All for a worthy cause-Fly for Fodder FAKR 2017
By Willie Bodenstein Photos by Cheryl Smit
One day Johan Swanepoel (operator of 26 South the restaurant at FAKR) was driving to Jack Taylor Airfield when he heard a radio insert about an initiative to raise funds for farmers in the drought stricken Easter Cape. Johan's immediate thought was that they, as a flying club, should assist in the plight of the farmers.
He approached the club's committee for permission to arrange a fly-in with the sole purpose of raising funds to assist the farmers with the purchase of fodder for their animals. The club, without hesitation, agreed and "Fly for Fodder" was born.
Johan, Dale de Klerk and all involved in the flying club got together and with help from the Ben Morgenrood Auto Group started organizing the fly in.
Funds from the breakfast sales, aircraft flips, raffles and various other prizes were by donated to this worthy cause. Fly in visitors were asked to make a voluntary donation of R50 in lieu landing fees. Stall holders were required to donate a percentage of their profit to the fund. All prizes donated were auctioned and the money collected during the day will go to Farmers in Need, the Non-Profit Organisation responsible for the distribution of the funds.
However, because of the inclement weather on the day the turnout of fly-in visitors was not as expected. That did not put a damper on the day and a large number arrived by road. Despite the weather conditions Richard Nicholson, a farmer, businessman and organiser of Nylstroom Taildraggers still managed to get a clear flight into FAKR to become the furthest flying visitor to the event.
The visitors were entertained throughout the day with live entertainment. Others bought tickets for flips donated by the club members or in the Allo III of Helivate, a helicopter flying school at the field.
At the end of the day the organisers achieved what they set out to do and we hope that the Fly for Fodder will become an annual event on the aviation calendar.
He approached the club's committee for permission to arrange a fly-in with the sole purpose of raising funds to assist the farmers with the purchase of fodder for their animals. The club, without hesitation, agreed and "Fly for Fodder" was born.
Johan, Dale de Klerk and all involved in the flying club got together and with help from the Ben Morgenrood Auto Group started organizing the fly in.
Funds from the breakfast sales, aircraft flips, raffles and various other prizes were by donated to this worthy cause. Fly in visitors were asked to make a voluntary donation of R50 in lieu landing fees. Stall holders were required to donate a percentage of their profit to the fund. All prizes donated were auctioned and the money collected during the day will go to Farmers in Need, the Non-Profit Organisation responsible for the distribution of the funds.
However, because of the inclement weather on the day the turnout of fly-in visitors was not as expected. That did not put a damper on the day and a large number arrived by road. Despite the weather conditions Richard Nicholson, a farmer, businessman and organiser of Nylstroom Taildraggers still managed to get a clear flight into FAKR to become the furthest flying visitor to the event.
The visitors were entertained throughout the day with live entertainment. Others bought tickets for flips donated by the club members or in the Allo III of Helivate, a helicopter flying school at the field.
At the end of the day the organisers achieved what they set out to do and we hope that the Fly for Fodder will become an annual event on the aviation calendar.
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