Ag Pilot Andy Stein is Flying Slow and Low.

It did not take long when I was talking with Andy to recognize what he values the most:  1) his family, 2) his love for “this great nation of ours” and 3) his job as an Ag pilot.

When he is flying, Andy wears his own signature attire. It is a Roper brand USA flag dress shirt and a USA flag helmet which clearly characterizes his strong sense of patriotism and love for his county.

Helicopter pilot Andy SteinHelicopter pilot Andy Stein

Besides being a pilot, Andy is a proud father of four. He has two adult daughters living in Modesto. He has a 19-year old daughter Grace who is a Private First Class in the United States Army. When Grace completed boot camp, Andy attended her graduation ceremony. He asked if he could sing the National Anthem, but the Sargent told him no. Andy sang the National Anthem anyways; accapella, standing outside in the pouring rain.

Andy with his daughter Grace and his son Gordon. Photo by Andy SteinAndy with his daughter Grace and his son Gordon. Photo by Andy Stein

Andy and his 16-year-old son Gordon share a love for restoring old trucks and cars together. Every July, they participate in the Modesto July 4th parade by riding in an original Ford 1928 Model B car. This family tradition was started in 1969 by Andy’s father. He purchased the classic car in 1965 for $35.00 and appropriately named it after John Steinbeck’s novel “The Grapes of Wrath”. The car honors all the people who moved during the Great Depression from Oklahoma to California to pursue work in agriculture. In 2019, the Grapes of Wrath celebrated its 50th year in the Modesto Independence Day parade.

The Grapes of Wrath    Photo by Andy SteinThe Grapes of Wrath Photo by Andy Stein

Ag pilots are often referred to as “farmers in the sky”. Andy has a strong agricultural knowledge which is necessary to ensure the application of the product he is spraying is done correctly and safely without incurring any harm to animals, people or damage to their personal property. When he is not flying, Andy continues his family legacy by farming on land that was originally part of his grandfather’s dairy. He grows 9 acres of walnuts and 13 acres of alfalfa.

In addition, he has a small side business called SteinCoCreations.  He does custom laser engravings. Andy has a strong appreciation for farm laborers who are working on the ground. He has been known to land his helicopter when he is working nearby to distribute insulated coffee cups with the laser engraved logo “My Job Depends on Ag” to them. It is his personal way of thanking each of them for the work they are doing. Andy calls this OperationRanchHand.

Last May, a member of the group MJDOA (My Job Depends on Ag) reached out on Facebook asking if anyone had a used pair of work boots for sale.  The man explained his boots were falling apart and they were required for his job. He had a young family at home and could not afford a new pair. Andy quickly responded by asking “what size do you wear?”  Within a few hours, more MJDOA members rallied together collecting enough money to purchase a pair of new boots, 2 new shirts, 2 new pairs of jeans, gloves and an insulated coffee cup. The following day, Andy was working nearby and delivered them to the young man.

Aerial application has become a necessity for growers because helicopters can accomplish three times more work in the field than ground equipment. Andy Stein is a well-trained and highly skilled agriculture pilot whose important job is unfamiliar to most. He is a humble and unassuming man who loves his family, his country and his job.

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