On August 1, 2025 the winners of our annual balloon ride contest claimed their prize and took to the sky in the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives hot air balloons.
NWEC members Larry Bray, accompanied by his grandson, and Ray Strup, accompanied by his sister, launched from Hickory Acres Campground, near Edgerton. Their flight took them for several miles over the countryside before landing near fields owned by local farmer (and NWEC member), Duane Appel.
Members of the Appel family and their neighbors joined in on the fun of packing the balloon away. After returning all the riders and crew back to the campground, the pilots shared a short story about ballooning and a toast with everyone.
To view more photos of the flights, visit: https://www.facebook.com/share/1JkzdcfeoQ/
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WINNER LARRY BRAY |
WINNER RAY STRUP |
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Larry Bray (center) and grandson with Pilot Zach Burgess |
Ray Strup and sister with Pilot Scott Wooge |
Special thanks to Chris & Cheri Kimpel for allowing us to launch from their campground, all the volunteers who helped by being a part of the balloon crews and to the homeowners who let us land the balloons on their property!