Green Hills Ballooning, Inc. The 1st GPBD was held September 30 - October 2, 1977. The event had 40 balloons and was held at the Pershing State Park. The 2nd GPBD was moved to Labor Day Weekend and started a tradition of balloons in Brookfield over Labor Day weekend which continues through today. The 3rd year the event attracted 70 balloons and saw the use of Observers for the first time. The GPBD was the first US event to use Observers whose purpose is to act as impartial judges to help make sure all of the competition rules are followed. The 4th, 5th and 6th events saw 60 - 80 balloons entered in the competition. The 7th GPBD was much smaller due to funding problems which caused it to be the last year the event was sponsored by the PBF.
Highlights
- In 2006 at the 30th GPBD, the event was recognized by the Balloon Federation of America (BFA) as the Longest Running Continuously Sanctioned Event in the Nation.
- In 2015, Green Hills Ballooning, Inc. and the GPBD hosted the BFA North Central Regional Championship for the fifth year in a row.
- In 2019, Green Hills Ballooning, Inc. was honored to be selected to host the US Women's National Championships in conjunction with the 43rd GPBD.
- In 2020, the 44th GPBD was held with some unpleasant but necessary changes made amid concerns about the spread of COVID-19. The Friday Night South Main Night Flame was cancelled along with the closing of the Myron Peacher Memorial Launch Field to spectators. With the closing of the Launch Field, there would not be any balloon glows over the weekend. Instead of flying over our Launch Field, our plan was to fly over the city of Brookfield every flight possible and we succeeded. We were one of just a few events in the Nation to be held that year.
- In 2021, Green Hills Ballooning, Inc. was honored to be selected once again to host the US Women's National Championships in conjunction with the 45th GPBD.
Great Pershing Balloon Derby (GPBD) Past Balloonmeisters
- 1st 1977 Don Caplan
- 2nd 1978 Nikki Caplan
- 3rd 1979 Frank Hoover
- 4th 1980 Greg Thompson
- 5th 1981 Greg Thompson
- 6th 1982 Paul Parker
- 7th 1983 David A. Stewart
- 8th 1984 Tom Sheppard
- 9th 1985 Tom Sheppard
- 10th 1986 Tom Sheppard
- 11th 1987 Karl Stephen
- 12th 1988 David Rapp
- 13th 1989 David Rapp
- 14th 1990 David Edmister
- 15th 1991 David Edmister
- 16th 1992 David Edmister
- 17th 1993 Gary King
- 18th1994 Gary King
- 19th 1995 Mark Enholm
- 20th 1996 Mark Enholm
- 21st 1997 Mark Enholm
- 22nd 1998 Jim Thompson
- 23rd 1999 Jim Thompson
- 24th 2000 Jim Thompson
- 25th 2001 David Edmister
- 26th 2002 Karin Riepe
- 27th 2003 Karin Riepe
- 28th 2004 Karin Riepe
- 29th 2005 Karin Riepe
- 30th 2006 Karin Riepe
- 31st 2007 Jim Christenson
- 32nd 2008 Karin Riepe
- 33rd 2009 Karin Riepe
- 34th 2010 Paul Petrehn
- 35th 2011 Paul Petrehn
- 36th 2012 Paul Petrehn
- 37th 2013 Paul Petrehn
- 38th 2014 Paul Petrehn
- 39th 2015 Jim Thompson
- 40th 2016 Jason Jones
- 41st 2017 Jason Jones
- 42nd 2018 Jason Jones
- 43rd 2019 Jason Jones
- 44th 2020 Jason Jones
- 45th 2021 Jason Jones
- 46th 2022 Jeremy Rubin
- 47th 2023 Aaron Foelske
- 48th 2024 Jason Jones