By Shelby Ruud Jarman
It’s 6 a.m., and Rachel Reeder is pulling on her waders, lacing up work boots, and charging a drone the size of a boulder. Over the next 10 hours, she’ll navigate this drone across some of the most remote, mosquito-infested areas of Davis County.
“It’s a lot of fun,” she says enthusiastically. “I really love my job.”
At just 19 years old, Rachel works for the Mosquito Abatement District-Davis. She and a co-worker travel to mosquito-infested regions, using drones to efficiently apply larvicide and prevent mosquito outbreaks. Their work plays a crucial role in ensuring public safety and comfort during the warmer months by controlling the mosquito population.
When Rachel began this job in the early summer, she had maps to memorize and spray patterns to learn — but she was well-prepared for flying the drone, thanks to her unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) certificate from Utah State University Eastern.
One short year of schooling at USU Eastern prepared Rachel to understand the physics of flying, the mechanics of drones, and the intricate laws that govern airspace. With opportunities to practice building her own drone, flight labs to log flight time and gain experience, and the chance to work with a local organization on a real project, Rachel left the program with the confidence and expertise to navigate complex drone operations in real-world settings.
Due to the hands-on nature of the coursework, the UAS certificate at USU Eastern was recently approved as a technical education certificate, putting it in a different tuition schedule and saving students thousands of dollars.
“Our UAS certificate program is the perfect happy medium between college and a trade school,” said Shalyn Drake, lecturer and UAS certificate lead. “It's something other programs don't necessarily offer because it is largely hands-on, but there are academic, college-type aspects to it as well that can help students feel they are capable of being successful in either situation.”
According to Drake, unmanned aircraft systems is one of the world’s fastest-growing industries, and many students receive job offers even before they graduate.
“Drones are being used in absolutely everything — construction, natural resources, wildlife management, inspections, border patrol, military, search and rescue, Hollywood, real estate, agriculture, education, solar development, insurance — the list goes on,” Drake said. “Many students don’t realize where their career can go until they’re in the program and see the opportunities firsthand.”
For Rachel, this job isn’t just about technology — it’s about solving real-world problems while staying connected to her farming roots. She grew up on a farm that has been in her family for generations, and she has fond memories of riding in tractors and moving irrigation pipes with her father.
“It’s really fun to just get outside and see the world around us — the wildlife, the plants, all of it,” she said. “I just can’t picture myself sitting behind a desk all day.”
This is just one of the many ways technology is changing the future of farming. Before the use of drones became so widespread, mosquito abatement was an arduous task that had to be done on foot.
Rachel got to experience the old-fashioned way not too long ago, in fact. Strong winds grounded the drone for safety reasons. Rachel and her partner set out on foot, carrying granny bags and spraying the larvicide by hand. They walked in knee-high irrigation boots and marched through the marshy areas where mosquitos were rampant.
“There are a lot of times where we had to shuffle around awkwardly, because the water and mud were trying to eat our boots,” she said, laughing. “Yeah, it’s hard to do it on foot.”
Reeder hopes to one day purchase a sprayer drone and start her own business, offering services like spraying pesticides, fertilizer and herbicides for farmers.
“Farming is a 24/7 job,” she said. “You’re always working and sweating out in the sunshine. Being able to use a piece of technology to make things easier and more efficient just makes sense.”
Rachel sees this as a turning point for technology in agriculture.
“It’s right on the edge of things really starting to explode,” she said. “Getting into it sooner is better because it’s about to get really competitive, really fast.”
Rachel is now a staunch advocate for young people, especially young women, getting involved in aviation. As a student, she had the opportunity to represent USU Eastern at a Women in Aviation conference in Florida, where she demonstrated drone use and encouraged young women to follow their dreams.
“Don't hesitate,” she said. “If it's on your mind and you want to do it, go for it. Because if you don't grab on now, the opportunity is just going to slip through your fingers.”
Source : usu.edu