MINOT, North Dakota - The 300,000 people expected to attend the nine-day-long North Dakota State Fair starting this weekend should have a more pleasant experience thanks to the men and women of the 910th Airlift Wing based here in the Valley.

Since Tuesday, the wing’s specially equipped C130-H aircraft has been spraying to eradicate mosquitoes on the site of the state fairgrounds, just south of Minot Air Force Base.

According to Senior Master Sgt. Bob Barko Jr., with the 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Office, Minot AFB is one of about a dozen military installations sprayed by the 910th which has the military’s only large area fixed-wing aerial spray capability.

Barko says the latest mission used a newly installed EMASS system using a computer to extend the spray unit’s mission.

The effort used pesticides registered with the EPA.

According to Barko, the mission is part of the 910th's training process.