Kansas Agricultural Drone Services, llc (KADS) this week presented a formal proposal to the City of Hiawatha for the purchase of 4.5 acres of city-owned land adjacent to Hiawatha Municipal Airport, with the intent to establish a multi-company agricultural technology campus. The City Council approved the proposal and directed City Administrator Brad Scott to work on the next steps. Closing is targeted for August 2026.
Founded by Mike Bahr, a retired architect and third-generation Kansas landowner who relocated from Wisconsin to Hiawatha in 2025, KADS provides precision aerial services to agricultural producers across Northeast Kansas and adjacent states. In the 2025 growing season alone, Bahr used multispectral drone cameras and satellite imagery to monitor crops on nearly 8,000 acres across 125 fields. He logged more than 4,200 miles of flight. The company offers drone crop scouting, custom aerial application, sales and support of Revolution Drones, and hands-on consulting tailored to each producer’s operation.
The proposed airport-adjacent site will serve as a permanent home for both KADS operations and a companion venture, Midwest Sustainable Innovations, llc, which is exploring options for developing hydrogen and chemical manufacturing capabilities — including potential production of other chemicals such as Sodium Aluminate, Anhydrous Ammonia, and Urea — to strengthen regional agricultural infrastructure.
“My goal is to create enterprises that directly benefit local farmers and the broader community,” said Bahr. “This site provides the ability to grow, to serve agricultural producers more effectively, and to build technology-based agricultural career paths right here in Hiawatha, Kansas.”
The proposed development will expand services available to area producers, create local employment opportunities, support education pathways through technical experience, and increase utilization of the Hiawatha Municipal Airport.
Visit www.kads.tech to learn more about Kansas Agricultural Drone Services, llc.
Kansas Agricultural Drone Services, llc is devoted to empowering farmers through the use of drone technology. Specifically to help growers increase crop yield reduce crop loss, increase soil health, and help farmers succeed.
