SENATOR AND BERNALILLO COUNTY COMMISSIONER. MORE THAN 500 PILOTS SIGNED UP TO TAKE FLIGHT AT BALLOON FIESTA THIS YEAR, WITH ONE OF THE YOUNGEST IN TRAINING AT JUST 13 YEARS OLD AND THE PERSON SHOWING HER THE ROPES IS HER DAD. COREY HOWARD JOINS US LIVE WITH THIS HEARTWARMING STORY. NOW, BALLOON FIESTA IS KNOWN TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE A KID AGAIN. COUNTLESS MEMORIES CAPTURED WITHIN A SHORT TIME SPAN, AND ONE FATHER AND DAUGHTER TOLD ME IT’S ACTUALLY HELPED STRENGTHEN THEIR BOND. THIS ENTIRE WEEK IS NOTHING BUT BALLOONS. EVEN AT HOME, IT’S NOTHING BUT WE EVEN DRESS LIKE BALLOONS AT HOME. ALBUQUERQUE NATIVE MARK YOCUM STARTED TAKING HIS DAUGHTER ROWAN TO BALLOON FIESTA NEARLY TEN YEARS AGO, AND JUST AS SIX YEARS OLD, ROWAN BECAME ONE OF THE YOUNGEST CREW MEMBERS AT FIESTA. NOW SHE’S ON TRACK FOR ANOTHER MILESTONE. OFFICIALLY, THE DAY THAT I CAN GET MY PILOT LICENSE IS WHEN I TURN 16, ROWAN BECAME INTERESTED IN BECOMING A PILOT AT THE AGE OF TEN, AFTER HER FATHER PURCHASED HIS FIRST HOT AIR BALLOON THREE YEARS AGO. NOW 13, ROWAN IS OFFICIALLY A PILOT IN TRAINING, AND SHE RECENTLY COMPLETED HER FIRST FLIGHT A FEW MONTHS AGO WITH HER FATHER RIGHT BY HER SIDE, WITH A LOT OF HELP FROM DAD, I GOT A SPLASH AND DASH, WHICH IS WHERE WE COME DOWN AND TOUCH THE WATER WITH A LOT OF HELP. I DID THAT ON MY FIRST FLIGHT AND I WAS. AMAZED. I WAS SO HAPPY. THE FATHER DAUGHTER DUO HAVE TRAVELED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO DIFFERENT BALLOONING EVENTS, AN EXPERIENCE THAT HAS STRENGTHENED THEIR BOND. IT’S AMAZING. I LOVE BEING ABLE TO DO THIS. I LOVE BEING ABLE TO WORK THE BALLOON AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO WORK IT. LEARN THE CURVE OF BURNING AND I JUST LOVE BEING ABLE TO LEARN ALL THIS STUFF, ESPECIALLY WHEN I’M WITH MY DAD. THAT’S AWESOME. OH GOODNESS, I’D START TEARING UP ON YOU. A FATHER DAUGHTER RELATIONSHIP THAT’S FLYING HIGH ON CLOUD NINE. NOW WHILE AT BALLOON FIESTA, YOU MIGHT NOTICE THAT THEY HAVE THESE TRADING CARDS THAT WILL CONTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THE BALLOON AS WELL AS THE PILOT ON IT. WELL, ROWAN TOLD ME THAT WITHIN THE NEXT THREE YEARS, SHE’S ACTUALLY HOPING TO HAVE HER NAME ON ONE OF THESE BALLOONS AND CONTINUE HER FATHER’S LEGACY. REPORTING FROM BALLOON FIESTA PARK COREY HOWARD KOAT ACTION SEVEN NEWS. SHE MIGHT HAVE HER PILOT’S LICENSE BEFORE HER DRIVER’S LICENSE.
Father-daughter duo bonds over ballooning at Albuquerque's hot-air balloon festival
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Updated: 6:54 PM CDT Oct 13, 2025
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At the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, Mark Yocom and his daughter, Rowan Yocom, are strengthening their bond as she trains to become one of the youngest hot air balloon pilots. "This entire week is nothing but balloons. Even at home, it's nothing but balloons. We even dress like balloons at home," Mark Yocom said.Mark, an Albuquerque native, started taking Rowan to the Balloon Fiesta nearly 10 years ago, and at just 6 years old, she became one of the youngest crew members at the event. Now, at 13, Rowan is officially a pilot in training, having completed her first flight a few months ago."Officially, the day that I can get my pilot's license is when I turn 16," Rowan said.With her father by her side, Rowan experienced the thrill of her first flight, including a splashy maneuver."With a lot of help from dad, I got splash and dash, which is where we come down and touch the water with a lot of help. I did that on my first flight, and I was amazed. I was so happy," Rowan said.The father-daughter duo has traveled across the country to various ballooning events, further strengthening their bond."It's amazing. I love being able to do this. I love being able to work the balloon and figure out how to work it, learn the curve of burning, and I just love being able to learn all this stuff, especially when I'm with my dad," Rowan said."Oh goodness, you're going to make me start tearing up on you," Mark said.Rowan hopes to get her pilot's license in three years and continue her father's legacy.
At the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, Mark Yocom and his daughter, Rowan Yocom, are strengthening their bond as she trains to become one of the youngest hot air balloon pilots.
"This entire week is nothing but balloons. Even at home, it's nothing but balloons. We even dress like balloons at home," Mark Yocom said.
Mark, an Albuquerque native, started taking Rowan to the Balloon Fiesta nearly 10 years ago, and at just 6 years old, she became one of the youngest crew members at the event. Now, at 13, Rowan is officially a pilot in training, having completed her first flight a few months ago.
"Officially, the day that I can get my pilot's license is when I turn 16," Rowan said.
With her father by her side, Rowan experienced the thrill of her first flight, including a splashy maneuver.
"With a lot of help from dad, I got splash and dash, which is where we come down and touch the water with a lot of help. I did that on my first flight, and I was amazed. I was so happy," Rowan said.
The father-daughter duo has traveled across the country to various ballooning events, further strengthening their bond.
"It's amazing. I love being able to do this. I love being able to work the balloon and figure out how to work it, learn the curve of burning, and I just love being able to learn all this stuff, especially when I'm with my dad," Rowan said.
"Oh goodness, you're going to make me start tearing up on you," Mark said.
Rowan hopes to get her pilot's license in three years and continue her father's legacy.
