By Blake Jackson
Drone technology is transforming agriculture, and the Kentucky Agriculture Training School (KATS) is helping professionals stay ahead.
KATS will host a two-day workshop and exam opportunity on June 30 and July 1 at Madisonville Community College’s North Campus.
The course is designed to help participants earn their FAA Part 107 Drone Pilot Certification, which is required to operate drones commercially.
KATS coordinator Lori Rogers said, “This is an intense prep-course for the Drone Pilot Certification Exam as required by the FAA, for those who plan to use drones commercially.”
Drones play a growing role in farming tasks like crop monitoring, mapping, livestock observation, and precision spraying. The course prepares participants with study guides and practice tests but does not offer flight training.
Instruction will be led by Mandy Briggs from Parkland College’s Institute of Aviation. Her students enjoy a 99% success rate on the FAA Part 107 exam, reflecting the course’s quality.
Sam Anderson from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture said, “The workshop provided practical training and resources that helped me successfully prepare for and pass the FAA Part 107 exam.”
Day one of the workshop runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., including review sessions and practice tests. Day two begins at 8 a.m., with the FAA exam scheduled in the afternoon. While taking the test on-site is optional, a separate $175 fee is required. The workshop itself costs $400, covering lunch and all materials.
Certified crop advisors attending the event will receive 12 Continuing Education Units (CEUs). With space limited to just 20 participants, early registration is advised. The deadline to register is June 23.
To sign up, visit Eventbrite link or contact Lori Rogers at lori.rogers@uky.edu or 270-365-7541 ext. 21317.
More details are available at KATS website.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-seregalsv
Categories: Kentucky, Business, General