Like most successful nonprofit powerboating events, the Kuttawa Cannonball Run was born out of a loosely formed idea combined with a whole lot of passion. No better example exists than the Kuttawa Cannonball Run—dubbed “The Biggest Ball of Them All” by its beloved auctioneer Nolan Ferris—which come May 29-30, 2026, will celebrate its 10th anniversary.
For Cannonball event founders and friends Jeff Hoefling, Terry Martin and Stephen Miles, the loose idea arrived a little more than 10 years ago during a shared restaurant meal fueled by multiple adult beverages.
“When we originally came up with the idea, it was over dinner and one too many drinks,” Martin “What began as a good reason to have a boating party with friend has turned into a charitable event that has benefited many people and several communities.”
In it humble beginning, the event didn’t raise a lot of money for its Lyon County (Ky.) beneficiaries, yet the organizers donated whatever proceeds that came their way. But in 2020, the group recruited Ferris, who had participated in the 2019 event with friends and dug it.
Since then, the Kuttawa Cannonball Run has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the charities it supports.
Not only does Ferris travel with his wife, Kim, from their home in Upstate New York, to lead the auction on his own dime, he takes no money from it as auctioneers often do with a set fee or a percentage-of-proceeds payout. He works for free out of love for the people involved and the causes they serve.
“There are two reasons for the Cannonball’s success,” explained Ferris, who travels each year from his home in Upstate New York with his wife, Kim, to coax wild money—such as $31,000 for Stephen Miles-painted shot-ski a few years back—out of the event’s generous participants. “First, there are real people who put it on for the right reasons. Second, there are real participants who come to support the event for the right reasons.”
The passion of the Kuttawa Cannonball Run remains. But its longevity is the product of a lot of year-round commitment and work.
“It’s been a steep learning curve—continuing to evolve the event, overcoming adversity from the weather and just all that goes in to planning and executing a high level event,” Martin admitted. “It’s certainly a blessing that our friends from all over the country continue to support Kentucky events and most importantly our charities.”
“We hope to see everyone back in Old Kuttawa to celebrate our 10th anniversary next year,” he added, then chuckled. “It’s going to be a ball.”