As we quickly approach the 7th Bull City Boxer Bash, we spoke with one of the founders, Mel Mosier, to learn about how this wonderful event came to be. The Bash originally started with Mel’s idea to hold a big raffle, then Aylan suggested food trucks, and somehow it turned into an onsite event called the Bull City Boxer Bash. They wanted local vendors, a raffle, food trucks, a little beer… and a lot of NUBS!
More than anything, they wanted this unique event to be a win-win for everyone! Their generous host Durty Bull, the food trucks, the vendors, and the sponsors. The first year, Aylan set the goal at $5k, which Mel thought would be impossible to meet. After a last minute location change due to rain at Durty Bull Brewery, they were cramming vendors into the Brewery with only 6’ tables for their items. One top of having an incredibly small raffle, and trying to stay dry! They ended up raising that $5k, and were inspired by their success.
Which led them on a journey of making the bash BIGGER and BETTER each and every year. Each Bash saw larger numbers, and now there are repeat vendors who look forward to this fabulous event each year. Durty Bull has hosted each and every Bash!
There was even a virtual Bash in 2020, due to Covid. Not even a global pandemic could keep the Boxer Bash down!
When 2021 rolled around, the Bash smashed all expectations. With more sponsors than ever before, incredible vendors, and eye-popping raffle baskets. That was the 5th Bash and Mel was more than happy to retire on their laurels but the “Powers that Be” (Aylan, Thomas, Cricket, Beth, Janine) refused that request.
Thank goodness they did! Onto 2022 they went, into the 6th Bash. With a better idea of what to do, and what to avoid, they got to work. Musical Sit for dogs made its debut this year, along with the contests we’ve come to love…Best Wiggle Butt, Best Kisser and the Pup-Kake eating contest. They set a high goal last year and came within a few hundred dollars of reaching it! Which made them all the more determined for 2023.
Which brings us to today! Getting ready for the 7th Annual Bull City Boxer Bash, with an even higher goal and even more determination to reach that goal. Durty Bull welcomes CBR back again! Many of the vendors are returning for the seventh year running! Along with exciting new vendors, and some amazing sponsors. The Latin Effect is the official food truck, and always impress! The fun (and funny!) dog contests will return as well.
Mel is so incredibly proud of the Bash! They have done what we said they would do from the beginning – made it a win-win for everyone! They continue to refine and improve the Bash each year. But the Bash absolutely would not happen, and be what it is, if not for the CBR Village. It takes a village to make it successful year after year, and the CBR Village? As Mel says “well, it’s one hell of a Village!”
So, what is the Bash? On paper, the Bash is a fundraising event where all people and well-behaved dogs are welcome. In practice, it is so much more than that. It’s visiting with people who live hours away, it’s meeting people in person that you’ve only ever had contact with on Social Media, it’s recognizing dogs and knowing their names but not their humans’ names. It’s absolute chaos but in the best way possible. It’s laughter. It’s 8 months of work coming to fruition in one day. It’s great food, and cold beer. It’s supporting local. It’s sunburns, exhaustion, and sore muscles. Most importantly, it’s love for the breed and knowing you’re helping make life better for a boxer. Because, as we all know- boxers are simply the best!