Dominique Youakim of Charleston, Ill., is the owner and operator of Aerinova Aerial LLC, an aerial application business located in Mattoon, Ill. He also owns a helicopter tour business in St. Louis and Branson, Mo., and is an authorized Robinson helicopter dealer. He has two children, a son and daughter, Aiden and Aubrey.
 
Before finding his niche as an aerial applicator, Dominique worked in corporate America as a vice president of operations for a manufacturing plant. He worked for the manufacturer from 1995 to 2005. During that same period, he earned his commercial pilot certificate. Ready for a less travel-intensive career, Dominique gave up his corporate job for the opportunity to become an agricultural pilot in 2005. His mentor, Rick Reed of Reed’s Fly-on Farming, hired him as a full-time pilot that year. In 2013, Dominique purchased Reed’s Mattoon-based operation, which now operates under the name Aerinova Aerial LLC.
 
In 2006, Dominique completed the NAAA/Syngenta Leadership Training Program, which develops new leaders and advocates for the agricultural aviation industry. He served as secretary/treasurer of the Illinois Agricultural Aviation Association in 2007–2008. He joined NAAA’s board of directors as the Illinois AAA’s state representative in 2009. From 2012 to 2016, Dominique chaired NAAA’s bylaws committee. In 2016, he served as the association’s vice president and was elected president for 2017.

Darrin Pluhar grew up on a farming and ranching operation forty miles northwest of Miles City, Montana.  At a very young age, he became actively involved in the day-to-day agricultural activities.  In addition, he was also exposed to aviation, specifically aerial application, as his father, Art, was a “crop duster” flying a Pawnee for a local operator.  Later, his older brother, Dennis, started his own aerial application business, where Darrin got his first exposure to the business as a flagger, loader and ground crew.
 
After high school, Darrin went to Montana State University to become an engineer.  But after one year, he realized this career choice just wasn’t that attractive anymore and decided to pursue agricultural aviation (after admittedly realizing that he had failed to see the forest for the trees!).  In 1989, Darrin received an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Agricultural Aviation from the University of Minnesota – Crookston.  In 1995, Darrin received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautical Science from Rocky Mountain College in Billings, MT.
 
Darrin purchased his first Ag airplane, a 1979 Cessna Ag. Husky, and began flying for his brother Dennis. In 1996, Darrin purchased an aerial application business in Ekalaka and established Plu’s Flying Service. Since the main season is April 1st to July 10th in Montana, relationships with other operators around the nation have allowed Darrin’s company to continue to generate revenue by flying in other regions during the late Summer and early Fall. As the business has grown, so has the fleet of aircraft.  In 2002, a 1995 Weatherly was purchased to meet the increasing workload and then in 2007, he invested in a 400-gallon capacity, turbine-powered Air Tractor.
 
Darrin has been actively involved with the Association of Montana Aerial Applicators (AMAA) for many years, serving on their Board since 2000 and as president from 2010-2011.  Darrin was appointed as AMAA’s NAAA Board rep in 2013 and served as the 2016 NAAA Treasurer.
 
An advocate for training and safety, Darrin actively promotes and encourages aerial applicators to attend the PAASS program and helps conduct AMAA’s annual Operation S.A.F.E. pattern check.

Perry Hofer started flying in 1980 and received his commercial license in 1985. After flying for Martin Beving, he started Doland Aerial Spraying in 1998 in Doland, SD, which he currently operates with his son, Mikel. Their operation utilizes 2 turbine Thrushes and one Weatherly.

Perry was elected 2023 NAAREF Board President, and has previously served as NAAA President in 2019.

He also operates a grain farm and cow/calf operation with his brother Kevin and two older sons Nik and Bryant. In the off-season, Perry enjoys overhauling antique Farmall tractors. He also spends as much time as he can going to baseball games with his youngest son, Matthew.

Jim Perrin grew up on a small farm in central Wisconsin and also spent the summers on his grandparent’s small dairy farm in southwest Wisconsin. After graduating high school in 1986, Jim joined the U.S. Army as a crew chief on UH-60A Blackhawk helicopters. After serving four years in the Army Jim realized that aviation was in his blood.  It became apparent that aviation and agriculture could be melded together with a career in agricultural aviation.

In the spring of 1992 Jim attended Harold Millers agricultural aviation training program in Illinois. That summer Harold hired Jim to fly an A-9 Callair that he flew in Missouri and Kentucky. In 1993 Jim got a job in his home state flying S2C and S2D airplanes for Jim Stutesman. In 1995 Jim was given an opportunity to buy his first operation in Illinois that operated a 450 Ag-Cat. After flying that season in Illinois as a pilot and manager, Jim and his wife Julie closed the deal on their first operation. Over the next couple years Jim and Julie purchased two more operations. During that time the fleet changed a bit to operate Cessnas, 450 and 600 Ag-Cats and a piston Thrush. In 2000 Jim and Julie sold their operation in Aledo, Illinois. Then in 2001 they sold their operation in Morrison, Illinois, so they could capitalize on an opportunity to buy an operation close to home in central Wisconsin with a partner, Tim Rourke. Back in Wisconsin Jim operated an Ag-Cat and then eventually a couple Air Tractors, both piston and turbine, a Cessna, a Weatherly, and finally several turbine Thrush aircraft.

Currently Jim and Julie operate three turbine Thrushes applying fungicide, insecticide, herbicide, and fertilizer as well as cover crop seeding to a wide range of crops, but predominantly vegetable crops, both conventional and organic. Two of these aircraft are equipped for night operations using night vision goggles (NVG). All three aircraft are equipped with GPS and flow control as well as being equipped with four valve booms so either left or right booms can be shut off as well as vortice shutoff valves.

Jim and his wife Julie were married in 1987 and had their first child Anna in 1995. Anna worked for the family business as a mixer/loader all through high school and college. They had a son in 2000 that also mixed and loaded all through high school and when available in college. Jon stayed in aviation and is now a CFII. Anna is dating one of Jim’s pilots, Cory.

Jim has been involved with several state agricultural aviation associations holding offices in both Illinois and Wisconsin. Jim has served as Treasurer, Vice President and was elected to be the 2022 President of NAAA. Jim started presenting PAASS in 2020.

In Jim’s off time his primary hobby is bow hunting and habitat management for whitetail and turkeys.  He also hunts with rifle, shotgun and muzzle loader in a couple Midwest states as tags allow.  Snowmobiling also occupies Jim’s free time as does recreational flying in the families Cessna 180 and A-1 Husky.

Dominique Youakim of Charleston, Ill., is the owner and operator of Aerinova Aerial LLC, an aerial application business located in Mattoon, Ill. He also owns a helicopter tour business in St. Louis and Branson, Mo., and is an authorized Robinson helicopter dealer. He has two children, a son and daughter, Aiden and Aubrey.
 
Before finding his niche as an aerial applicator, Dominique worked in corporate America as a vice president of operations for a manufacturing plant. He worked for the manufacturer from 1995 to 2005. During that same period, he earned his commercial pilot certificate. Ready for a less travel-intensive career, Dominique gave up his corporate job for the opportunity to become an agricultural pilot in 2005. His mentor, Rick Reed of Reed’s Fly-on Farming, hired him as a full-time pilot that year. In 2013, Dominique purchased Reed’s Mattoon-based operation, which now operates under the name Aerinova Aerial LLC.
 
In 2006, Dominique completed the NAAA/Syngenta Leadership Training Program, which develops new leaders and advocates for the agricultural aviation industry. He served as secretary/treasurer of the Illinois Agricultural Aviation Association in 2007–2008. He joined NAAA’s board of directors as the Illinois AAA’s state representative in 2009. From 2012 to 2016, Dominique chaired NAAA’s bylaws committee. In 2016, he served as the association’s vice president and was elected president for 2017.

Matt Peed grew up on a small farm in Georgia that raised beef cattle and row crops. Matt’s early professional background is in tree care with experience in both arboriculture and silviculture. While no one in his family has a background in aviation, the urge to fly was instilled in Matt at a young age. The first airplane he ever saw was a Cessna AGtruck flying over a field in Georgia. In 2000 Matt learned to fly, becoming a first-generation pilot in his family. 
 
Matt’s career as an agricultural aviator began in 2008 when he started flying for O’Brien Flying Service in Iowa, Louisiana. He started out as a rice pilot and worked in various parts of the Delta region and the southeast U.S. Eventually he ended up back in Georgia flying for a large farming operation. Matt is a CFI and an A&P with IA. He conducts turbine transition training in a dual cockpit Thrush. Matt has been married 26 years and has three children with his wife.