The 34th Great Prosser Balloon Rally

SePTEMBER 20th, 2023

SEPTEMBER 22nd, 23rd and 24th, 2023

Schedule of Events

12:30 p.m. Ron Mears - Ron has been performing country, rock and Christian rock all over the Yakima Valley for 40 years

on sale at the Prosser Airport

6:45 a.m. (approx. beginning times)

• Fournier Media Day Flight - Sunrise Balloon Launches

11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• Balloon Rally Memorabilia for sale at Prosser’s downtown Harvest Festival

11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• Harvest Festival takes place in downtown Prosser

Saturday, September 23rd, 2023

5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

• Biscuits & Gravy Fundraiser Breakfast at West Benton Fire Rescue station

6:00 a.m.

• Balloonists prepare to launch Hot Air Balloons from the Prosser Airport

• Balloon Rally Memorabilia on sale at the Prosser Airport

6:45 a.m. (approx. beginning times)

• Sponsor Appreciation Day Flight - Sunrise Hot Air Balloon launches

8:00 a.m. to Noon

• Farmers’ Market at Prosser City Park

8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• Harvest Festival takes place in downtown Prosser

9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

• Balloon Rally Memorabilia for sale at Prosser’s downtown Harvest Festival

11:00 a.m. - Diamond Ridge Cloggers - Harvest Festival Main Stage on Meade Street

2:00 p.m. Ron Larsen - Prosser native Ron Larsen gives his own take to pop and rock songs that everyone knows.

3:30 p.m. Tri-City Steel Drum Band Association - These student performers always entertain us well with steel drum and marimba music

6:00 p.m.

• Night Glow, gates open at the Art Fiker Stadium

• Balloon Rally Memorabilia on sale at the Fiker Stadium front gate

6:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.

• Entertainment by Bram Brata Steel Drum Band

Dusk

• Night Glow at the Art Fiker Stadium

Sunday September 24, 2023

6:00 a.m.

• Balloonists prepare to launch Hot Air Balloons from the Prosser Airport

• Balloon Rally Memorabilia on sale at the Prosser Airport

6:45 a.m. (approx. beginning times)

• Sunday Morning Flight - Sunrise Hot Air Balloon launches

8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

• Harvest Festival in downtown Prosser

• Senior Center – All you can eat Pancake breakfast

11:00 a.m. - Gary Malner - Gary and his accordion deliver a selection of Americana music.

12:30 p.m. Ron Larsen - Prosser native Ron Larsen gives his own take to pop and rock songs that everyone knows.

2:00 p.m. Skweez the WeezleProudly carrying on the Celtic music tradition since 1999.

and chalk a 2’x2’ square with chalk purchase for $10. Another Prosser local, Dakota Renz, with Renz Farmers Insurance, will also run a photo booth.

Historic Downtown Prosser’s Economic Vitality committee, along with Julie Mercer from The Bunkhouse Studios, Prosser EDA, The Princess Theatre, and many more, are currently working to apply for Prosser to be named as a Creative District through Arts WA. This would mean national recognition for Prosser and help with increasing jobs and enhancing arts and culture in the already thriving creative Prosser community.

The organization is here to create a vibrant and prosperous downtown, they are using this annual event as a fundraising opportunity for Prosser’s Creative District. All profits from this event will go toward the Creative District. They will be accepting “in-kind”

For

WELCOME TO THE 34th Great Prosser Balloon Rally!!!

The Great Prosser Balloon Rally is excited to bring back balloons to Prosser

their cameras and come out and enjoy the morning launches. The beauty of the balloons floating over the Yakima River is a sight that everyone should see along with Night Glow, sponsored by PMH Medical Center. The Milne Kid Zone will be at Night Glow this year to entertain the kids, while the balloons prepare to light up. A Night Glow show has been planned for Saturday, September 24th at Art Fiker Stadium. The stadium will open at 6:00 p.m. for some

great music from the Bram Brata Steel Drum Band. The Great Prosser Balloon Rally is a very special event and has a lot of tradition and history. Every year, the event introduces a new generation of kids to hot air ballooning and sparks so many great questions and interests. We appreciate the support and effort throughout the community to help make this a wonderful event for Prosser every year. If you see a balloon pilot, or one of our sponsors please be sure to tell them thank you for helping bring this wonderful event

to town. As we have our 34th event, remember we are an all-volunteer organization. We can only have this event with great volunteers, generous sponsors, and willing pilots to make this event come together. If you enjoy the event, consider contacting us and helping volunteer next year, so we can continue to provide this free event for all of Prosser and the lower Yakima valley!

Chairman, Morgan Everett

Pilots and their Balloons

Pilot Name: Tim Breeden

Home: Spanaway, Washington

Balloon Name: Kaliope

Sponsor: The Great Prosser Balloon Rally

Ballooning in Prosser: Tim’s first rally was in 1994 here at the Great Prosser Balloon Rally - and he has flown in Prosser many times!

Interesting Facts or Ballooning History: Tim’s first experience with balloons was a crew member in 1984 and he has crewed for Vic & Mandy Johnson many times. Started pilot training in 1994. Tim bought his first balloon in 1994, and is currently on his fourth balloon.

Pilot Name: Cheryl Isaacs

Home: Tigard, Oregon

Balloon Name: La Brisa Del Mar (Sea Breeze)

Sponsor: Everett Law Offices

Ballooning in Prosser: Since 2003

Ballooning History: She started crewing in 1996 then in 1999 she learned how to fly with friends and they bought their first balloon together in 1999 and passed her commercial in 2000 and became a private pilot. Then flew commercially with Vista Balloons in Newberg, Oregon. As a Commercial pilot she has completed several school presentations in demonstrating the standup process and explaining how ballooning works.

Interesting Facts: She flies a rally in the winter in Gallup, NM with around 150 other balloons, which is the largest rally she flies in. She travels during the season to five different states, CA, NV, WA, ID and NM to fly in rallies and also does a couple in her home state of Oregon.

2023 Balloon Rally Committee Members

Morgan Everett, Amanda Everett, Kendall Murphey, Danielle Morrow, Jacob VanPelt, Sue Derryberry, Amanda Everett, Chelane Medley

Gelato & Desserts

-

Pilot Name: McKenna Secrist

Home: Bothell, Washington

Balloon Name: Endless Joy

Sponsor: Chukar Cherries

Ballooning History: McKenna is a commercial pilot that has been flying balloons for over nine years. She earned her pilot’s certificate in 2016 on her 16th birthday, and her commercial certificate two years later. Now, she travels the country flying her balloon at events, she is a flight instructor that is training several students, and she flies full time for a ride company called Seattle Ballooning.

Interesting Facts: McKenna is also currently working on her fixed wing ratings and is working towards eventually becoming an airline pilot.

Pilot Name: Dale Justice

Home: Newberg, Oregon

Balloon Name: La Jolla (pronounced "La Hoya")

Sponsor: American Tree Trimmers LLC

Ballooning in Prosser: 2008

Balloon Description/History: Three tiers of rainbow colors. This is the second balloon Dale has flown in Prosser. Up until 2015, he flew “The Outer Limits.”

Ballooning History: Dale has been around hot air balloons for over 30 years. He started his pilot training in 1984. He completed the requirements and passed his Private tests 25 years later, in 2009. He never gave up the dream of being a pilot during that time. He passed his Commercial rating tests and received the “Aeronaut of the Year” award from the Willamette Aerostat Society in 2015.

For Dale, giving others the thrill of flying in a balloon is a great pleasure. Often, it is their first flight, and one they will always remember. Dale also takes many pictures at balloon events and the pictures are always appreciated by fellow balloonatics.

Pilot Name: Sherry White

Home: Walla Walla, Washington

Balloon Name: Take It Easy

Ballooning in Prosser: Since 2022

Sponsor: Sewing Basket & Quilted Country Inn

Started in Ballooning: Over 25 years ago her family were invited to be members of the ground crew for an amazing pilot during the Balloon Stampede. In 2020, she took flight lessons in Utah and acquired her Private Pilot certificate and is now studying for her Commercial. With three pilots in the family now, she looks forward to learning, growing and sharing the skies with her sons and the many pilots in the ballooning community. There’s a limit to what you can achieve when you set your goal. Dream It, Believe It, Live It!

Pilot Name: Tim Gale

Home: Albany, Oregon

Balloon Name: Knight-N-Gale

Sponsor: Port of Benton

Sponsor Services: Local Port District promotes new businesses and tourism

Starting Ballooning: 1979

Ballooning in Prosser: Since 2007

Interesting Facts: Tim started for fun, then ran a weekend ride business in the 1980’s. Their activities since then have been mostly for fun flying and organized events such as The Great Prosser Balloon Rally. They have also been active in balloon safety education and Shari has been the editor for the Willamette Aerostat Society newsletter for many years

They have taken three generations of the Montgolfier family, The very same family that started hot air balloons in 1783. Tim has a penchant for water dipping, known as “splash & dash” and Prosser is one of the great opportunities.

Tim is the Balloon Meister this year for The Great Prosser Balloon Rally - read more about him on the Front Page

Pilot Name: Vic Johnson

Home: Prosser, Washington

Balloon Name: Ohana Maka

Started in Ballooning: 1981

Sponsor: Milne Fruit Products

Ballooning in Prosser: Vic started flying here during the second annual Great Prosser Balloon Rally.

Interesting Facts: Vic’s balloon training began in High School most often with the large ride companies in both Washington and Alaska. Equally comfortable in large or small balloons, Vic enjoys sharing his love of flying with passengers and students he teaches to fly. Vic has flown corporate balloons and special shapes across the country working for and owning several balloon ride and promotion companies over the years. In addition to ‘every day’ flying, Vic has traveled to Germany to train for and later receive his gas balloon rating, received the prestigious Montgolfiere Diplome from the FAI for the only balloon flight directly over the top of Mount Rainier to an altitude over 20,000’, and he is a licensed balloon repairman. The bottom line is Vic loves to fly and his passion for ballooning shows in all that he has accomplished during his 39+ year ballooning career.

Pilot Name: Scott Shields

Home: Ferndale, Washington

Balloon Name: Gloriously Risen

Sponsor: Valley Wide

Bio and Facts: Scott has been ballooning since 1975. Scott met his wife Richelle at the balloon rally in Walla Walla in 1981 and she has been “chasing him” ever since (She says Scott is still full of hot air). Scott is a retired engineer for the Boeing Company developing new technologies for future airplanes.

Pilot Name: David Wiser

Home: Kent, Washington

Balloon Name: Fruit Flies

Sponsor: Fun Flyer

Ballooning in Prosser: This is the 2nd year David has been to Prosser, and we are excited to have him back!

Ballooning History: Dave is a new private pilot and, while new to piloting, he is not new to ballooning having crewed for many years. He is based in the Seattle area but loves traveling with his wife to many ballooning events. He was introduced to ballooning by Vic and Mandy Johnson. Soon after deciding to become a pilot, a beautiful balloon became available and Dave and his wife, Sandy, purchased it immediately. “Fruit Flies” is a 105,000 cubic foot balloon manufactured by Aerostar. You’ll enjoy watching the fruit soar over your head.

Pilots and their Balloons

Pilot Name: Dawne Smith-Rushkarski

Home: Monroe, Washington

Balloon Name: Fired UP

Sponsor: Benton REA

Ballooning in Prosser: Since 1999

Started Ballooning: For some, love of sport comes early in life. Such is the case for Dawne. Before the age of 10, Dawne began chasing balloons from the very first time she saw one. Begging her parents to take her ballooning for every event in Oregon State, they looked forward to Dawne getting her driver’s license so she could make those early morning treks on her own. 35 years later, Dawne can be found most flyable days either piloting one of her two balloons, someone else’s balloon, or chasing someone flying so she can photograph the action. A firm believer in the Disney motto “If you can dream it, you can do it.” Dawne knew that becoming a balloon pilot was a dream she would achieve.

Pilot Name: Kearney Davis

Home: Birkenfeld, Oregon

Balloon Name: Kearney’s Mistress

Sponsor: The Great Prosser Balloon Rally

Pilot Name: Jessica Gieb

Home: Renton, Washington

Balloon Name: Sunny Rainbow

Sponsors: Fun Flyer

Ballooning in Prosser: This is Jessica’s 1st year in Prosser.

Started

Ballooning: Kearney’s interest in ballooning began with crewing in the Great Reno Balloon Race approximately 30 years ago. He started his pilot training in 1996, completing it in January 1997. Then in 2015 he went on and became certified as a commercial pilot. He has been flying ever since!

Interesting Facts: Kearney and his family enjoy traveling to and participating in balloon rallies. They have had the opportunity to fly in WA, OR, NV, AZ, NM, CA, WY and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. His wife Deanna named the balloon “Kearney’s Mistress” as she said it is the only thing he is allowed to spend money on other than her. So, his balloon is his mistress!

Bio and Facts: Jessica fell in love with ballooning while teaching in Gallup, New Mexico. Her best friend dragged her out Saturday morning to the 2015 Red Rock Balloon Rally. Jessica is NOT a morning person, so when she was up extra early that Sunday morning, way earlier than she needed to be to go crew, Jessica knew she had found something she is really passionate about. Jessica began her journey as a student pilot that very next spring and bought her beautiful balloon Sunny Rainbow in summer 2017. Life as a teacher is challenging and extremely busy, so it wasn’t until this summer, three years after moving home to the PNW, that with the help of her husband Ryan, the amazing Mandy Johnson, and all of her wonderful PNW balloon family, Jessica finally got her private pilot certificate! Jessica loves flying, but her favorite part of ballooning is getting to spend time with her ever expanding balloon family! Jessica’s balloon Sunny Rainbow is a 1991 Aerostar RX-8 flown over a very unique CWE basket made by Raven Europe.

Pilot Name: Laura Hancock

Home: Newberg, Oregon

Balloon Name: Morning Glory

Sponsor: Brown’s Les Schwab

Sponsor Services: Local tire store.

Balloon Description/History: Yellow with lots of colors sprouting from the bottom of the envelope. This beautiful 1978 Raven Rally started off as a gift from a complete stranger. Its new Aerostar envelope was purchased by co-owner/crew Chief Bales and is flown by owner operator Laura Hancock.

Ballooning in Prosser: Laura started flying in Prosser in 2007 and has been ballooning for 25 years. She has flown in OR, WA, CA, ID, NV, NM, and Taiwan.

Home: Snohomish, Washington

Balloon Name: Spectra

Sponsor: Prosser Memorial Health

Started in Ballooning: In 1997 and became a pilot in 2021!

Ballooning in Prosser: Ballooning has always been a family affair for Devin. His family began supporting balloonists as ground crew over 25 years ago. Today he shares the title “pilot” with both his mother and brother. Devin enjoys sharing his love of ballooning with the communities he flies in and can’t wait to help paint the skies over Prosser!

Pilot Name: Koh Murai

Home: Yamhill, Oregon

Balloon Name: Firenzé

Sponsor: Benton PUD

Balloon Description/History: Bright blue, teal and yellow with a dark blue chevron pattern

Started in Ballooning: 1978 fi rst balloon ride, began crewing and student pilot. 1983 Private Certifi cate. 1988 Commercial Certifi cate.1994 Gas Balloon Rating

Interesting Facts: Has worked as a launch crew, launch master and consultant for several trans-global balloon attempts. Has received the following awards:

1997 – Excellence in Ballooning from Pacifi c Coast Aeronauts

1999 – Presidents Award from Balloon Federation of America

2009 – Directors Award, from The Great Reno Balloon Race

2012 – Sportsman’s Award, from the Great Reno Balloon Race

The people that you meet, pilots, crews, passengers and spectators are still the main reason to fl y. The joy of fl ight is always there but people make the diff erence. Along the way Koh has been able to do some home-built balloons as well as work on the technical, planning and execution side of distance, duration

Pilot

Balloon Name: Freedom Flight V

Sponsor: Mustang Chiropractic

Ballooning Organization: Freedom Flight V is part of Freedom Flight, Inc. is a non-profit, educational corporation established in 1988, that seeks to honor and increase the awareness of P.O.W. /M.I.A. issues. Their organization is made up of dedicated volunteers who give their time, talent and money to fly three POW/MIA hot air balloons at various events across America and the world.

Ballooning in Prosser: This is Luke’s fourth time joining us at The Great Prosser Balloon Rally, coming all the way from Minnesota.

Interesting facts: Luke started flying when he was 15 and after a stint in the Air Force he used the GI Bill to get his Commercial, Instrument, Multi-Engine and Flight Instructors Rating. He has been flying for 51 years.

Pilot Name: Andrew Johnson

Home: Enumclaw, Washington

Balloon Name: Champagne Sunrise

Sponsor: Fun Flyer

Started in Ballooning: At birth! Born into a ballooning family!

Ballooning in Prosser: Andrew was born and raised in ballooning as both his parents and many family friends are pilots and crew. He has been a part of the chase crew since he could walk and spent weekends throughout his childhood traveling around to ballooning events all over the PNW. Prosser has always been a favorite place to visit and fly. Andrew's family bought property in Prosser when he was in high school and many happy memories have been made in this second home, including meeting his wife, being married here, and bringing their two boys “home to Prosser” to visit family and friends and to get the best weather for flying in.

After a lifetime of being involved in ballooning, including being the crew chief for his Dad's historic flight over Mount Rainier, Andrew acquired his pilot's license in 2016. Shortly after, Andrew and his wife bought their balloon. After taking a few years to get to know it, they recently renamed it Champagne Sunrise as a nod to the best time of day to fly and the toasts with friends to celebrate after!

When Andrew isn't flying, he works as a General Foreman for a large commercial construction company in the Seattle area. He can always be found working on a new project around his house or hanging out and building Legos with his boys.

Please follow along with our ballooning adventures on Instagram! @champagnesunrise_hotairballoon

To learn more about why Edward Jones makes sense for you, call today.

Evan Tidball

Financial Advisor

1119 Meade Avenue Prosser, WA 99350 509-786-7787

Maloree Kilian

Financial Advisor

1119 Meade Avenue Prosser, WA 99350 509-786-7787

Whether retirement is down the road or just around the corner, if you’re working toward your goals now, the better off you’ll be. At Edward Jones, we take a long-term perspective. So, we recommend our clients buy high-quality investments and hold onto them. www.edwardjones.com

and altitude record fl ights. This included a fi ve-year stint in around the world balloon fl ight attempts. Applying those skills has also taken him to the world of scientifi c balloon design and fl ight for terrestrial, near-space and planetary exploration fl ights. Recently training the next generations of pilots in the family, two granddaughters.

Luke took his first balloon ride in 1990 and decided he could do this too. After flying balloons for the past 28 years he has many wonderful memories, but one really stands out in his mind as one of the best: The time he flew the Pilot and Navigator from the same B-52 that was shot down over Hanoi during the Vietnam War. They were the only ones who survived, and they were both captured and held as POW’s at the infamous Hanoi Hilton prison camp and here they were many years later in the POW balloon with him as they dedicated the flight to the ones they lost that day when they were shot down.

Another flight that stands out is when he got to see the snow fall UP. He was flying in Hudson, Wisconsin. While they were flying it began to snow huge flakes and the visibility started to come down so he picked a good place to land and began his decent and as he did, they began descending faster than the snow was falling & it looked like the snow was falling up. One of the passengers said that she felt like she was in a snow globe and said it was like floating in a dream.

Pilot Name: Devin White

Name: Luke Cesnik Home: St. Cloud, Minnesota

Home: Spokane, Washington

Balloon Name: Chairlift 1

Sponsor: Fun Flyer

Started in Ballooning: In 1984 crewing with a friend.

Ballooning in Prosser: Flown different balloons in the past!

Balloon Description/History: The balloon, Trading Card, is experimental.

Interesting Facts: Stephanie started flying balloons with her parents when she was very little. Stephanie’s mother got her balloon license in 1977, and her father got his license in 1980. Stephanie’s first balloon ride was in 1978 at the Albuquerque Balloon Festival. Stephanie parent’s retired from ballooning in 1994, and the balloon lived, not flown, in the garage for over a decade. After Stephanie had twin boys, she needed an excuse to get out of the house, so she got the family balloon out of storage and became a pilot in 2006. Stephanie’s last time in Prosser was 2007 so she is excited to be back in the beautiful area to fly. She has flown in WA, ID and OR and helped crew in Saga, Japan. The best part about ballooning for Stephanie is that it brings lots of smiles and curiosity to many faces.

Warn Off!

It is balloon season here in Prosser. When and where we land can be tricky but we don’t want to land where you don’t want us!!

DON’T LAND HERE!!! Attention farmers and homeowners: If you do not want the hot air balloons of this rally to land on your property, please contact our Rally Chairman at 509-713-2732. These areas will be designated as off limits for landing on a map given to each pilot.

DO LAND HERE? On the other hand, if you would like to invite the balloons to land on your property, please place a white sheet or bedspread in your fields. This friendly gesture is visible from the air and let’s our pilots know they’re welcome for landing.

Pilot Name: Roy Foote Home: Boise, Idaho

Balloon Name: Tahnimara Three (In Comanche, Tahnimara means Lonely wind).

Sponsor: Yakima Federal Savings and Loan

Balloon Description/History: Multi-colored zigzag rings, yellow is the predominant color, with black diamonds. Roy designed his own balloon.

Started in Ballooning: In 1987 when he bought a ride for wife Paula’s Birthday.

Ballooning in Prosser: Roy has been with us almost every year since the second Rally in 1991. He missed last year and we are glad to have him back.

Interesting Facts: His wife Paula considers Prosser the ideal place to visit, it is fun flying and the wineries are plentiful. Roy has flown all over the NW and especially likes to fly in Winthrop in March lots of great snow and great flying. Roy helped put on the Boise event for all the years it was affiliated with the River Festival.

Pilot Name: Mandy Johnson

Home: Prosser, Washington

Balloon Name: Higher Learning

Sponsor: Prosser Animal Hospital

Started in Ballooning: In 1984

Ballooning in Prosser: Mandy Johnson is a local, long time Prosser Pilot. Mandy has been piloting balloons for 30 years now and fell in love with Prosser after her first Rally. Prior to that year she attended the first few rallies as crew. Relocating to Prosser just two years ago, Mandy can be found training students and flying locally as often as possible, flying and participating in balloon events across the country, as well as repairing balloons from around the NW (sometimes farther) as the FAA certified Chief Inspector for the only certified Hot Air Balloon Repair Station in WA. When not flying herself she may be out crewing for a former student, a balloon customer, or her husband (Vic) or son (Andrew) – both of whom are also Balloon Pilots and seen often in the Prosser skies. She loves to crew with some of the many Johnson family members - her seven grandchildren who also love to come out and fly!

Pets and Balloons

Record -Bulletin Staff

Please be aware that pets will be allowed in certain areas of the airport field during rally weekend this year. Pets will not be allowed in Art Fiker Stadium for the Night Glow Show.

Dogs can sometimes become irritated at the high frequency sounds that may be emitted from the propane burners used to heat the air in the balloons. This can be painful for the dogs. Please be aware. There have also been problems in the past of dogs “marking their territory.” Unfortunately, the territory marked were balloons in the process of being inflated. There are designated areas where your family pet can be.

Pilot Name: Larry Simburger

Home: Enumclaw, Washington

Balloon Name: Starfire

Sponsor: Tom Denchel Ford of Prosser

Sponsor Services: Local car dealership and sponsor. Started in Ballooning: In 1984 crewing with a friend. Ballooning in Prosser: Since 1998

Balloon Description/History: Blue, green yellow with large white “stars”

Interesting Facts: He loves ballooning with his wife Gail and balloon crew. A splash and dash in the Yakima river is one of the most fun things to do in Prosser.

Pilot Name: Stephanie Hughes