Download the Program Book (pdf) - Warren County Farmers Fair

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Jim Buzby Vince Galet Joyce Lang Keith Erwin Tim S. and Tom M. Joe Doerer
8. Vince Galet writes. I am a 10th generation
balloonist, I was conceived in a balloon, born
in a balloon, and I learned to fly a balloon
before I learned to walk or talk. I have been flying
for 50 years, everyone in my family is a
pilot. My house is a balloon hangar and I only
use propane for energy.
Ok, just kidding - here is the real one:
The Sky Riders Balloon Team flies a 90,000
cuft HEAD balloon. The team was founded by
Vince Galet – our commercial pilot – in 2005.
It includes several dedicated crew members, a
pilot in training, and a number of fans. We do
this because we love it. To us, every balloon
flight is kind of magical and we are very passionate
about flying. In low season we fly
together just for the fun of it. It would be a
shame not to fly on a good day! We also fly passengers
from spring to fall to share the awesome
feeling and create unforgettable moments:
we are proud to be a 2012 Viva America pick as
outstanding attraction. Our goal is to have a
great time and be safe - and we do just that.
You can usually spot us in beautiful
Pennsylvania (Montgomery County), and occasionally
at balloon festivals in the North East.
Gentle breezes and soft landings to all!
9. Joyce Lang is returning to the 2013
Warren County Farmers’ Fair, along with her
daughter, Kali, who is a student pilot. Joyce
has been flying balloons for 28 years and Kali
took her first balloon ride at age six. Having
attended balloon events in 9 states, Canada,
France and in the Alps in Austria, the Warren
County Farmers’ Fair is one of their favorites.
They really appreciate the generous hospitality
of landowners in Warren County and
respect the importance of farms and the dedication
of those who work them. Joyce and
Kali live in Bethlehem, PA where Joyce works
in the Early Childhood Education Department
at Northampton Community College.
10. Keith Erwin is a local Commercial Pilot
who flies for several local balloon companies
in Warren & Hunterdon County. To date he
has logged over 1,000 hours of commercial
flights and loving every flight like its his first.
You can see Keith in the skies all year round.
The Warren County Fair is one of Keith’s
favorite place to fly out of. Life is good.
11. Tim Schonman and Tom Martin –
Comments from Chase Crew: My name is
Jeannie and I have been chasing balloons for
Tim and Tom for my whole life. It started
when I was still in a car seat, now I drive the
chase vehicle. Together with my Mother,
Armine, and Brother, Bill, we have worn out
three Suburbans chasing balloons. We have
chased my father and Tom all over Hunterdon,
Warren, and Bucks Counties since 1995. We
have been flying at Warren County Farmers’
Fair since the beginning and we love coming
here, it’s a great time seeing all of our friends
and competing in all of the contests even
though Fred always beats us. My father’s
favorite contest is the bike race, because we
love strategizing and planning how we are
going to beat Fred. We would like to thank
Giulia for all of her hard work, but mostly for
always inviting us back.
Comment by Fred: No comment
Comment by Giulia: Because you always
write the best bios.
12. Joe Doerer and his wife Janet took their
first balloon ride in August of 1984 at a festival
in Bloomsbury, NJ. The following year they
both began a training program to become
pilots while crewing for other balloonists.
After three lessons Janet decided that flying
as a passenger and celebrating after the flight
was a lot more fun than learning about FAA
regulations and how to track weather. They
purchased their Dream Chaser balloon in
1985 and Joe continued on to receive his private
pilot license. Joe’s brother Jim joined the
Dream Chaser team early on as their crew
chief and has progressed over the years to a
Balloon Federation of America Level Four
Master Crew Chief. Joe earned his commercial
pilot license in 1989, allowing him to fly paying
passengers and train future pilots. He has
been an active member of the Great Eastern
Balloon Association (www.gebaballoon.org)
since the mid 1980’s and is a past President of
the association.
The Dream Chaser crew flies mostly in the
NJ, PA, and NY area. They also have flown at
the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
in 1991 and the Festival De Montgolfieres in
Saint Jean Sur Richelieu, Quebec since 1993.
Our goal in ballooning is to enjoy safe, fun
flights while carrying on the tradition of friendship
and freedom that have long been the sym-
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bols of ballooning. We look forward each year
to participating in the bicycle/balloon race at
the Warren County Farmer’s Fair for the challenge
it offers and for the opportunity to assist
a local charity. In 2011 the Dream Chaser team
shared first place honors in the bicycle/balloon
race with the fastest returning bicycle to have
made it to Pennsylvania and back.
13. Scott Saxton has been around hot air balloons
since the age of two. Once old enough,
he began crewing, and then eventually started
pilot training in 1994. Scott received his
Private FAA License in 1998, and then his
Commercial FAA License in 2001. He and his
brother Tony founded Endless Mountains Hot
Air Balloons, Inc in March of 2003. In 2005,
the company expanded to fly passengers in
both Northeastern and Southeastern PA.
Endless Mountains Hot Air Balloons, Inc is
also the proud new owners of Pea-Nut the
Flying Elephant special shape balloon. Scott
has crewed for and flown balloons throughout
the United States, including flying the Corn
Palace Balloon Club special shapes and the
Liberty Bell Special shape.
14. Bart Geentiens started in aviation in 1977
flying sail-planes. He has been flying fixed
wing aircraft since 1993, from single engine to
twin engine aircraft. Bart started flying hot air
balloons in 1997, obtaining a Private Pilot
License in 2003 and a Commercial License in
2004. To date he has accumulated over 350
hours in his Ballooning career. His wife, Toni,
and he attend several balloon festivals
throughout the year.
15. Mark and Sandi Avery of Frelinghuysen
got started in ballooning in the early 1980's
when Sandi was asked to write a computer
program to help organize one of the first NJ
balloon festivals. After quickly becoming
hooked on ballooning they soon found themselves
crewing for some local balloonists and
chasing them around NJ for several years
before raising a family. They bought their
own balloon in 2010 with the help of friend
Rich Wiedenhaefer, pilot of the Strawberry
balloon, who also trained Mark to fly. Sandi
is the crew chief and together with their sons
and friends as crew they enjoy flying their
balloon around the scenic areas of Warren
and Hunterdon counties. They have appreci-