Crop Dusting 1960s Wisconsin

This video is a look back at aerial application of insecticide in Wisconsin during the mid-1960s. It was compiled from 35mm Kodachrome transparencies captured by a Braun Paxette II camera which were digitally scanned in 2010 and incorporated into this piece in 2014. Most images are from south-central Wisconsin; a few from northern Wisconsin and Minnesota. Most of the depicted work was done for canning companies.

[@charlesfoster141]

I grew up in the country in the 50's watching crop dusting Stearmans and Piper Cubs fly over our farm all day everyday since the airport was just across the highway from our cotton field. My grandfather would take me over to sit in the planes when I was 5 years old. I spent my days waving to pilots and dreaming of the day I would fly. My dreams came to pass although I never flew dusters or spray planes. I did end up owning and enjoying many antique taildraggers over the years. I enjoyed this presentation emensely. A lot of great memories came flooding back. You never forget the sights, sounds and smells associated with a crop dusting operation.

[@allenbond7221]

Very cool .. awesome video .. I love the golden Era of cropdusting ..

[@Kevin_747]

Very nice look at the '60's. By the time I started flying sprayers in the late '70's there were no Stearman sprayers left in my area. I started on an A9 Quail (Callair).

[@leewoolley648]

My father flew a Stearman crop duster for Libby's out of Janesville, WI in the 1960s. Thanks for the video! It brought back lots of memories!

[@tileman1814]

Man oh Man did the old memories come flooding back.I worked as a flagger when I was in my mid teens for a dusting service in California's San Joaquin Valley.The guy that owned the company was a fighter pilot from WW11. He had four converted Stearmans that had been updated to 450 P&W.Very cool video.My thanks!!!

[@natural-born_pilot]

What I've always wanted to do all thru high school. When I brought home the entrance starter package involving all the costs and tuition payments my father went thru the roof. That's as far as I got. Always think about it. Few times I was lucky enough to be going down a two lane black top and observe an air tractor working I would always stop and take in the show.
Thank you so much for presenting this video I enjoyed it.

[@charlessage7323]

Awesome, I want to be a cropduster when I grow up!

[@8literbeater]

Stearmans and Studebakers, now that was an outfit with taste and class.

[@curtishaney2056]

Love it!

[@timstarks3714]

I still remember pushing rice
Way forward. 50 gallons
Gas....mo . gas from
Local gas station
My pilot was.Ralph Schutts.
Wattsonville,ca

[@mustangtonto5862]

NICE!

[@drive9997]

That was awesome

[@gregkal2007]

........... Dusharm ring a bell ? Probably misspelled the name.