Farragut Flyers: Take Pride in America
By Bill Baker
When one of our chartered clubs receives national and state recognition for improving its flying site on state parklands, AMA shares in the prestige.
The Farragut Flyers, an AMA-chartered club in northern Idaho, recently received recognition in the Take Pride in America national awards program for improving its flying site and other recreation areas in Farragut State Park. As national semifinalists in the awards program, the club was presented a Certificate of Merit by the Take Pride in America Committee, chaired by First Lady Barbara Bush and Secretary of the Interior Manuel Lujan. Club members were also presented with a Take Pride in Idaho Achievement Award from Governor Cecil Andrus during a luncheon in Boise.
About Take Pride in America
Take Pride in America is a national public-awareness campaign designed to encourage the wise use of the lands and resources shared by all Americans. Begun by President Reagan in 1986, the campaign is one of President Bush’s favorite domestic programs.
Club improvements and contributions
The Farragut Flyers received recognition in the national and state programs because of their efforts to integrate the natural beauty of Farragut State Park into the flying area. The club made several improvements at its own expense, including:
- Constructing two crossing grass runways.
- Tapping a water line to irrigate the area and keep it green during dry summers.
- Sodding the pit area and refurbishing discarded telephone poles to line the parking lot, helping the flying site fit with the general park design.
- Providing ongoing maintenance of the flying field.
The flying field and public use
Called “the most beautiful model airport in the world” by its host club, the field is open to the general public. With the support of park management, the Farragut Flyers emphasizes and enforces the official AMA Safety Code. The field has hosted many regional contests, and U.S. Speaker of the House Tom Foley (D–Washington) visited and flew a model via a buddy box at the site.
AMA comment
AMA Director of Marketing Geoff Styles commented: “For the Farragut Flyers to receive national and state recognition from the Take Pride in America Committee is an outstanding achievement and provides valuable political exposure for the club and AMA. We’ve been promoting this important program for over a year and hope that this will encourage other clubs to become involved. This is a wonderful example for other clubs to follow of how to develop positive relationships with public agencies that benefit everyone involved.”
How to get involved
To obtain a packet of information about the Take Pride in America program and how your club can become involved, contact AMA Marketing Department:
- Address: 1810 Samuel Morse Drive, Reston, VA 22090
- Telephone: 703-435-0750
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
