News : IPA members learn rocket building, prepare for Boomtown and contests at Bar-Y

Rocket building and firing was a part of IPA's meeting at the Yedlik farm this weekend.

When 6-year-old Brooklyn Meling participates in Show-And-Tell this week at her elementary school in Ankeny, her classmates will hear an incredible claim about the weekend she spent in Vinton: “I made a rocket, and fired it into the sky.”

Brooklyn has the photos to prove that she did exactly that over the weekend, as she and her parents, Beau and Stephanie, spent their first weekend at Chuck Yedlik’s Bar-Y Ranch with scores of other IPA members.

“It was great,” says Brooklyn’s mom. “We enjoyed watching the shows both nights. Everyone was very friendly and welcomed us. And Brooklyn has not stopped talking about making a rocket. She's so excited to go to school tomorrow and tell all her friends.”

Brooklyn’s grandparents, Yates and Teresa Brotherton, have been long-time IPA members; her parents joined on Saturday.

As they normally do, the IPA members spend the Memorial Day weekend at the Bar-Y, discussing their plans for Boomtown, showing off the shells they made as they prepare for the Pyrotechnics Guild International Convention and contests (held in August this year, in Indiana). And they attend classes.

Brooklyn, along with her parents and a grandpa, attended the rocket-building class. She helped load the powder and chemicals into the tube with a ball-shaped end, which is attached to a long, thin pole.

At dusk, an IPA member set off the rocket Brooklyn helped make. She watched with glee, then ran to her parents to celebrate the achievement.

“We’ll for sure be attending Boomtown,” says Stephanie.

Grand Master and Life Master awards

The IPA members have enjoyed much success in recent years at the PGI Convention. Scott Anderson of rural Brandon is a two-time Grand Master. James Breitbach of Gilbertville won that honor three times and is now considered a Life Master. And in 2014, the IPA, led my Anderson and other local fireworks builders, won the team trophy. The shells displayed this weekend show that the IPA members are serious about continuing that success.

Boomtown is set for Friday and Saturday, Aug. 26-27; this is the 10th annual Boomtown, so there will be some special celebrations.

See more photos of Sunday evening fireworks (and bubbles) at the Bar-Y HERE.