diff --git a/src/bin/replicator.rs b/src/bin/replicator.rs
index f78653cd7..d4aa537bb 100644
--- a/src/bin/replicator.rs
+++ b/src/bin/replicator.rs
@@ -8,11 +8,16 @@ extern crate solana;
 use clap::{App, Arg};
 use solana::chacha::chacha_cbc_encrypt_files;
 use solana::cluster_info::Node;
+use solana::client::mk_client;
+use solana::drone::DRONE_PORT;
 use solana::fullnode::Config;
 use solana::ledger::LEDGER_DATA_FILE;
 use solana::logger;
 use solana::replicator::{sample_file, Replicator};
 use solana::signature::{Keypair, KeypairUtil};
+use solana::storage_transaction::StorageTransaction;
+use solana::transaction::Transaction;
+use solana::wallet::request_airdrop;
 use std::fs::File;
 use std::net::{Ipv4Addr, SocketAddr};
 use std::path::Path;
@@ -90,7 +95,7 @@ fn main() {
     // TODO: ask network what slice we should store
     let entry_height = 0;
 
-    let replicator = Replicator::new(
+    let (replicator, leader_info) = Replicator::new(
         entry_height,
         5,
         &exit,
@@ -124,8 +129,22 @@ fn main() {
 
     let sampling_offsets = [0, 1, 2, 3];
 
+    let mut client = mk_client(&leader_info);
+
+    let mut drone_addr = leader_info.contact_info.tpu;
+    drone_addr.set_port(DRONE_PORT);
+    let airdrop_amount = 5;
+    if let Err(e) = request_airdrop(&drone_addr, &keypair.pubkey(), airdrop_amount) {
+        panic!("couldn't get airdrop {}: {}!", airdrop_amount, e);
+    }
+
     match sample_file(&ledger_data_file_encrypted, &sampling_offsets) {
-        Ok(hash) => println!("sampled hash: {}", hash),
+        Ok(hash) => {
+            let last_id = client.get_last_id();
+            println!("sampled hash: {}", hash);
+            let tx = Transaction::storage_new_mining_proof(&keypair, hash, last_id);
+            client.transfer_signed(&tx).expect("transfer didn't work!");
+        }
         Err(e) => println!("Error occurred while sampling: {:?}", e),
     }
 
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 7bbe93943..5ed4498e6 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ pub mod signature;
 pub mod sigverify;
 pub mod sigverify_stage;
 pub mod storage_program;
+pub mod storage_transaction;
 pub mod store_ledger_stage;
 pub mod streamer;
 pub mod system_program;
diff --git a/src/replicator.rs b/src/replicator.rs
index 2c76b0b2b..e9bc33c19 100644
--- a/src/replicator.rs
+++ b/src/replicator.rs
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ use std::thread::JoinHandle;
 use std::time::Duration;
 use store_ledger_stage::StoreLedgerStage;
 use streamer::BlobReceiver;
+use thin_client::poll_gossip_for_leader;
 use window;
 use window_service::window_service;
 
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ pub fn sample_file(in_path: &Path, sample_offsets: &[u64]) -> io::Result<Hash> {
             return Err(Error::new(ErrorKind::Other, "offset too large"));
         }
         buffer_file.seek(SeekFrom::Start(*offset * sample_size64))?;
-        info!("sampling @ {} ", *offset);
+        trace!("sampling @ {} ", *offset);
         match buffer_file.read(&mut buf) {
             Ok(size) => {
                 assert_eq!(size, buf.len());
@@ -74,7 +75,7 @@ impl Replicator {
         node: Node,
         network_addr: Option<SocketAddr>,
         done: Arc<AtomicBool>,
-    ) -> Replicator {
+    ) -> (Replicator, NodeInfo) {
         let window = window::new_window_from_entries(&[], entry_height, &node.info);
         let shared_window = Arc::new(RwLock::new(window));
 
@@ -126,13 +127,19 @@ impl Replicator {
             exit.clone(),
         );
 
-        Replicator {
-            ncp,
-            fetch_stage,
-            store_ledger_stage,
-            t_window,
-            retransmit_receiver,
-        }
+        let leader =
+            poll_gossip_for_leader(network_addr.unwrap(), Some(10)).expect("couldn't reach leader");
+
+        (
+            Replicator {
+                ncp,
+                fetch_stage,
+                store_ledger_stage,
+                t_window,
+                retransmit_receiver,
+            },
+            leader,
+        )
     }
 
     pub fn join(self) {
@@ -213,7 +220,7 @@ mod tests {
 
         info!("starting replicator node");
         let replicator_node = Node::new_localhost_with_pubkey(replicator_keypair.pubkey());
-        let replicator = Replicator::new(
+        let (replicator, _leader_info) = Replicator::new(
             entry_height,
             1,
             &exit,
diff --git a/src/storage_program.rs b/src/storage_program.rs
index bd175c8cc..dc3565192 100644
--- a/src/storage_program.rs
+++ b/src/storage_program.rs
@@ -3,13 +3,14 @@
 //!  and give reward for good proofs.
 
 use bincode::deserialize;
+use hash::Hash;
 use solana_program_interface::account::Account;
 use solana_program_interface::pubkey::Pubkey;
 use transaction::Transaction;
 
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug, Clone)]
 pub enum StorageProgram {
-    SubmitMiningProof { sha_state: [u8; 32] },
+    SubmitMiningProof { sha_state: Hash },
 }
 
 pub enum StorageError {
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ impl StorageProgram {
         if let Ok(syscall) = deserialize(tx.userdata(pix)) {
             match syscall {
                 StorageProgram::SubmitMiningProof { sha_state } => {
-                    info!("Mining proof submitted with state {}", sha_state[0]);
+                    info!("Mining proof submitted with state {:?}", sha_state);
                     return Ok(());
                 }
             }
diff --git a/src/storage_transaction.rs b/src/storage_transaction.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..19463154a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/storage_transaction.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+use bincode::serialize;
+use hash::Hash;
+use signature::{Keypair, KeypairUtil};
+use storage_program::StorageProgram;
+use transaction::Transaction;
+
+pub trait StorageTransaction {
+    fn storage_new_mining_proof(from_keypair: &Keypair, sha_state: Hash, last_id: Hash) -> Self;
+}
+
+impl StorageTransaction for Transaction {
+    fn storage_new_mining_proof(from_keypair: &Keypair, sha_state: Hash, last_id: Hash) -> Self {
+        let program = StorageProgram::SubmitMiningProof { sha_state };
+        let userdata = serialize(&program).unwrap();
+        Transaction::new(
+            from_keypair,
+            &[from_keypair.pubkey()],
+            StorageProgram::id(),
+            userdata,
+            last_id,
+            0,
+        )
+    }
+}