The Heartland LTV’ers met at the Amana RV Park for their 2026 Fall Rally in Amana, Iowa. It started with a check-in and a meet and greet session at the rally office and annex building of the RV park on Monday afternoon.
That evening, the meal featured pulled pork and baked beans sponsored by LTV. Ken Johnson smoked and prepared the savory pulled pork. Participating members provided delicious salads, side dishes, and desserts for this meal as well as the meals of the next two evenings. A club meeting was held on Monday evening to discuss this rally and club plans.
Tuesday morning, everyone gathered at the rally office and annex building for an LTV sponsored breakfast featuring biscuits and gravy.
Following breakfast, Elise Heitmann, Programs Director for the Amana Heritage Society, was the guest speaker. She explained the history of the Amana Colonies and what there is to be seen in the seven remaining villages today. Questions were fielded, and members were briefed on what to expect during the tour. Members opted for three group tours. That afternoon, Elise Heitman guided a caravan tour that started at the Amana Heritage Museum and continued to Middle Amana to see a communal kitchen and residence.
Then, the caravan went to a church in the village of Homestead and ended at the general store in High Amana. Other members opted to take a guided van tour of those same sites later that afternoon. A third group took the van tour the next afternoon.
On Tuesday evening, another LTV-sponsored meal featured a pasta bar at the rally office and annex building. Following the meal, the microphones were passed around, and participants introduced themselves and shared their favorite recent travel destinations. Ken Johnson treated the group with several musical numbers on his accordion. His beer-barrel polka rendition was especially fitting for the area’s German heritage.
The weather outside was rainy and washed out the hopes for campfires, but the spirits were up, and everyone enjoyed the indoor facilities with three rooms for different activities. The largest room, the annex, consisted of more space than needed for the full group meals and sessions, and some people appreciated that Jim and Jackie Fukey brought their pickleball net and taped off a court.
While some played pickleball, others played card games in another room, and yet others found entertainment in a third room.
The Wednesday breakfast was provided by SkyMed, with the vice-president, Stan Schwenke, presenting the SkyMed offerings. Stan was present for the entire rally to talk to individuals, and he also provided evening entertainment by showing old clips of him and his family on The Ed Sullivan Show tumbling in their “Vernon and Bumpy” act.
On Wednesday morning, three groups met in different rooms according to their LTV Model and floorplan, and facilitators asked for discussion on a list of prepared questions. Dale and Sue Gerstenecker facilitated in one room, Dave and Liz Dokkestul in another, and Barry and Ann Mehrman in yet another.
The focus groups shared issues and possible solutions for their related coaches.
Wednesday afternoon, there were clouds but no rain, and individuals were glad to see more sites in the Amana Colonies, with lunch at restaurants, shopping, and exploring. Some were able to ride their bikes, using the “Koloniewg Trail” for a 5-mile loop to Middle Amana, then through Amana, and back to the RV park.
Wednesday’s evening meal featured a choice of three Bratwurst flavors from the Amana Meat Shop and Smokehouse, sponsored by LTV.
The evening session asked members to share a gadget they would not do without in their LTV.
Drawings for attendance prizes were made, offering many choices, including many items from Lee Cohen that he designed and produced on his 3D printer. Entertainment and games again followed.
Thursday’s breakfast featured delicious pastries fresh from the Amana Bakery, provided by LTV. The rally concluded with many members chipping in to put away the tables and chairs, clean the facilities, and tidy up. Many people wished their goodbyes and expressed their gratitude.
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