This industry, as you all know, is not for the faint of heart. It takes a significant level of dedication and careful practice to be successful. As I look across here I see a room full of these dedicated, hardworking people! I’m sure everyone here has set goals and met them, or met challenges and conquered them, or encountered misfortune and just kept plowing forward. Our first award this evening is for pilot of the year. This recipient has conquered challenges, plowed through misfortune, and exceeded many goals.

Just finishing up his 16^th season as an aerial ag pilot, this year’s pilot of the year has been around the business since he was in diapers. Born in February 1985, Cody was welcomed into this world and the business by Randy and Sheila Murphree, owners of Murphree’s Flying Service in Rotan, Tx. Cody has always known from a very young age he wanted to be an ag pilot and follow in his Dad’s footsteps to carry on the family legacy.

Through the years Cody helped his Dad learning every facet of the business – from managing grower relationships to airplane maintenance and safety. Cody received his pilot’s license when he was 18 years old. After high school Cody ran the ground operations for Murphree’s Flying Service, while working to breakout as an ag pilot. He spent countless hours in the Super Cub building time while honing his piloting skills. In 2006 Cody finally got his chance, when Randy leased an Ag Cat for him to spray in. During that time, Cody leaned heavily on his dad and Randy Lowrie to help guide and teach him all the ins and outs of spraying.

For those who’ve known Cody, you know that in July 2007 he was in an airplane accident that could have been career ending. However, with the grace of God and Cody’s determination to spray again, in 2009 he climbed back in the cockpit thanks to Rusty and Lea Lindeman offering him a seat. Cody found his groove in South Texas and has been thriving ever since.

Through the years Cody has flown acres across much of the country, including Texas, Oklahoma, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa. For the last seven seasons Cody has been branch manager and pilot for Central Custom Ag Aviation Inc in Wichita Falls, Tx. Cody works along side his wife Stephanie and ground crew chief and friend, Dylan Williams. Cody works diligently to maintain a clean and safe workspace and aircraft fleet. He is continuously stewarding customer relationships with one on one visits and phone calls; as well as piloting in the cockpit striving to do a quality job for every grower.
 
 Kyle King, Vice-President of Diversified applications says this about Cody; “Cody is an outstanding pilot and puts the quality of his applications and safety first. He is the kind of pilot that all our locations like to have come and help. His work ethic, productivity, and willingness to go anywhere and help are just a few of his attributes. No matter where Cody is flying across the country, I hear compliments on his work. When growers or crop consultants take the time to call the office to brag on a pilot for a quality application simply says it all.”

Cody’s passion for flying is surpassed ONLY by the love for his family. He and Stephanie (his wife of twelve years) have three children. The oldest is 18 year old daughter Tesleigh who attends college at Western Texas College in Snyder, Tx. And two boys, seven year old Cason and three year old Corbin. The boys learned how to crawl and walk and  currently mastering the bicycle while watching Dad come and go in his spray plane.

In addition to being an outstanding pilot, Cody has been an active TAAA board member since 2010, and currently serves as Secretary. He will also be representing Texas at this year’s NAAA Leadership Conference in Washington D.C.

Our 2023 operator of the year award goes to Mr. Cody Murphree!