Hear hear aileron_69,
Just like all those Doctors-to-be toiling away cleaning the linen at the hospitals, all of those Judges-to-be climbing to the Bench by spending year after year working as Prison Guards and all of those Astronauts-to-be currently sweating away in a third-world factory making the badges that Little Johnny is going to wear on his hat when he goes to watch the shuttle launch. True progression from within the ranks!!!
In the ag world its always worked this way. You start of loading the plane as ground crew, prove you're a good worker, and with any luck you'll be able to work your way up to a flying job. This bloke has obviously proven himself to be a good worker, and been rewarded for it too.
For many people an Ag flying job IS entry level, not top of the rung for fertiliser loaders. What you advocate (to such a degree as a baggage handler jumping straight to seats in the front row) is a backwards step for an already too backwards industry!
FRQ CB
PS I am not insinuating that Ag flying is only a rung to a shiny jet, many many people make a fulfilling and lucrative career below A001.