The Midwest Drone Conference is a premier regional event dedicated to bringing together the growing community of drone applicators, innovators, and ag professionals across the Midwest. Hosted by American Drone, Wisconsin’s leader in agricultural drone sales, service, training, and custom application, this conference is designed for anyone who uses or is interested in using unmanned aircraft for liquid or dry applications.

Whether you operate drones on your own property, run a custom application business, support land management, forestry, or conservation efforts, or simply want to understand how modern application drones are transforming agriculture, this conference delivers unmatched value. Attendees will gain insight into real-world operations, best practices, regulatory updates, equipment capabilities, and the evolving standards that shape responsible, effective UAS application work.

The Midwest Drone Conference focuses on two core goals: community networking and education. Participants will connect with fellow applicators, industry experts, researchers, manufacturers, and support services to share knowledge, build relationships, and strengthen the regional drone-application community. Educational sessions will highlight everything from safe and legal operations to technical optimization, and data-driven application strategies.

More than just a conference, this event is a place where drone applicators can learn from one another, elevate industry standards, and help advance the future of agricultural and land-management technology throughout the Midwest.

Jonathan Rupprecht, Esq.
Commercial Pilot(ASEL/AMEL) & Flight Instructor (CFI/CFII)
Rupprecht Law, P.A.

Attorney Rupprecht is a drone lawyer and a commercial pilot with single-engine, multi-engine, and instrument ratings. He is also an airplane flight instructor and instrument flight instructor. He is currently a contributor for Forbes.com for Aerospace & Defense. He has helped clients obtain 160+ waivers (swarm, moving boat, over people, etc.) , 54 airspace authorizations, and 1,000+ exemptions. Jonathan is currently practicing drone law in South Florida at his firm Rupprecht Law, P.A.

Presentation Title:  Important legal considerations for drone spraying operations.
(1) employee vs subcontractor classification issues with IRS and FAA (2) evaluate an aircraft prior to purchase (44807, remote ID, do they have the drone in stock?, FCC and NDAA stuff) (3) getting legal help with your drone ope, (UPL, attorney-client privilege, finding a good attorney, methodology, etc.)

Joel M. Jones
President and Chief Pilot Drone Crop Services

Joel is a pioneering leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) with over a decade of experience in aviation education, regulatory compliance, and operational innovation. He also conducted the first Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) UAS aerial application in the United States. He has written operations and training manuals for swarm, BVLOS, and night operations. Joel has authored multiple FAA approvals, including Section 44807 exemptions for UAS over 55 pounds, FAA 107.31 BVLOS waivers, FAA 107.35 “Swarm” waivers, and FAA 107.36 hazardous materials waivers.

Presentation Title:  The future of Beyond Visual Line of Sight (Part 108)

Dustin Polasek
U.S.M.C. Retired
Eastern Regional Manager
M.N.R.S. Ecological Restoration
Nutrien

Presentation Title:  Drones in Industrial Vegetation Management (IVM)
Overview of the current roles of drones/UAV in IVM as well as look at the potential impact that drones will have in the future regarding IVM.

Lia Marchi Werle, PhD, is Field Development Manager at Exacto®, where she leads applied research supporting adjuvant and formulation development for crop protection, plant health, and biological products. She provides technical support to Exacto’s commercial partners, including major ag retailers and manufacturers, translating spray physics and formulation science into data-driven solutions for real-world product performance.

Presentation Title:  Understanding Drone Spray Performance — What DRAs Improve and What They Don’t

James Longo
Environmental Enforcement Specialist
Division of Agricultural Resource Management
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection

Presentation Title:  Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection; Drone Applications, a brief regulatory overview.

Robert Buchberger
Robert is Chief Pilot and Irrigation Supervisor for Heartland Farms, one of Wisconsin’s largest growers.  He has worked for Heartland Farms for the past 15 years as an irrigation Supervisor with 40 years experience in center pivot irrigation and has been the Chief Pilot for their Unmanned Aerial Spray Program since Heartland first started using spray drones 3 years ago. He has 21 years of aviation experience as he is a private pilot single engine, multi engine land and instrument rated. Robert took Heartland’s Spray Drone Program from 2500 acres in 2023 to 17,600 in 2025. He will be sharing his thoughts on efficiency and getting acres covered.

Presentation Title:  Staying in the air to get acres, or not?

Eric Greening
Insurance Advisor

Eric specializes in Farm, Agribusiness and Commercial Insurance and is AFIS Certified. He doesn’t like sitting behind the desk and prefers to be out in the “field” meeting with his clients where they are so he can get a full grasp of the risk we are trying to protect against.

Presentation Title:  $1M+ Liability Claims Are Real…Local Drone Insurance That Has Your Back

Alex Schmenk
Chief Pilot, American Drone

Alex has been operating application drones at American Drone for the past two years. In his role, he manages the company’s application service business and specializes in remote aerial applications across various sectors, including agriculture, forestry, turf managment, utility ROWs and more.

He resides in Central Wisconsin, where he enjoys and prioritizes quality family time with his wife and their five children. “Family is central to my life, and I value the moments we share together.”

Presentation Title:  Application Drone Management Software

Jeremy Heim
Partner & General Manager
Heim’s Hillcrest Dairy & Heim Custom Brothers, near Algoma in Kewaunee County

Jeremy Heim actively serves his community through leadership roles that bridge agriculture and public service. As vice-president of Wisconsin Custom Operators, a board member of Peninsula Pride Farms and Professional Nutrient Applicators Association, and an active member of Farmers of Sustainable Foods, he collaborates with regulators, local agencies, and fellow farmers to promote sustainable practices and responsible stewardship. Jeremy works closely with the Wisconsin DNR, EPA, Water and Soil Departments, Sheriff’s Department and local townships, engaging directly with government and community stakeholders through public forums, site visits, and industry advocacy to support policy-informed, environmentally conscious farming initiatives.

At Heim’s Hillcrest Dairy and Heim Brothers Custom, being a good community member means supporting neighbors, caring for the land, sharing our farm story, and giving back whenever possible. Jeremy believes in working collaboratively with all agencies to understand and meet everyone’s goals. Rooted in strong family values and a commitment to responsible stewardship, he strives to build meaningful connections and contribute to the well-being of the community that has supported his farm for generations.

Presentation Title:  Flying Into the Future: Ag Drones for Modern Dairies

Ben Heim
Partner, Heim’s Hillcrest Dairy
Drone Manager & Nutrient Application Specialist, Heim Brothers Custom, near Algoma in Kewaunee County

Ben Heim plays a key leadership role across both Heim’s Hillcrest Dairy and Heim Brothers Custom. As a partner in the family dairy, he helps guide daily operations with a strong focus on efficiency, stewardship, and innovation. In his role as Drone Manager & Nutrient Application Specialist for Heim Brothers Custom, Ben oversees all aerial application and mapping services, bringing cutting-edge technology to the farm’s agronomic and environmental practices.

Ben is a licensed drone pilot and holds a Commercial Pesticide Applicator – For Hire license. He is also certified in manure application, ensuring all nutrient work is performed safely, responsibly, and in compliance with state regulations. With a strong commitment to using technology to support sustainable agriculture, Ben continues to advance the farm’s capabilities while honoring the values of a multi-generation family operation.

Presentation Title:  Flying Into the Future: Ag Drones for Modern Dairies

Sam Thier
Director of Product Innovation and Strategic Partnerships for Terraplex Ag

Sam grew up on a farm in Central Kansas and has been involved in the agricultural drone industry since 2015. He bought his first imaging drone in 2015 and, over the course of time, jumped right into the spray drone market when spray drones became a viable option for farming operations.

Presentation Title: American Drone Production for 2026

Russell Hedrick
CEO- Revolution Drones

Russell Hedrick is a first-generation farmer from Hickory, North Carolina known for fast, practical adoption of regenerative systems on row crops and livestock. His farm centers on cover crops, reduced tillage, precision nutrition management, and livestock integration to lower input costs while improving soil function and profitability. Russell speaks nationally on making farm practices “pencil,” including equipment setup, planting green, roller-crimping, residue management, and simple on-farm trials that validate change. He collaborates with universities, conservation districts, and farmer networks, and consults with growers who want to transition from high-input programs to resilient, biology-forward systems. He has been working to pioneer American-made drones as a founding member of Revolution Drones to bring new technologies to the American farmland built by farmers for farmers.

Presentation Title: American Drone Production for 2026

Austin Pitlik
General Manager 

Austin is a Civil Engineer, manages approximately 60 acres of cranberries using drones exclusively for 3 full growing seasons. Uses drones for both spraying and spreading applications. In addition to general broadcast applications, he also uses multispectral to create prescription maps and thermal drones for sprinkler monitoring.

Presentation Title: Drone use in cranberries

Mike Gronski, CCA
Field Agronomist – KTC

Mike Gronski is a Pioneer Seed Field Agronomist covering North Central Wisconsin, and has been with the company since 2016.  In his current role Mike works with sales reps and customers alike to keep them updated with the latest challenges in the field, troubleshoot issues that arise, and promote Pioneer Seed product knowledge. Prior to that Mike worked retail agronomy for 8 years in Auburndale, WI, covering a wide array of tasks that included seed placement, fertilizer recommendations, crop protection advice, crop scouting, nutrient management planning, troubleshooting in field concerns, and overseeing daily operations.  He currently resides in Marshfield, WI, with his wife, Sara, and daughter Quinnley.  In his free time Mike enjoys watching his daughters activities, snowmobiling, and deer hunting.

 Talk Title: Using Technology to Aid in Protecting Yield