NAAA Member Matthew Regier Featured in Cover Article of Oklahoma Country Magazine

NAAA Pilot Member Matthew Regier was recently featured in Oklahoma Country magazine, the official publication of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. A dedicated industry leader, Regier served for six years as the Oklahoma Agricultural Aviation Association representative board member for NAAA and has chaired the NAAA Communications Committee for the past three years. He also completed the NAAA/Syngenta Leadership Training Program in 2016.  The article highlights Regier’s role as a second-generation agricultural pilot and his commitment to protecting crops, pastures, and ensuring a safe and abundant food supply through aerial application.

Now in his 10th year as an ag pilot, Regier serves as both pilot and Fairview branch manager for Central Custom Ag Aviation in Oklahoma. He shared that this season has been particularly demanding, with significant disease and insect pressure affecting crops across the region. Among the greatest challenges were severe armyworm infestations, which required timely and effective treatments to safeguard yields.

Regier emphasized that success in agricultural aviation depends not only on flying skill, but also on building strong relationships with customers and conducting thorough research of each field before every application. He takes pride in being what he calls “a tool in the toolbox” for farmers and ranchers, explaining that he loves being able to help solve problems and provide effective, timely solutions to protect their livelihoods. Equally important, he noted, is the judicious and precise use of products, applying them responsibly to promote both productivity and environmental stewardship.

The article also reflected on Regier’s family legacy in agricultural aviation. He and his two brothers were inspired to work in aviation by their father, Junior Regier, who flew for many years before his untimely passing in an agricultural aviation accident in 2022. Regier shared that the loss of his father profoundly changed his outlook on flying, making him more safety-conscious and deliberate in his work. He credited the Wire Avoidance Course he attended at the 2024 NAAA Ag Aviation Expo in Fort Worth, Texas, with further strengthening his awareness of in-flight safety and hazard recognition.

Through his work, Regier showcases the precision, skill, and dedication that define today’s professional aerial applicators. His feature in Oklahoma Country provides valuable positive public relations for the agricultural aviation industry, highlighting the professionalism, safety, and stewardship that aerial applicators bring to modern agriculture. Despite the challenges, he said he remains proud to be part of agriculture and honored to continue his family’s legacy of service to farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. His story stands as a testament to the commitment and excellence that drive the agricultural aviation industry forward. Read the article here.