News : Fireworks enthusiasts find something new every Memorial Day at Yedlik farm

Jim and Rayna Breitbach build shells.

Fireworks lovers of all ages learned more about building shells at IPA meeting.

Several IPA members build rockets.

Children had the chance to choose and light some displays.

One of the fountains the IPA members enjoyed seeing Saturday.

Jim Breitbach helps his son, Jacob, 8, build a shell during the class at the Bar-Y farm.

The creators of the shells put their names on them so the announcer could identify each one's work.

The fountains contain a variety of colors.

Jacob Lewis helps set up displays of fireworks; he also built his own shell during the class.

Watching the fireworks...

Another view of the fountain.

IPA members and even many children made displays like this Saturday.

Marilyn Yedlik lets go of a skylight, and it slowly rises and sails away.

A girl photographs a skylight.

Chuck Yedlik lighted many skylights for IPA members.

A trail of fire from a firework rocket...

Many skylights sailed above the Yedlik farm Saturday night.

Mitchell Anderson measures fireworks chemicals during the shell building class.

This is the shell that Mitchell Anderson, age 14, built at the IPA workshop.

A skylight sails above the Bar-Y farm.

Steve Goodanew (a native of England) and his wife Lisa, of Hiawatha, learn how to build fireworks.

Mitchell Anderson, 14, knows he must do well in his classes and finish his homework regularly, or else he will not be allowed to go to Vinton and build fireworks.

That's the law in the Anderson house in Waterloo, where Chris Anderson, an Iowa Pyrotechnic Association member, makes sure that Mitchell puts school first. And the teen does; Mitchell, a member of the Expanded Learning Program (ELP) at his middle school, continues to do well and school, and continues building fireworks with members of the Iowa Pyrotechnic Association (IPA).

Mitchell was one of many people, including several youngsters, to participate in a fireworks shell building class at the Bar-Y farm Saturday afternoon.

"We really enjoy this," said Chris Anderson, who has accompanied Mitchell to his ELP class for a demonstration of fireworks building. (But because the explosives used in fireworks are not permitted in schools, Mitchell had to use candy, cereal and licorice sticks to show his classmates how he builds shells.)

The elder Anderson said some people are surprised to hear that a middle school student is actively handling all of the chemicals used in fireworks. But he said his son is mature and respects the rules of safety.

In addition to being lots of fun, the building of fireworks is also a very good educational tool, according to Anderson. He was watched as his son carefully mixed a variety of fireworks powders into small marble-size balls that will emit a variety of colors when sent into the sky.

Mitchell was by no means the youngest child measuring the chemicals and placing them in softball-sized plastic balls on Saturday. Jacob Breitbach, the 8-year-old son of IPA vice president and safety officer Jim Breitbach, was among the students in his father's session. His sister, Rayna, age 12 also built her own shell. Jacob Lewis of the Winthrop area was there. In addition to building a shell, Lewis also helped prepare displays of other fireworks, something he often does with his grandfather.

Chuck Yedlik, IPA President and owner of Bar-Y Pyros, welcomes the IPA members to his farm each year for the Memorial Day weekend. They hold classes on fireworks and fireworks safety, share what they have learned about their hobby and set off their latest mines, rockets and reports. Several of them bring tents or campers and spend the entire weekend there, sharing their love of fireworks with others from throughout Iowa and beyond.

Yedlik, who has been shooting fireworks for years, also got involved in the fireworks building aspect of the IPA this weekend. During the demonstration Saturday evening, the IPA members applauded as they watched and heard the first of Yedlik's self-made shells burst high above them.

Each year, there is something new to do, and learn. And each year, there are new faces added to the the IPA family and new sights and sounds to see and hear above the Bar-Y. One of the favorites Saturday night was the large shell made by Scott Anderson of rural Brandon. This large firework contained does of strobe-style lights that flashed long after the first burst had ended.

The members also make preparations for the annual Boomtown event, which takes place August 26-27 this year, instead of the usual September.

"It gets bigger every year, said IPA member Jerry Dixon, who has been making shells for every boomtown event.