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Introducing new drone-spraying business to farm brings in next generationIntroducing new drone-spraying business to farm brings in next generation

New drone-spraying enterprise was key to bringing next generation into northeast Nebraska family farming operation.

Charlotte Brockman

January 22, 2025

3 Min Read
Skyles standing on truck with sprayer
FLYING HIGH: Building a new business venture on the farm, Kinkaid AgriSpray, has offered a way to bring another generation into the farming operation for Scott Kinkaid and his son, Skyles. The new venture allows Skyles to support the family farm but also begin to carve out his own way forward for farming down the road. Photos by Charlotte Brockman

The succession of a farm from one generation to the next is complex and sometimes difficult, but the success stories all start with a courageous choice.

Nestled in the hills of northeast Nebraska near Hartington, Scott Kinkaid and his son, Skyles, farm together. This father-son duo has gone above and beyond to ensure the success of the next generation of their operation by laying a foundation for a new business venture: Kinkaid AgriSpray, Skyles’ custom spray and drone business, made possible by curiosity and a concerted effort to continue to innovate and diversify the operation. 

Started early

At an early age, Skyles was interested in continuing as the fifth generation on the family’s farm. So, when the opportunity came for him, as a junior in high school, to become invested through the ownership of a sprayer, he and his father leaped into business together. Drawing inspiration from a neighbor who was doing custom applications on the side, Skyles set out to make the payment on the new equipment.

Kinkaid readies his equipment for takeoff

“It worked, except I had a repair bill, which was a lot, but I could see that there’s a lot of opportunity out there,” Skyles says. The following year, he upgraded his sprayer and expanded the business, which has only continued through his six years of operation.

Related:Young farmer finds new hay tech at HHD

Finding success and plenty of business with the sprayer remains integral to his business today. However, in his search to expand his season and better serve his customers, he found a niche in the drone application.

“The drone doesn’t do what the sprayer does at all. The drone can do pastures and fungicides late into the season. So, the drone and sprayer are pretty complementary of each other,” Skyles says. Kinkaid AgriSpray has provided an additional income to the Kinkaids’ farming operation while also serving its needs.

What’s next?

Looking toward the future, the Kinkaids may one day be able to say that the fifth generation remains on the farm because of one sprayer and a lot of hard work. “Sure, the sprayer was a lot of money, but when you’re talking about buying land or something, it’s nothing,” Skyles says, “and it seemed like I could make money faster doing this than I could by farming, even though that's what I like to do. This is a happy medium between farming and getting an off-the-farm job.”

Today, the custom spray operation takes most of Skyles' time and supports his farming as he begins to build his own acres while enjoying not having to depend solely on grain prices and increasingly unreliable weather. 

Related:From bit to saddle: Horse-training lessons at HHD

Kinkaid fills his drone tank in preparation for a spraying operation

To other young farmers, he offers this advice: “If there’s an opportunity to do something different that relates to the farm, it’s probably a good thing to at least try it.” The chance he and his father took gave him security for his future and growing confidence in himself and his skills. 

To learn more about Kinkaid AgriSpray, follow on Facebook at facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571309679623.

About the Author

Charlotte Brockman

Charlotte Brockman is a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she studies agronomy and international trade. Although originally from Idaho, moving to Nebraska proved to be an opportunity to connect further with her agricultural roots, and showcase the producers of Nebraska. Growing up a generation removed from a small dairy and row crop operation in Macon, Neb., and a cow-calf operation in southern Idaho, Brockman often takes inspiration from past generations to pursue innovation around the world and tell the important stories of Nebraska's agriculturists. 

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