Still flying after 55 years

Even though he sold his business a few years ago, Dean Lovgren still stays busy with aerial spraying

  • Dean Lovgren’s aerial application business, JEM Flying, is located north of Morrowville, and even though he sold his business to Heinen Brothers 5 years ago, he still flies for them, continuing his service he has been offering for 55 years now.
    Dean Lovgren’s aerial application business, JEM Flying, is located north of Morrowville, and even though he sold his business to Heinen Brothers 5 years ago, he still flies for them, continuing his service he has been offering for 55 years now.
  • Dean Lovgren, sitting in his spray plane in his hangar, started helping in the aerial spraying business when he was 20 years old and bought JEM Flying Service in 1968. He continues to spray in the area and says he is as busy as he has ever been. Photos by CYNTHIA SCHEER / WCN
    Dean Lovgren, sitting in his spray plane in his hangar, started helping in the aerial spraying business when he was 20 years old and bought JEM Flying Service in 1968. He continues to spray in the area and says he is as busy as he has ever been. Photos by CYNTHIA SCHEER / WCN
  • Dean Lovgren flies a 1989 model spray plane, which is housed in his JEM Flying hangar north of Morrowville, just off Highway 15.
    Dean Lovgren flies a 1989 model spray plane, which is housed in his JEM Flying hangar north of Morrowville, just off Highway 15.
  • A gravel road in front of his hangar serves as a runway for Dean Lovgren. He has been operating a spraying business since he purchased JEM Flying Service from Elmer Hanneman.
    A gravel road in front of his hangar serves as a runway for Dean Lovgren. He has been operating a spraying business since he purchased JEM Flying Service from Elmer Hanneman.
August is usually a pretty slow time for aerial spraying because everything is hot and dry, according to Dean Lovgren. This year was different. Thanks to wetter, cooler conditions in late July, fungus was a concern in many fields in the area. Enter Lovgren and his spray plane. “I’ve done more spraying this year because the crop looks so good and the farmers want to save it,” Lovgren said. “The…

To access content, please login or purchase a subscription.