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

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Scott Kelley JR Maehr Sally Mazzocchi Rich Wiedenhaefer Rodger Kell Tony DiCocco
It is truly the oldest and most unique way of
experiencing mans freedom from the boundaries
of earth. I still enjoy the thrill and exhilaration
my first time passengers experience
when they marvel at sights and sounds of ballooning-
and to fly here in the beautiful farm
lands of New Jersey and Pennsylvania is paralleled
by very few other places that I have
flown. It is always a pleasure to be in the area
and fly passengers for their first time or 2nd,
3rd or 4th flight.
23. Rich (RJ) Letrent, originally from
Western Pennsylvania, currently hails from
Hamilton, New Jersey. He holds a commercial
LTA certificate and flies regularly in the
Garden State. Logbook entries also include
a number of festivals across the northeastern
USA and even a flight in the Slovak
Republic. “I got hooked on ballooning back
in 2005 when my neighbor, Jeff Lovelace,
talked me into coming out to crew. I had no
idea what to expect, but it turned into an
addiction. Along the way, I’ve encountered
some of the most wonderful people you will
ever meet and flown many a balloon.”
The HI Balloon has an interesting story. It
began life as the Yashica Camera Balloon.
When the corporate contract expired, the
previous owner removed all of the letters
except for the “HI”. That bit of whimsy
proved to be very popular. Eventually, the
aging envelope was retired and a new one
commissioned. “HI” was included in the new
design and continues to generate smiles.
RJ and Jeff bought the HI Balloon from
Don Henk in the fall of 2007 and are thrilled
to, once again, bring HI back to Warren
County. “There is no question that this is
our favorite event. Fred and Giulia put on a
great show. We have flown many places, but
nothing compares to the unique mix of the
fair and magnificent scenery. The real
attraction is the people though. The hospitality
and camaraderie is unequalled anywhere.
We have a heck of a commute, but it
is worth the drive every time!”
RJ serves on the Board of Directors for the
Great Eastern Balloon Association (GEBA).
He is also a member of the Balloon
Federation of America (BFA) and the Aircraft
Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).
When he is not ballooning, RJ heads up the
electronic prepress department at a commercial
printer in Trenton, New Jersey.
24. Rick Bryant and his crew- wife, CJ and
crew chief, Jimmy have been flying their balloon,
“Out of the Blue” for the past 8 years.
Rick has flown Navy jets and commercial
airliners, but his favorite flying is the hot air
balloon. When asked why, he says " no air
traffic control telling you what to do!" Rick
has flown in balloon events in several states
in the USA and International events in
England and Switzerland. He prefers the
Warren County Farmers’ Fair and Balloon
festival right here in his own backyard. "You
can't beat the camaraderie among the pilots
and crews, and the scenery is beautiful", he
says. Throw in the interesting competitions
and you have a first rate balloon festival.
25. Richard Scott Kelley writes: Experiences
with Lighter-than-Air – The Warren County
Farmers’ Fair and Hot Air Balloon Festival is
a special event for us. The Festival provides a
lot to have us here with food, passengers, sponsors
and fun. We look forward to this event
every year. Thanks to a hard working crew:
Stephanie (my wife), June, Natalie, Alan,
Carol, Michael and Sally, Ron and Elaine and
Ford (who does it all including being the photographer!)
we have enjoyed great flights
including the Bicycle Race. We have great countryside
to fly over and wonderful landowners
who welcome us to land on their properties. We
also have time to enjoy the rest of the Farmers’
Fair. Thanks for having us!
26. JR Maehr is the owner and operator of
JD Adventures, from Piscataway NJ. His
first ride was in Sonoma County California -
wine country – in 1992. Joined a chase
crew and eventually the crew chief for the
Coors Balloon Team. Became a private pilot
in 1997 and commercial pilot in 2003. In his
fourth year at the fair flying the Balloon,
Kaleidoscope. JR currently is a pilot for two
local ride companies, with engagement
flights a specialty.
27. Sally Mazzocchi has been involved in
ballooning since she was 10 years old. To
her, ballooning is a family activity. Her dad
Nick is also a pilot and her mom Sherrie is
part of the crew along with many extended
family members, affectionately known as
The Flying Mazzocchis. Sally has flown in
events throughout the US and also in
Canada and China, but most often can be
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found flying in the skies above Hunterdon
County, NJ. Her favorite part of ballooning is
meeting new people and traveling to new
places. Sally is a proud member of the Great
Eastern Balloon Association and currently
serves as President.
28. Rich Wiedenhaefer has been hot air
ballooning in the local area for 16 years.
Originally from Pattenburg, N.J., Rich now
resides with his wife Cat in Williams
Township, PA. They have two balloons, the
always popular “Giant Strawberry” and the
smaller “Bullseye.” Their ace chase crew is
Billy and Cynthia Salis of Clinton NJ. When
not flying the balloon Rick is a Check
Captain with United Airlines out of Newark
NJ or hacking at the golf balls in Hellertown
PA at Silver Creek Golf Course. Their all
time favorite Warren County Fair story is
landing the giant strawberry north of the
Fair on Rt. 519 where two six year old
twins were having a Strawberry Shortcake
birthday party – what a coincidence.
29. Rodger Kell has been ballooning for over
40 years and operates a commercial ride
business in Harmony Township with his wife,
Sue. He has flown all over the United States,
in France with the late Malcolm Forbes and
in Africa with friends. The adventures and
friends made, old and new, have made ballooning
an integral part of his life. He is looking
forward to the fair which is one of his
favorite venues.
30. Tony DiCocco wrote: In the ensuing 30
years – wow, I must be old! – I have flown
countless flights; trained several other pilots;
met my wife who was a student pilot in 1989
when we met, and developed deep friendships
with other pilots and crew. And although a lot
of my flying is commercial passenger flights I
most enjoy the ‘just for kicks’ flights on those
beautiful days that you just can’t not fly.
31. Neal Blackwell started his ballooning
career 30 years ago by simply going for a balloon
ride with former coworker, Dave Spais.
Dave, at that time, was working for a company
named Sky Works which flew from Hopewell
Twp., NJ. Dave had his private license and
needed people to fly with him to log time for
his commercial license. After some major convincing,
Dave talked Neal’s brother, another