NAAA Ag Aviation Expo Soars to New Heights in the Lone Star State of Texas - National Agricultural Aviation Association

Kickoff Breakfast speaker Kevin Humphreys, who served in the Australian Army for 20 years flying Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters, encouraged the audience to think about mental health, anxiety and depression. Read more about Humphrey’s inspiring talk in the Winter 2025 *Agricultural Aviation* magazine.

Last week’s NAAA Ag Aviation Expo set a new benchmark for success, with record-breaking attendance and all the action unfolding in the vibrant Lone Star State. With its rich history, enjoyable town and ease of travel for so many members, Fort Worth proved to be the perfect location for this year’s annual convention, which brought together ag pilots, allied companies, support crew, researchers and other industry professionals from across the country and beyond.

Held at the Fort Worth Convention Center and Omni Fort Worth, the event drew 1,812 attendees, and 165 exhibitors, marking the highest attendance in the past two decades. This year’s exhibit hall was a sight to behold, with two Air Tractors, one Thrush, a Robinson Helicopter, a Schweizer helicopter exhibited with Isloair and Rotor Technologies unmanned helicopter. The exhibit hall aisles included high-tech displays, product demonstrations and a sense of enthusiasm from exhibitors eager to connect with prospective customers.

Because of the great location and ease of travel for many members to drive to Fort Worth or fly into the Dallas/Fort Worth area, in addition to the growing excitement of the new location, the Ag Aviation Expo was the cornerstone for ag aviation professionals to meet and share ideas, showcase cutting-edge innovations and build new and lasting relationships.

Ag Wings of Tomorrow Scholarship winners were honored at the Kickoff Breakfast. Pictured (l to r): 2024 NAAA President Ray Newcomb, Thrush Aircraft’s Clint Hubbard, McKenna Meise (scholarship winner) with dad Fred Meise, Lilly Paxton (scholarship winner), Cheyenne Kingsley (scholarship winner) and BASF’s John Sabatka. Thank you to BASF and Thrush Aircraft for sponsoring this valuable scholarship. Lilly Paxton was also selected as a 2024 Support Scholarship recipient.

Beyond the exhibit hall, the convention featured a packed schedule of sessions and networking events to foster learning and knowledge exchange. Attendees were treated to a stellar lineup of keynote speakers, such as Kickoff Breakfast speaker Kevin Humphreys, an insurance mock trial coordinated by Anderson & Riddle, and concurrent sessions, which covered a wide range of topics, including airframe, helicopters, engine and pesticide updates, as well as news and training from Allied members. New and low-time pilot sessions were packed full of aerial application newbies who made connections and learned from veteran operators, pilots and industry insurance representatives.

Logan Lane was the highest bidder of the PT6A-34AG engine, graciously donated by Pratt & Whitney Canada at Tuesday’s Live Auction. Pictured (l to r and front to back): Logan Lane, Lane Aviation with Cedric Gauthier, Pratt & Whitney Canada, Andrew Moore, NAAA CEO with Don Howell, NAAA Auctioneer.

The 2024 Live and Silent Auctions raised important and necessary funds to support NAAA programs and services. The association is thankful for all the companies and individuals that support NAAA programs by donating an auction item. A special thank you to Pratt & Whitney Canada for donating a brand-new PT6A-34AG engine and to Air Tractor for their custom golf cart, in addition to many other great donations. Congratulations to Logan Lane of Lane Aviation in Rosenberg, Texas, for being the highest bidder on the Pratt & Whitney Canada engine.

NAAA was honored to have 41 companies sponsor different events and we are very appreciative of their support. Thank you to all sponsors, including the Diamond sponsors: BASF, Pratt & Whitney Canada, Syngenta, the Tylor Johnson Legacy Foundation and UPL.

Tuesday’s insurance mock trial involving claims of drift was organized by Geff Anderson and Jim Kiser of Anderson & Riddle and was a huge hit amongst aerial applicators.

Many great sessions took place during the week, including the Kickoff Breakfast and General Session, many of which will be detailed in the Winter 2025 Agricultural Aviation magazine. Save the date for November 17-19, 2025, and join us in Reno, Nevada, for the 2025 Ag Aviation Expo.