Cover

When Bennard Rowland first arrived in LaSara, Texas, in the mid-1940s, he likely had no idea he was laying the foundation for what would grow into one of the nation’s few—if not the only—fourth-generation aerial application businesses. In 1946, Bennard founded Rowland Dusters in LaSara, putting his military flight experience...

Gentry Smith’s story is one of hard work, determination, and a deep-rooted passion for agricultural aviation. Born into a cotton farming family in Selma, Alabama, Gentry's journey into aviation was anything but conventional. While attending Auburn University, Gentry found an opportunity that would change his career trajectory. Lloyd Henderson, a...

No, they are not fans of the fictitious supersoldiers in the movies — Rambo is their family name. But as we'll see, during the operation’s history, they displayed a resilience similar to that of movie warriors. Originally from the south Brazilian state of Paraná, Anselmo Rambo, the family patriarch, moved...

Rotor Technologies, an autonomous flight technology company founded by Hector Xu, is making significant strides in the aviation industry. With origins rooted in improving helicopter safety, the company has developed cutting-edge technology that has the potential to transform agricultural operations. Just how much and when remains to be seen.  Rotor...

January 2024 - 2023 Ag Aviation Expo Shines in Palm SpringsIn early December, attendees and exhibitors at NAAA’s 2023 Ag Aviation Expo couldn’t have asked for better weather, scenery, education, networking, and friendship in Palm Springs, California. The expo hosted nearly 1,300 attendees and exhibitors from around the globe eager...

Rick Boardman’s career in aerial application spans over four decades, but his journey began much earlier, rooted in the family tradition of farming and passion for the agricultural industry. Raised in a family of aviators, Rick’s father started spraying in the late 1960s and early 1970s, eventually launching a spraying...

2024 brought us hundreds of photo submissions, many of which were featured in our AgAv Pics section of AgAir Update, with many others highlighted on our social media channels for the magazine. Take a look at images from our featured photographers in our 2024 photo issue below. Tom Jones Sarah...

Guy McClary’s roots are in central South Carolina. He grew up on a tobacco farm, and as the son of a multi-generational tobacco farmer, Guy was destined to follow in the family tradition. Guy’s father, J.W. McClary, was a WWII veteran and one of 12 children. He was born and...