Brian and his wife Elly operate Medina Flying Service located in central North Dakota. They spray numerous crops including potatoes, wheat, sunflowers, soybeans and other minor use crops with a 500 gallon Thrush. They also spread cover crop for erosion control and assist with aerial fire suppression for their local fire department.

Brian has been involved in the aerial application business since 1979 and has been an NAAA member since 1985. He has held numerous offices in the NAAA including President in 2010. He has also served on the National Agricultural Aviation Research and Education Foundation (NAAREF) board of directors.

Brian is a commercial pilot with an instrument rating.  He is the North Dakota Liaison to the Recreational Aviation Foundation.

Brian is a Nationally Registered Paramedic and works with his local volunteer ambulance service and is the chief of the Medina Fire Department. Brian farms with his 2 brothers and nephew in central North Dakota. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy from North Dakota State University.

Eric Klindt grew up on the family farm in Minnesota and when the farm was sold, he worked for other farmers in the area. Eric attended the University of Minnesota at Crookston where he received his commercial pilot’s license and aerial applicator training. He received his start in aerial spraying from David Yaggie where he started spraying in 1997 and has loved it ever since. Eric was previously employed by Wilbur-Ellis in Wahpeton, ND, where he flew an Air Tractor 802.

 
Eric stays busy in the aerial application off season with several jobs. He owns and operates a limo bus service and drives a truck in the winter for local farmers. He is currently a member of the Wilkin County Sheriff Posse.
 
Eric is married to his childhood sweetheart, Shana, and they have two young children, Elise and Cody. Eric and Shana are members of the NAAA and the Minnesota AAA where they are the state representatives to the NAAA and WNAAA. Eric served on the NAAA board from 2002 until 2010 and served as Chairman of the Membership Committee. He attended the Syngenta Leadership Training Group in 2002 where he realized how much is done by the NAAA and vowed to assist wherever he is able.

Damon is a third-generation aerial applicator from Wisconsin who grew up on the family airport and farm. He was taught to fly by his grandfather Roy Reabe who started the family business in 1945. Damon left the family farm and business after high school and graduated from Mankato State University with a BS in Aviation and Marketing.  At the end of his colligate studies Damon launched a 15-year career as corporate pilot flying jet aircraft throughout the world.  As a corporate pilot, Damon worked his way from line pilot to being one of only three flight standards pilots of the largest corporate aircraft management company of the time. He was responsible for developing, implementing and ensuring compliance of company safety procedures.

Damon got his start as an aerial applicator in 1997 under the tutelage of his father, Tom Reabe, and began helping out as a part time pilot. In 2009, Damon resigned his position as a flight standards pilot and took his father’s place as President of Reabe Spraying Service, a Wisconsin aerial application company. Over the past twenty seasons Damon has been actively spraying in Piper Pawnees, AT-400’s, AT-502’s, S2R-660, Bell 206 and an AT-802. Damon served the Wisconsin Agricultural Aviation Association as President from 2010 until 2016 and currently serves on the NAAA Board of Directors as the Wisconsin representative. He is currently serving as chairman of the Government Relations Committee.

During the winter of 2016-2017, the family executed a succession plan allowing Tyler Reabe and Curt Meister to become part owners in Reabe Spraying Service and forming Dairyland Aviation which operates out of Waupun, WI. Damon is the President of both Dairyland Aviation and Reabe Spraying Service.

Damon is fortunate to have met and married his wife of 13 years, Mary Reabe, who does the book keeping for both companies. They are raising their two children, Caroline and Max in Ripon, WI. Damon says, “I have been very lucky to have a spouse that not only puts up with the demands of this job and industry, but supports participation in safety programs such as PAASS.”

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.