I have attributed a large portion of my success selling Chem-Man to the many years I used Chem-Man managing a spraying business in Arkansas. It has always been a second language for me to talk the talk in the southern states, whose primary focus is treating rice and cotton. I’ve understood how different operations can be geographically distinct, specifically in the “Corn Run” in the Midwest. However, understanding that concept has never been a good substitute for first-hand knowledge. I realized that for Chem-Man to grow in the Midwest, I needed to obtain practical experience working there. In years past, I would spend a day or two with an operation here and there, but I never seemed to scratch the surface of what was happening during the heat of the corn season.
My drive to learn and better understand the corn run led me to the late spring of this year when I posted in one of the ag aviation-focused social media groups looking for an operation seeking help during their spray season. It wasn’t long after publishing the post that I received a phone call from a man I knew very well because of his long-standing presence and reputation within the industry. That person was Joel Meyer, President of Meyer Agri-Air in Wellsburg, Iowa. I immediately knew how important it would be to work with someone like Joel, who has a long-standing reputation in the industry. Joel not only owns and operates Meyer Agri-Air but was one of the founders and creators of Seed Field Check. Joel currently serves as Secretary on the NAAA committee. Joel recently served a four-year term on the DriftWatch board and two three-year terms as the IAAA President. Aside from the various terms, Joel has served with the state and national level committees. He is also a member of the Agribusiness Association of Iowa, serving as an advocate and representative for the aerial industry in the state. Joel is also a current member of several state aerial organizations surrounding Iowa. Joel also serves on the Building and Grounds Committee at the Grundy Center Hospital, where he was instrumental in adding two new wings at his local hospital.
It wasn’t until our first conversation that I quickly realized how extraordinary it would be for not only myself but for the benefit of Chem-Man to experience the corn run firsthand while helping a large company like Meyer Agri-Air (MAA). I quickly began the process of obtaining my Iowa Handler’s License. After a handful of days of studying, accompanied by the detailed instructions laid forth by the clerical staff at MAA, I was certificated and ready to begin the season in Iowa. Joel asked me to perform the duties of a team leader at one of his 8 locations where the company operates. I had reservations about stepping into that role where I would take on such heavy responsibilities. Still, with my many years of experience in the South, he felt confident in my ability to operate a web-based operational management software.
I was invited a few weeks later to attend the annual handlers and crew leader training session at Meyer Agri-Air’s flagship location, where the full-time and part-time staff can meet, learn safety procedures, and be introduced to the intricacies of working at an aerial operation. Upon arrival on the first day of the training session, it was easy to see Joel’s attention to every detail, from the well-manicured grounds, the impressive facility boasting the clean and well-maintained AirTractors, and the multi-station administrative office. I finally saw just how large of an operation Joel had conducted. The training session would last two days and cover various sessions and topics, beginning with fire extinguisher training, handbook, and safety training. The sessions would then be split between handlers and location managers.
The session that was oriented for the handlers began with basic handling information such as units of measurement, how to calculate loads, how to check in and manage inventory, and how to handle and mix chemicals properly. Lunch was prepared and provided by the staff at Meyer Agri Air, led by Joel’s better half, Terri, who helps keep operations running smoothly and keeps the pilots and staff well-fed throughout the season. After everyone enjoyed lunch, the handlers were then introduced to the ag aircraft environment, where they were instructed on how to perform various tasks such as connecting the load hoses, refueling the airplanes, cleaning the windshields, freeing the nozzles from contaminates and debris, and overall safety while working alongside the ag aircraft. The handler’s portion of the training was concluded with forklift operational training.
With the handler’s portion of the training underway, the remaining members and I, tasked with the crew leading positions, went to a different segment of the training session where we were introduced to the mapping software used at Meyer Agri-Air. During this session, we were challenged with other scenarios where we learned how to mitigate spray jobs based on different variables such as distance, the presence of seed corn workers, beehive locations, and other obstructions. We learned how to communicate effectively with the crews in charge of the seed corn workers, create work orders based on the previous variables, and generate the shapefiles that the pilots would use to complete the spray jobs. Amongst all the topics covered in the handler’s and crew leader’s training, the subject with the most emphasis by Joel was safety and communication. The importance of safety was directed not only for the pilots but for everyone involved, from the crew and handlers to unsuspecting bystanders in the vicinity of where the applications would take place.
A misconception I’ve always had about operations in the Midwest was assuming that having a short season meant a short preparation time for the season. As the season began for me, I quickly realized that the preconceived notion I developed was the furthest from the truth for operators like Joel. I learned the ropes of being an effective crew leader from the training session I attended. I could see how much Joel and his staff leave no stone unturned and that behind every second of the short season are days and hours of preparation leading up to that moment. I understood better that the magnitude to which Joel operates is mainly dependent on his organizational skills, his ability to delegate, his emphasis on safety, and his attention to detail with high regard for professionalism and quality application. Although the primary season for the Meyer Agri-Air crew happens in a short window, Joel and his crew spend the entire year leading up to that season preparing to be able to take the season head-on.
As the season progressed, I could see first-hand what goes on behind the scenes at an operation in the corn belt. There were so many things that I got to experience first-hand that helped me gain valuable insight that I have been able to bring back to Chem-Man. I had the opportunity to utilize a program similar to Chem-Man, which allowed me to see where Chem-Man thrived and where we needed to focus our attention and efforts to improve our product. As the season ended and my time at Meyer Agri-Air ended, I had the chance to reflect and take what I had witnessed into perspective. It was still astonishing to me just how large of scale Joel operated, with eight locations ranging in a 450 square mile radius, several aircraft, and numerous full-time and part-time employees.
At the end of the four weeks spent in Iowa, I sat down with Joel to learn more about his business and beginnings, which I am eager to share with the readers. Like many of us in the industry, Joel grew up with an agricultural background. Joel’s family farmed, and he expressed his interest in ag flying at an early age while he was on the farm. He recalled that in his younger years, he was out on the farm working and watching the local crop dusters fly, and the sights and sounds enthralled him. Joel achieved his ratings and was working on a commuter flight. The day finally arrived when Joel faced whether to pursue a career as a first officer or press forward into a flight. He thought back to his younger years at the thought of flying ag and decided that was the direction he wanted to go. He, without haste, obtained his 50 hours of ag training in Dothan, Alabama. Once he returned home from ag training, he purchased a 265D Piper Pawnee. Joel could pursue his career flying ag with the support of his parents. Joel was fortunate enough to be situated in the heart of seed corn production, and the opportunities to treat seed corn were vast and abound and laid the way to the foundation of what Meyer Agri-Air is today. As business grew, Joel quickly had to develop the tools he used to care for his customers. Joel soon traded the Pawnee to a 620B Weatherly in 1996. In 2005, Joel upgraded and purchased his first 502B. Fast forward to the present day, Joel now owns and operates 9 Air Tractors and 1 Bell L3 Longranger and contracts out several planes and helicopters from operators across the US to help during the busy season.
Before his flying career, Joel worked many years at a local ag cooperative. Through his years at the co-op, he was introduced to a concept that stuck with him and that he carried into his ag flying career. While working at the co-op, he worked in an ISO program (International Standard of Organization). They adopted the ISO to sell products at a better price but discovered that the ISO didn’t necessarily help sell products. Still, it helped with the day-to-day operations and maximize efficiency and productivity. Utilizing these standards helped track everything they did, from where every dollar was spent to prioritizing daily tasks and developing an order of importance to running a successful business. Joel would later apply these same ISO principles learned from his day job to the ag flying business, which would be the critical component to how he would successfully run his operation at the scale that he currently does.
I asked Joel what one of the most rewarding aspects of his career would be, and he told me how satisfying it is to help facilitate jobs for all the late high school and college-age students who come to help in the summer. Joel goes on to explain how he takes pride in teaching young adults so many things that often get overlooked in school these days, such as units of measurement, operating forklifts, and even how to manage a fire extinguisher. Joel mentions whether it’s the fire extinguisher training, operating a forklift, mixing and configuring loads, or working with an airplane, he enjoys knowing that the young people who come to work at MAA are faced with a new challenge or task that they wouldn’t usually be exposed to and that they learn how to accomplish that job and that they can take their new-found confidence with them as they go on to college or on to pursue their careers later in life. He expresses how pleased he is to see still young people pursue careers in agriculture and is humbled at how dedicated everyone who comes to work at Meyer Agri-Air has been.
Joel also expands further on his appreciation to his staff. Joel admits that he couldn’t do what he does without the dedicated staff at Meyer Agri-Air. Joel believes that his staff is the functioning cog that keeps operations running. He relies on them heavily to begin preparing for the upcoming season as soon as the current season ends. He uses an analogy like that of a funnel in that as one season closes and another begins, he and his staff are on the outside ring of the funnel. This is the time to start meeting with retailers, addressing anomalies presented in the season, maintaining equipment, completing continuing education, licensing, and much more. As time passes, they get closer and closer to the inside of the funnel, and once they arrive at the throat of the funnel, everything will happen at once. Every minute of every hour will have been prepared and accounted for, allowing them to be efficient and use every available minute in the rush of the corn spraying season.
I asked Joel what else has allowed him to be successful, and he answered that having an open mind and willingness to embrace change has helped his company grow tremendously. Joel states that just because he and his team have done things a certain way in the past doesn’t mean they can’t be open to new ideas and concepts in the future. He goes on to say that crossing paths with someone like myself who presents new ideas or technologies allows them to explore other options that will enable them to be more efficient and productive. I would agree with Joel, as this principle has been the driving force behind Chem-Man’s growth. Without embracing technological shifts or being attentive to customer feedback and requests, Chem-Man wouldn’t be what it is today. Furthermore, after my time in Iowa, we can look to Chem-Man to improve its program to suit the needs of the operators in the Midwest.
While the seasons wind down for most operations, we can all begin shifting focus on the upcoming year. As a new year and season approaches for everyone at Chem-Man, we are working diligently to take what I learned during my time in Iowa to expand Chem-Man’s capabilities. I want to thank Joel Meyer and his staff for allowing me the opportunity to join their team over the summer to gain valuable insight from an outside perspective.
