The Balloon Fiesta became a true, all-day 1989event in 1989 with the inauguration of the Special Shape Rodeo. This event at fi rst was a late afternoon fl ying event, and it was – fi rst was a late afternoon fl ying event, and it was – businesses as expected, given the popularity of the special shape businesses as expected, given the popularity of the special shape in Brazil, Belgium, the balloons appearing in the mass ascensions – a huge in Brazil, Belgium, the balloons appearing in the mass ascensions – a huge Czech Republic, Britain, and the U.S. success. Families loved it. You can learn a lot more Czech Republic, Britain, and the U.S. success. Families loved it. You can learn a lot more about the beginnings of the Special Shape Rodeo in The end of the 1980s also brought a management Mark Sullivan’s article beginning on page 140. change to Balloon Fiesta. Marge Ruppenthal, longtime Just about anything anyone can dream of – Balloon Fiesta pilot from a ballooning family (husband monsters, critters, soda cans, houses, autos – can be Bob was an early balloonmeister and a former Board made into a special shape balloon. These days they’re President) became the organization’s new Executive Director, and would usher in major changes designed on computers, but they still have to be sewn Director, and would usher in major changes together the old-fashioned way, by hand. They take over the next several years. hundreds of hours of labor to make in specialized OFFICIAL PROGRAM 125