This week the UCCEO team had the pleasure of visiting with Brock Buckner, owner of @Elevated Ag, LLC, an agricultural service company that uses drones to spray crops and farmland. From custom aerial application to multispectral images of your crops health, they have you covered! Elevated Ag, LLC has also expanded and provides drone sales, service and parts in addition to custom application.

Brock has been involved with the UCCEO program for a few years, serving as a board member and presenting to the students regularly each year. His personal career path has not been straight. He was a respiratory therapist, he started a pest control company, he buys and sells antique signs and his current passion is Elevated Ag, LLC. He is such a wonderful example of being open to new opportunities, working hard to reach your goals and dreams and the entrepreneurial spirit!

Shawnee CUSD #84 senior and UCCEO team member, Avery Stegle, shared this about our visit:

“Mr. Buckner was a respiratory therapist for 10 years, but (after Covid) he said it wasn’t his passion. That was one of my biggest takeaways because Mr. Buckner mentioned it took him 10 years to get to do what he loves the most as a job…. This place was such a fun visit, learning all about his business and how he’s grown into such a big business in such a small time. If you have a passion to do something, don’t feel bad for leaving something you don’t enjoy. Take the step and grow, you might fail but failing leads you to become stronger.”

Cash Hodges, a senior at The AJ Wildcats AJCHS and current UCCEO team member, is also Brock’s nephew and has worked with him in the business. He has become very adept at drone repair and service and also learned some valuable lessons:

“On Monday, we visited Elevated Ag and talked to Mr. Brock Buckner. This visit was unique in the fact that I actually work at the business. Working with Brock for 2 years has taught me many things, most importantly the lesson of working with good people. Brock is one of my biggest role models as he is very kind and open to new ideas. That being said he does have to put his foot down when it comes to bad customers or certain situations. I admire this trait about Brock as he is the embodiment of being kind to someone unless given a reason not to.

I have also learned by working with Brock that one of his most admirable traits is making time for family. No matter if we were spraying 2 hours North, a mile West, or even just working in the shop, Brock always made sure to be home to tell his kids good night and to help out wherever he could. Working with Brock has taught me much more than I could fit into a single journal entry.”

A BIG part of our program is learning about business. As you can see from Avery and Cash’s thoughts, we learn a lot more in addition to the ins and outs of business. We also learn about following your dreams, hard work, family, priorities and many more life skills that guide us in our futures, both professionally and personally.

Thank you Brock for sharing your time and story with us! We look forward to seeing you again!!!