The 56th annual Ag Aviation Expo kicked off this week in Knoxville with visitors from around the globe eager to network with friends and peers, educate themselves at the 32 education sessions and improve their businesses by visiting with more than 160 exhibitors on the trade show floor.
Former astronaut Scott Kelly kicked off the 2022 Ag Aviation Expo with a humorous and inspiring address.
The Expo opened on Monday with a terrific Kickoff Breakfast address by Scott Kelly, the former NASA astronaut and retired U.S. Navy Captain who spent nearly a year in space aboard the International Space Station. He titled his kickoff address, “The Sky is Not the Limit: Lessons from a Year in Space.” Kelly described himself as neither a great student growing up nor a very good fighter pilot initially, but said that he turned himself into a slightly below average student and then a slightly above average student in school and became a pretty good fighter pilot by the end of his first year.
“What I’ve learned is that no matter how bad you are something at first has no bearing on good you become if you work hard and believe in yourself,” Kelly said.
He ended his remarks with these words of inspiration: “After spending a year in space, I was absolutely inspired that if we can dream it, we can do it. If we have a goal and a plan; if we’re willing to take risks, make mistakes—at times even being willing to fail; if we focus on the things we can control and ignore what we can’t; if we test the status quo and we work as a team, because teamwork makes the dream work. We can choose to do the hard things, and if we do that, the sky is definitely not the limit.”
A big audience turned out for the expo’s General Session speakers.
Tuesday’s General Session explored “Healthy Public Relations” in a nod toward NAAA’s two outstanding speakers, senior AME (and aerial applicator) Dr. Stan Musick and Michelle Miller, a full-time advocate for agriculture better known as the Farm Babe (pictured below).
Michelle Miller spoke about the importance of advocating for aerial application with people outside the industry to manage public perceptions. “If we keep talking to each other, we aren’t going to have as much of an impact,” she said.
More in-depth coverage of the 2022 Ag Aviation Expo will be featured in next week’s eNewsletter and the next issue of Agricultural Aviation. In the meantime, enjoy some pictures from throughout the week below!
AXEing for PAASS Fundraiser
Ready...
Aim...
Celebrate!
NAAA Trade Show
NAAA President Jim Perrin completes the ceremonial ribbon cutting to open the NAAA Trade Show.
Thrush Aircraft displays its new 510-P2 ag plane featuring a PT6-34AG engine and a four-bladed Hartzell propeller.
Oakes Abbott presides over Covington Aircraft Engine’s specialty 50th anniversary merchandise.
Live Auction
NAAA operator member Nick Bunger (center) of Air Trac Inc. in Pasco, Washington, came out on top in a spirited bidding exchange for Pratt & Whitney Canada’s brand-new PT6-34AG engine at NAAA’s Live Auction. Bunger is surrounded by the P&WC team, along with NAAA President Jim Perrin and CEO Andrew Moore.
