The DroneOn Show
The Drone On Show is a podcast dedicated to all things drones. Hosts Mike and Kevin discuss their company's work using thermal drones to recover lost deer for hunters and agricultural drones for crop spraying. They also cover drone technology advancements, regulations, and applications across various industries. The show features thrilling stories and expert insights for drone enthusiasts, hunters, farmers, and tech lovers.
Episodes
Spray Drones, Family Business & Personal Testimonies | The DroneOn Show Episode 54
In episode 54 of the DroneOn Show, Mike, Jason, Dennis, and 21-year-old Kaden Lamprecht from western Iowa sit down for a raw conversation blending spray drone business with faith. Kaden shares how his family started their operation three years ago (running T50s and P150 Pros, covering 20,000+ acres mostly fungicide on corn and beans) while navigating fa
nuWay Ag Owners: T100 Swath Truth, Dealer Program & CV Coverage Reality | The DroneOn Show Ep 53
In this insightful DroneOn Show, Mike, Jason, and Kevin sit down for an open conversation about running nuWay Ag and Drone Deer Recovery. They break down their T100 swath testing results, the importance of strong CV coverage for uniform applications, why the drone industry needs to raise standards beyond traditional aerial 20-30% benchmarks, and practic
Black Hawk Pilots Switch to Spray Drones: Military Precision in Louisiana | The DroneOn Show Ep 52
Episode 52 of the DroneOn Show episode, Mike talks with Cody Davis and Clinton Giglio of Guardian Aerial in Louisiana — two former U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter pilots with a combined 39 years of military flight experience. They share their transition from flying heavy-lift military and medevac missions to operating spray drones (primarily T50s with T
31 Year Old Going All-In on Spray Drones – Complete Newbie Story | The DroneOn Show Ep 51
In this DroneOn Show episode, Mike and Jay talks with Bryce Matthews of StratoWorx Drone Solutions in Indiana. At 31 years old and brand new to spray drones, Bryce is right on the edge of pulling the trigger on a T100 and starting his own operation. He shares his extensive research process, why he’s leaning toward DJI, his conversations with current pil
From Cattle Farmer to Running a Spray Drone Business in the Mountains | The DroneOn Show Ep 50
In episode 50 of the DroneOn Show, Mike and Jay catches up with Preston Cave of Pac Aerial Applications in North Carolina. Preston shares his journey from growing up on a tobacco farm and showing cattle to building a successful spray drone business. He talks about tackling rugged mountain terrain, Christmas tree applications, cover crops, pastures, and
Is Drone Deer Recovery Legal in Illinois? Full Court Case Breakdown | The DroneOn Show Ep 49
In this DroneOn Show episode, Mike and Kevin sits down with Jeremy Shelton, an Illinois drone deer recovery pilot, and his attorney Ed Fanning to break down a landmark court case. Jeremy received a citation for using a thermal drone to search for a wounded deer. The case went to trial and he was found not guilty — not on a technicality, but because the
How This 25 Year Old Built a 15K Acre Spray Drone Business in 3 Seasons | The DroneOn Show Ep 48
In episode 48 of the DroneOn Show episode, Mike sits down with 25-year-old Caden Wilburn of C&J Spray Drones in Laddonia, Missouri. Caden shares how he launched his drone spraying operation to carve out his own space on the family farm (1200 crop acres + 2400 hogs) and has now covered roughly 15,000 acres in just three seasons. He talks about starti
25 Years in Weed Science: SC Veteran Applicator on Drones & Vegetation | The DroneOn Show Ep 47
In this DroneOn Show episode, Mike talks with Johnney Staples of Nexus Solutions USA in South Carolina. Johnney shares his journey from tobacco farming and hand-weeding as a kid to earning a PhD in weed science at Auburn, then building a successful vegetation management and custom application business. He explains why he started Nexus to serve industria
From Four Wheelers to Drones: 25+ Years Spraying Rangeland in Oregon | The DroneOn Show Ep 46
In this DroneOn Show episode from the Spray Drone End User Conference, Mike sits down with Dave and Jared from Bear UAV / Branch Enterprise in Eastern Oregon. They share how they started in custom application back in 1999 after a tough year in potatoes and onions, evolving from four-wheelers and pickups with hand wands to drones in 2017. The conversatio
Midwest Drone Applications: 66K Acres, Team Management & Hard Lessons | DroneOn Show Ep 45
In this DroneOn Show episode, Mike talks with Josh from Kansas, a former Army veteran who built Midwest Drone Applications into a serious operation covering 66,000 acres in one season with a team of contractors. Josh shares how he got started through drone deer recovery, his wild first T40 season (self-taught in thigh-high grass), the rapid growth from
From FFA Project to Multi-Crew Operation: Hayden’s Spray Drone Journey at 20 | DroneOn Show Ep 44
In this DroneOn Show episode, Mike sits down with 20-year-old Hayden Crum from Midwest Air in southern Ohio. Hayden shares how he started his spray drone business as a freshman in high school through an FFA project, grew it alongside his family’s retail chemical and seed business, and is now in his sixth season of applications. At just 20, he’s already
Vidalia Onion Farmer Goes All-In on T100 Spray Drones | The DroneOn Show Episode 43
In this DroneOn Show episode, Mike and Jay visits McLain Farms in Georgia with Vidalia onion grower Brett McLain. Brett shares what it really takes to grow sweet Vidalia onions — from hand-planting and hand-harvesting to the narrow weather windows and disease pressure that can wipe out an entire crop. He explains why he made the jump to the T100 spray d
24-Year-Old Builds Full Drone Business in Alabama | The DroneOn Show Episode 42
Episode 42 of the DroneOn Show, Mike talks with Trayton from Taft Drone Services in central Alabama. At just 24 years old and only two years out of Mississippi State (where he studied agriculture science), Trayton shares how he funded his first thermal drone (Mavic 3T) with money originally saved for an engagement ring. He started with deer surveys and
Aussie Drone Dealer: XAG Tech, Rules & USA vs Australia | The DroneOn Show Episode 41
In this DroneOn Show episode, Mike and the crew sit down with Jamin Fleming from Oztech Drones in Australia. Jamin shares his journey in the spray drone space: starting with the classic DJI MG-1 in 2017–2018 (when most drones were still "dodgy"), becoming one of Australia's main XAG dealers, and navigating the unique Australian market—strict regulations
Agronomist Switches from Hylio to DJI: 7,500 Acres & Proven Results | The DroneOn Show Ep 40
In episode 40 of the DroneOn Show, Mike sits down with Aaron Clark, an agronomist and ag retail pro with 10+ years selling seed, chemical, and fertilizer in Eastern Ohio. Aaron shares why he jumped into spray drones—to solve chronic timing issues with airplanes and helicopters that left his customers hanging during critical fungicide windows. He details
Drone Conference Kickoff: Hylio Prototype, Future Lifts & Dodging Winter Storms |DroneOn Show Ep 39
In this DroneOn Show episode from the Kansas City, Missouri drone conference, Mike, Jason, and Dennis recap their 12-hour storm-dodging drive and the event’s huge growth—from a small hallway three years ago to a packed expo with new UAVs, trailers, and vendors. They break down the unreleased Helio big-drone prototype (full Hobbywing build, 3D-printed ta
10K Drone Acres & Ground Rigs: Newt's Florida Ag Grind & First-Flight Disaster | DroneOn Show Ep 38
In this episode of the DroneOn Show, host Mike chats with Newt, a Florida cattle farmer with 150 mama cows across three ranches who's also a veteran applicator branching into spray drones after years in the business with ground rigs and spreaders. Newt shares how he jumped into drones to secure his customer base when a client switched to aerial spraying
From Thermal Recoveries to 15K Spray Acres – Drone Pilot Life | The DroneOn Show Ep 37
In Episode 37 of the DroneOn Show, host Mike catches up with Henry, a local Ohio-based thermal drone pilot who's also diving into agricultural spraying, fresh off flying 15,000 acres of fungicide on corn across Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, and Indiana with Dennis's crew. Henry breaks down the surprisingly easy transition from enterprise drones to spray dro
Ex-Logger's Drone Rise: 111 Deer Found and Spray Business Launch | The DroneOn Show Ep 36
In this episode of The Drone On Show, Mike sits down with Cameron Hershberger to dive deep into the world of thermal drones for deer recovery and the booming spray drone business in agriculture. Cam shares his incredible journey from a logging background to building a thriving drone service that's recovered over 100 deer in just one season!
We cover eve
From Forestry to Drone Tech: Habitat, LiDAR & Public Hunts | The DroneOn Show Episode 35
In Episode 35 of the DroneOn Show, Mike chats with Madison Raber, owner of Tree Stand Forestry and a seasoned drone pilot. Madison shares his expertise in forestry consulting, focusing on timber harvesting and habitat improvement for deer hunters. Dive into discussions on using thermal drones for deer recoveries, herd surveys, and the devastating impact
FCC Drone Ban EXPLAINED: Is This the End of DJI in America?
Hey guys, me and Kevin sit down to discuss and dissect the new FCC Drone Ban rules.
Chapters
(00:00:00) - FCC Drone Rules: Critical Components(00:03:01) - How to contact Drone Deer Recovery(00:06:16) - FCC action on drones: Don't Panic!(00:12:29) - President Trump on American Drone Manufacturing(00:18:21) - American Drone Company's IPO(00:23:37) - Dron
Agronomist on Walmart Drone Fails, Fungicide Wins & DJI Ban Concerns | The DroneOn Show Episode 33
In this episode of the DroneOn Show, host Mike chats with Melvin Lahmers, an agronomist and seed consultant from TMK Bakersville who's been in the farming game for over 30 years, growing up on a family farm and helping growers feed the world through crop consulting, custom applications, and aerial tech. They dive right into a hilarious cold call from an
Kirk Price | The DroneOn Show Episode 32
In Episode 32 of the DroneOn Show, host Mike sits down with Kirk Price, a West Virginia-based hunter, YouTuber, and outdoor enthusiast who tagged out early during Ohio's gun week. They kick things off with a wild story from opening morning: using a thermal drone to spot a trespasser on leased land, complete with a suspicious white truck sporting a Yeti
Why California Has Been Slow on Spray Drones & Why That’s About to Change | DroneOn Show Episode 31
In Episode 31 of the DroneOn Show, we sit down with Eugene Punelli, a former crop-dusting company drone pilot turned independent operator out of Bakersfield, California. Eugene shares his real-world experience flying DJI T-50s (and soon a T-100) alongside traditional airplanes and helicopters in the heart of America’s breadbasket – California’s Central
M4TD vs M4T, T100 & FCC Reality – Let's Get Into It | The DroneOn Show Episode 30
In this episode, Mike and Kevin fire up the mics on the porch outside HQ and unload the raw truth on crushing drone season like a man. Deer recovery is exploding— about 900 leads in just 7 days, 300+ pilots cashing in, and why 2024 is getting smoked 3-4X over. Thermal drone showdown: Kevin officially picks the beefier M4TD over the M4T for speed, flight
Wives of Drone Deer Recovery Take Over the DroneOn Show! | The DroneOn Show Episode 29
In this special episode of The DroneOn Show, the wives—Karen (Mike's wife), Kaley (Jay's wife), and Liz (Kevin's wife)—take the mics to share what it's like being married to drone entrepreneurs. They reminisce on how the business started, their roles in the business, and balancing family life with busy seasons. From navigating their husbands’ relentless
Drone Deer Recovery Kicks Off: Crop Field Fails, Tariffs & Pilot Map Updates | The DroneOn Show Episode 28
In this episode of The DroneOn Show, hosts Mike, Kevin, and Jason dive into the start of deer season in Ohio. From epic drone deer recoveries and farming mishaps to US-China drone drama with DJI tariffs, they cover it all. Plus, updates on the Pilot Locator Map, work-life balance for drone pilots, thermal drone scams to watch out for, and future drone t
Charlie Kirk Sparks Thermal Drone Security Debate | The DroneOn Show Episode 27
In this episode of The DroneOn Show, Mike, Kevin, and Dennis explore using thermal drones for private security, inspired by the Charlie Kirk shooting incident. They discuss how drones could enhance security details and Overwatch systems, from spotting threats to aiding recoveries in rural areas. They dive into the potential of drones in modern security,
2 Years In: Dennis’ Spray Drone Business Thrives in Ag! | The DroneOn Show Episode 26
In episode 26 of The DroneOn Show, Mike chats with Dennis from Top Cop Spray Drones about his 2-year journey in drone spraying. Wrapping up the season with cleanup, Dennis shares tips on tackling cover crops, dealing with dryness, and developing efficient loading systems for thousands of pounds. He explains why now is the best time to start—don’t wait f
Thermal Drone Business: Untold Recovery Stories from the Field | The DroneOn Show Episode 25
In this episode of The DroneOn Show, Mike, Jay, and Austin reminisce on untold stories with Drone Deer Recovery, using thermal drones to find lost game in rural woods. They share a wild anecdote of a search turning from deer to a lost hunter. From two-hour hunts to the realities of rural ops, it’s a must for wildlife and ag drone fans. Part 108 regulati
Veteran Drone Services: Helping Vets Reshape Ag Lands! | The DroneOn Show Episode 24
In this episode of The DroneOn Show, Mike sits with Rhyan Syester of Veteran Drone Services at a drone convention. After 24 years in the Army, Rhyan swapped combat boots for drones, spraying crops and tackling rural challenges with precision in Trigg County. From learning drone tech on YouTube to aiding deer recovery, he’s building a spray drone busines
What’s Up with DJI Ban & Part 108? Let’s Dig Into It | The DroneOn Show Episode 23
In episode 23 of The DroneOn Show, Mike, Kevin, and Jason recap their Vegas Commercial UAV conference trip, networking for new products like power washing drones and a $100,000 search and rescue device. They dive into DJI bans, Part 108 regulations, and deer recovery with thermal drones. With T100 release on the horizon, they urge listeners to get on th
Ohio’s Young Gun: Innovating Drone Spraying in Family Farming | The DroneOn Show Episode 22
In this episode of The DroneOn Show, Mike sits with Hayden Crum, a 20-year-old Ohio entrepreneur who launched Midwest Air as a high school freshman. From a 7th-generation, 5,000-acre family farm, Hayden’s spraying 100,000 acres with DJI T20s and Zagg drones, outpacing helicopters with better coverage. Despite a power line crash and Ohio’s drought challe
New York’s Drone Newcomer: Tackling Ag Challenges | The DroneOn Show Episode 21
In episode 21 of The DroneOn Show, Mike chats with Charles about starting a drone spraying business in New York, targeting fields of onions, corn, carrots, cabbage and potatoes. From picking up drones in March to spraying in April, Charles shares insights on navigating the state's strict pesticide rules and the divide between city regulations and rural
Drone Distributor’s Saga: Agri Spray Blazes Ag Trails | The DroneOn Show Episode 20
In this episode of The DroneOn Show, Mike and Jason chat with Taylor from Agri Spray Drones, the largest agricultural drone distributor. From overcoming a heart attack to scaling a family business with 40 employees, Taylor shares raw insights on growth, training, and the future of drones in ag. With stories of viral trailers and industry challenges, it’
Part 108, T100 Buzz, and Plane Rivalry: Forging Ag’s Aerial Future | The DroneOn Show Episode 19
In this episode of The DroneOn Show, Mike and Kevin dive into the T100 drone's potential efficiencies, Part 108 regulations for ag applications, and the beef between drones and airplanes/helicopters. They explore drone bans, industry challenges, and why drones are reshaping aerial ag. Packed with raw tips, it’s a must for ag drone pioneers. Join the sky
Texas Drone Hub Trailblazer | The DroneOn Show Episode 18
In this episode of The DroneOn Show, Mike sits with Juany Mattson of Vortex Advantage Ag at a drone convention in Alabama. A former Napa Valley winery co-founder, Juany, 54, swapped $300 Cabernet for spraying 20,000-acre Texas ranches. With a viral trailer layout on YouTube, he’s building a one-stop drone shop, tackling prickly pear and rugged terrain.
DJI Bans and Beginner Grit: Unpacking Drone Industry Hurdles | The DroneOn Show Episode 17
In episode 17 of The DroneOn Show, Mike and Kevin tackle DJI bans, battery management, and the grind of securing the first thousand acres as a newbie. They dive into Whitetail Research with thermal drones, T100 drone potential, and overcoming startup hurdles like confidence-building and field mishaps. Great advice for aspiring drone entrepreneurs!
Chapt
Where DJI T100, Relationship, and Raw Talk Collide | The DroneOn Show Episode 16
In this episode of The DroneOn Show, Mike, his wife Karen, and Kevin share the gritty reality of launching a drone business while balancing married life. Mike and Kevin dive into their hands-on experience with the new DJI T100, a titan drone revolutionizing aerial spraying. They discuss their spraying experience in Kentucky. From outpacing plane crop du
Chazak’s Rescue Drones Unleashed | The DroneOn Show Episode 15
In this episode of The DroneOn Show, Austin joins Jaden and Ryan at Deadwood Outfitters, where Chazak Rescue trains cadets in drone-powered search and rescue. From thermal imaging to locate survivors to dropping payloads in remote Idaho, they push drones to the limit—crashing one in a tree during a 2.3-mile test! Inspired by hurricane response in North
Brent & Son: Pioneering Drone Spraying in the Heartland | The DroneOn Show Episode 14
In this episode of The DroneOn Show, Mike rides along with Brent and son Griffin in Kansas, where they spray over 100,000 acres yearly with ground rigs. Testing drones on terraced fields, they hit 2,500 acres in three weeks, aiming for 600 acres daily. From T60 battery tweaks to terrain-following tech for tree rows, Brent hands the drone reins to Griffi
Aviator's Epic Drone Shift on 500K-Acre Florida Ranch | The DroneOn Show Episode 13
In this episode of The DroneOn Show, Mike sits with James Harris of Southern Crop Services at a drone convention. A corporate pilot who soloed at 16, James swapped cockpits for drones, spraying 70,000 acres on a 500,000-acre Florida ranch, including a 34,000-acre pasture job in a month. Starting with their first Unimog rig that sparked viral buzz, he ta
From Back Injury to Drone Empire | The DroneOn Show Episode 12
In this episode of The DroneOn Show, Mike sits down with Jesse Bailey of South Alabama Drone Services at a drone convention. A multi-generational farmer sidelined by a back injury, Jesse turned to drones, spraying 9,000 acres in year one and scaling to 30,000 with two pilots. From fine-tuning 32-foot swaths for peanuts to nailing 500-acre herbicide jobs
China’s Drone Tech Sparks Dreams! | The DroneOn Show Episode 11
In Episode 11 of The DroneOn Show, Mike and Kevin share their mind-blowing trip to China’s biggest UAV expo in Shenzhen, home to 70% of global consumer drones. From power-washing skyscrapers to fire-suppression drones, China’s cutting-edge applications soar with government incentives for farmers, outpacing U.S. progress stalled by FAA’s 3-6 month delays
Ukraine Pilot’s Drone Revolution | DroneOn Show Ep 10
In Episode 10 of The DroneOn Show, Mike meets a Ukrainian spray pilot and U.N. drone consultant at a drone convention. Discover how Ukraine’s drone boom, including a client’s epic 150,000-acre sunflower spray in three weeks, is revolutionizing U.S. ag. Learn how this pilot boosted blueberry yields by 3-5% on a 1,235-acre organic farm, mastered low-moist
Zach & Gabe’s Drone Grind: Building a Spray Business in Michigan | DroneOn Show Ep 9
From Ground Rigs to Drones!In Episode 9 of The DroneOn Show, Mike catches up with brothers Zach and Gabe Martindale at a drone convention to dive into their spray drone business in Corona, Michigan. From battling pollen with ground rigs to scaling up with T20P and P100 Pro drones, they share their grind—covering 20,000+ acres, mapping fields with Mavics
Trevor & Terra's Drone Journey: From Hobbyists to Ag Sprayers in Utah | DroneOn Show Ep 8
Newbies in Ag Drones? This One’s for You! In Episode 8 of The DroneOn Show, Mike hits the road at a drone convention to chat with Trevor and Terra, a Utah couple transitioning from small hobby drones to running a spray drone business. From their micro-dairy farm to spraying alfalfa and cover crops on pivot fields with a T50, they share their start-up s
Ryan (NuWay Ag’s Sales Rep) Unpacks Common Drone Questions From Phone Calls with Entrepreneurs & Farmers | DroneOn Show Ep 7
In Episode 7 of The DroneOn Show, we sit down with Ryan McNally, NuWay Ag’s sales rep who’s on the phone all day with entrepreneurs and farmers! Ryan unpacks the common drone questions he hears daily—from T50 vs. T60x decisions to launching a custom application business and tackling concerns like licensing and training. From muddy Ohio fields to nationw
NC Farmer’s Hustle: Making a Living with Drones | The DroneOn Show 06
Welcome to The DroneOn Show! In this episode, hosts Mike Yoder and Jason sit down with Preston, owner of Pac Aerial Applications, to explore how drones are transforming agriculture in the rugged mountains of North Carolina. From spraying herbicides on steep cattle pastures to applying treatments on Christmas tree farms, Preston shares his journey of sta
PA Pilot’s Court Win: Drone Sting Exposed! | The DroneOn Show 05
You may recall the wild story of Josh, a Pennsylvania drone pilot caught in a 2023 sting operation by an undercover game warden. Now that his case is closed, Josh joins the DroneOn Show to share the full, shocking tale! In this candid interview, he reveals how his $13,000 thermal drone was seized during a deer recovery mission, leading to a 13-month leg
The DroneOn Show 04: Down-to-Earth Chat with Bennie: Drones Transform Hoeksfontein Hunting!
Join us for an epic episode of the DroneOn Show as we sit down with Bennie, a fourth-generation ranch owner from Hoeksfontein Safaris in South Africa! We dive into how thermal drones are revolutionizing his 10,000-acre ranch, from recovering game like Springbok to counting elusive animals and saving $30,000 by tracking escaped livestock. Bennie shares h
The DroneOn Show 03: Drone Dreams to Reality: Henry’s Success in a Busy Market!
In this episode of the Drone On Podcast, host Mike sits down with 24-year-old Henry at the Columbus Deer and Turkey Expo to dive into his journey into the thermal drone business. From his childhood fascination with aviation to binge-watching drone deer recovery videos, Henry shares how he turned his passion for drones and hunting into a thriving deer re
The DroneOn Show 02: Hockey Star’s Miraculous Recovery: From Paralysis to Drones | Brandon McGowan
In this inspiring episode of the DroneOn Show, host Mike Yoder sits down with Brandon McGowan, a talented hockey player from Rhode Island who defied the odds after a life-altering spinal cord injury during a game. From being paralyzed to miraculously returning to semi-pro hockey, Brandon shares his incredible journey of resilience and rediscovery throug
The DroneOn Show 01: First Show Ever - Anything Drone Starts Here!
Welcome to the FIRST SHOW EVER of The Drone On Show! Join hosts Mike, Kevin, and Austin as they kick off this exciting journey into the world of drones. In Episode #1, we dive into our roots—how Drone Deer Recovery took off with thermal drones to help hunters, and how we expanded into ag drones for crop spraying. But that’s just the start! We’re talking
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