In June, Heartland RVs invited all U.S. and Canadian Heartland RV owners to join their biannual North American Owners Rally. Held every other year on odd years, the rally brings campers together to learn, shop, tour Heartland facilities, meet fellow Heartland RV owners, and reconnect with old friends.
Held at the Elkhart County 4H Fairgrounds in Goshen, Indiana, the pre-rally week ran from June 5 to11, with the rally itself from June 12 to 18. The pre-rally week featured events designed around local attractions like historic tours and visits to the RV/MH Hall of Fame and Museum to celebrate the history of RVing. The official rally days were filled with events including educational seminars about RV safety, presentations from components vendors, and tank cleaning demonstrations. Dexter Axle Company sponsored a Saturday night concert with John King and John Sapen from The Sapen Brothers, and fitness instructor Ashle Horvath led low-impact exercise classes in the mornings.
“The Heartland Owners Rally is a huge opportunity for RVers to come together and learn, make new friends and meet up with old friends, and enjoy themselves among other Heartland owners,” said Lesley Melvin, director of marketing at Heartland RVs. “We arranged a mix of events, from more adult-focused RV seminars to family-friendly entertainment, so every guest will have a good time.”
Heartland also invited local businesses to get in on the fun as a way of giving back to the community that hosts the event. Rise’n Roll Bakery provided donuts to attendees, Big City Pizza served pizzas, and several local food trucks were on site to feed rally-goers. There was also a silent auction populated with items donated by industry vendors and suppliers, which raised $12,000 on behalf of LoveWay Inc. The not-for-profit organization facilitates therapeutic horseback riding for individuals with disabilities, and the money will cover the fees for six children to attend their programs in the fall.
“We always want to make sure the rally benefits our community,” Melvin said. “We invite local vendors and encourage rally attendees to explore the area and support nearby small businesses nearby.”
Attendees could also tour the Heartland campus and see first-hand the RV production, audit, and parts facilities. The newly expanded, 212,000-square-foot campus features a 73,000-square-foot parts warehouse, an 82,000-square-foot audit building, and a 53,000-square-foot retail center. And the onsite body shop holds 26 repair bays, plus five overnight, full hook-up pads RVers can use for free when they bring their RV in for service.
