Joe Branham and daughter Madison sit on bleachers with other drone class students during outdoor practice.

A Queen Anne’s County business owner is using skills acquired in a Chesapeake College noncredit drone class to grow his company in a new direction.

Joe Branham, along with his youngest daughter Madison, enrolled in Chesapeake’s drone course to learn new skills to use in his pasture and turf management company.

After completing coursework and earning licensure, Mr. Branham is now expanding his services into a new business, Tomahawk Drones.

“Our company name is a tribute to our Native American tribe – Monocan Indian Nation. My five daughters and I are blood members of the tribe,” Mr. Branham said.

Drone technology is becoming a critical tool in agriculture, Mr. Branham said.

“The drone can see better than the human eye. This is useful in agriculture when the drone detects insects or color changes in plants before people can. This allows for earlier intervention,” Mr. Branham said.

In addition, Mr. Branham is providing drone services to a construction company to map project progress.

Chesapeake’s drone course, he said, provide hands-on learning and guidance on certification.

“I had never touched a drone before the class. It gave us a great start,” he said.