AMA Foundation staff members continuously strive to expose others to model aviation with hopes of growing the hobby and AMA. One of the ways that the AMA Foundation team does this is by participating in local events.
On July 11, 2026, AMA Foundation staff attended multiple events. While AMA Foundation Executive Director Steve Haston was in Indianapolis showing youth how to use flight simulators, AMA Foundation Deputy Director Rachelle Haughn—joined by her daughter, Emily, and AMA Member Services Representative Darlenia Prow—had a booth at the local Muncie Three Trails Concert Series. The first in this free series, the 7 p.m. concert took place at Canan Commons in downtown Muncie, Indiana. The featured act was Grammy Award-Winning Bluegrass artist Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper.
While waiting for the opening act to play its first note, concertgoers milled around the grassy plaza named after a former Muncie mayor. They sipped on lemonade, set up their blankets and picnic baskets, greeted friends, and determined the perfect spots for their lawn chairs.
While the bands were performing last-minute sound checks, roughly 25 kids were looking for ways to pass the time. The AMA Foundation had the answer!
Rachelle, Darlenia, and Emily handed balsa gliders to all youngsters in attendance. Spontaneous building sessions on the grass began, and soon thereafter, glider gaggles took off! Children who didn't know each other began gathering to fly together. They soon bonded and became friends in the hobby.
That scenario is similar to what happens at clubs across our country. People from all walks of life meet at a flying field as strangers but leave as friends. That is the beauty of our hobby.
The AMA Foundation is grateful to event organizers for the opportunity it was given to attend, share the joy of flight, and hand out International Aeromodeling Center (IAC) activity schedules and educational materials. Rachelle had the additional honor of meeting and personally inviting several community members to the IAC to further immerse themselves in all that our hobby has to offer.
