training to become a pilot and renting, leasing or buying a plane. Tim says, “He’d done that for a couple other clients and found it was not only cost-effective, but a more efficient way to reach the ag market, which in turn, increased sales. Of course, I started the training immediately when he said the numbers showed it would be workable right away and probably become a smart move financially as the business grew.”

Tim’s flight instructor was a no-nonsense lady who also was qualified to give aerobatic training. He took that training, too, not because he wanted to perform stunts and fly upside down, but so he would be better equipped to handle difficult situations if they would ever occur while he was flying.

“I was chicken about taking the written test,” he says. “So I got in a lot of solo hours, as well as supervised hours, before my flight instructor finally pushed me into taking it. Once I was qualified to fly by visual flight (VFR), I started working on my license to fly using instruments (IFR).

(According to Epic Flight Academy, “Te acronyms VFR and IFR stand for different types of FAA pilot guidelines that aviators must follow when flying. VFR stands for ‘Visual Flight rules,’ which basically means a pilot must follow certain FAA flight rules operating by using only their eyesight while flying. IFR stands for ‘Instrument Flight rules,’ which means that a pilot is basically flying by using their instruments for navigation, radar, weather tracking, flight path monitoring, take-off and landing purposes, etc.” For more information, visit: http:// epicflightacademy.com/vfr-pilot-rating-vs-ifr-pilot-rating/.)

Additional training and flight hours are required to qualify for a license to fly more complex aircraft, with the level of both escalating for each level of complexity. Tim earned his multi-engine IFR to fly the twin-engine plane he owned at one time.

Tim found time to give two youngsters a chance to “play pilot” during his Baton Rouge Angel Flight mission.

Trough Angel Flight, he became a First Responder for Homeland Security and was one of the first pilots in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit. “I flew medical supplies in and patients out. During that time, I also flew dignitaries from FEMA, the Red Cross and Heart-to- Heart up and down the coast to assess damage. It was a very intense experience for all involved as we were being shot at by looters wanting the medical supplies we had on board. We had to wait for the military to secure the airports before we could land. You just can't imagine the amount of devastation there and the chaos that was going on. I’m glad I was able to help, but I hope I never am called on to do something like that again. Some of what I saw will stay with me forever.”

Tim and Dawn Wollesen pose for this photo with Tim’s “office,” his name for his plane.

TPI Turf News May/June 2018

TPI Connections Tim is quick to point out that, except for a few TPI shows that were outside the US, he has attended them all since becoming a member in 1997. He says, “I love this organization. I eat, bleed and sleep TPI. Turfgrass

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Tim calls his current plane, a Beechcraft A36 Bonanza, his flying office. He says, “I’m fortunate to have a business that supports my hobby. But, the bottom line is, flying a small plane allows me to reach my clients faster; fly into small rural airports; and see more people than I could by flying commercial airplanes. And I can make it home to be with my family sooner—and that is the most important.”

Giving Back (Angel Flight and

Homeland Security) Tim would rather give back by action than make a monetary contribution to a worthy cause. “Probably the most rewarding volunteer work I’ve done was as a pilot volunteering my plane and time to fly missions for Angel Flight. It’s a non-profit organization that arranges humanitarian and medical flights for adults and children in need.”