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Johnston, along with Canton Tourism, helped kick off the balloon festival at the first of July with music, food, and of course balloons.
Johnston began hot air ballooning in 1989.
“Back in 1989, we went to Greenwood Mississippi just to watch and there was a pilot trying to get all of this equipment out of his trailer and I realized he needed some help,” he said. It was the offer of help that led Johnston to get his balloon pilot’s license.
After assisting with balloons, the pilot told Johnston and his wife Leigh to climb in. “I thought I may never get a chance like this again and so we got in and flew with him and ended up having a blast,” he said.
Shortly after, Johnston began the process of obtaining his hot air balloon license.
“It’s the time type of criteria as an airplane’s license, you’ve got to go through a written test, and then you have to complete a certain number of hours flying in a balloon and be checked off by a designated examiner. You’ll have a flight test and an oral test,” he explained.
Johnston said when the balloons aren’t inflated and soaring, they are stored in trailers or large bags.
“You can’t just keep them inflated and tied up to the side of your house,” he explained with a smile.
Around 20 balloons will be flown at the festival with the furthest pilot coming from St. Louis. The week before, this same pilot will conduct annual inspections.
“The point is to fly the balloons towards a target at the multipurpose complex and drop a bean bag at the center of the target. Whoever gets closest is first and second and fourth on down the line,” he said.
Johnston became the balloon meister after being involved in the festival for many years.
“We were living in Jackson and helping with this event. We moved here 17 years ago. I helped the tourism office and Joe McKay, who was the balloon meister. It was about two or three of us putting it together and when Joe passed away Jana (Padgett) asked me if I would step in and try to fill his shoes and keep this thing going,” he explained.
“It’s a lot of fun and there’s work to it but what in life doesn’t have work to it? We get up early, we got hot and sweaty, but it’s worth it. We’re just out here flying and having a good time,” he added.
Johnston named his balloons HiLeigh Kentagious and HiLeigh Kentagious too. The name HiLeigh Kentagious not only recognizes the pilot Kent and his crew chief Leigh of the balloon but also describes ballooning as a sport that is fun and contagious.