Nationwide, thousands of students are preparing to start their careers after high school or after college graduation. Some are lucky enough to know exactly what their career will look like. But for many, the path from school to a thriving career in the irrigation industry came unexpectedly—from curiosity, mentorship and experience in other industries.
As automation and AI drive change in other industries and increase the number of people considering career changes, the irrigation industry remains one that relies on the skills and talents only people can bring.
The opportunities are endless, especially for women looking for unique ways to leverage their interests and skill sets. Forty years ago, Inge Bisconer, CID, CLIA, irrigation consultant and IA past president, remembers being the only woman in the room at industry events. Today, women represent about 9% of those working in the irrigation industry, but now is an exciting time to get involved, whether you’re a new graduate or looking for a career change in a new industry.
These four Irrigation Association members share how they ended up in the irrigation industry, what it takes to succeed today and their advice to other women interested in joining the industry.
Gail Mueller | Product and Quality Management Director | Munro Companies
Gail grew up on a farm and “knew what a pump was” but never considered an irrigation-related career early on. After earning an accounting degree, she entered her first career—retail management and purchasing. In 1996, she joined Munro’s accounting department and returned to college part-time. After earning both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business, she was chosen to lead Munro’s new manufacturing division.
“We were just starting our manufacturing side at that time, and somebody needed to take that over,” she said. “I had this new college degree and the drive, I guess, to go do it.”
Much of her technical expertise was self-made. She taught herself technical skills by Googling concepts, leaning on long-time Munro colleagues and riding along with a sales manager to learn that side of the business. Over time, she began sharing her expertise by teaching pump-sizing classes to contractors and distributors nationwide.
Along the way, she noticed that while the opportunities for women were there, few were stepping into them. Today, she sees far more women in visible, key positions across the irrigation industry. Her own experience has been one of acceptance—earned through preparation, initiative and a willingness to step up.
Her advice to other women: “Irrigation is a field where someone can grow as far as they want to go, and it’s an industry that will always be here in some manner, even with automation and AI.”
Michelle Peterson, CID, CIT, CLIA, CLWM | Owner/President | MPi Designs, LLC
As Michelle Peterson headed off to college in the 90s, she wanted to become a landscape architect. She loved plants, gardening, art and growing up on her family’s farm. Before CAD, designs were done with pen, paper and hand coloring, which appealed to her passion for art. In college, a required irrigation class changed her career trajectory.
“I’m a little bit of a math nerd, and it was mathy,” she said. “At that point, it wasn’t as much fun to be able to look at a tree in the dead of winter and identify it. Irrigation stuck with me.”
Over the last two decades, Michelle has watched the industry grow from something almost invisible to an essential, recognized profession. Once primarily agricultural, irrigation is now critical to subdivisions, commercial properties and water-strapped communities like those in Colorado, where drought seems constant.
“Back in the 90s, you didn’t even need an irrigation meter, and people couldn’t care less if they had a designer,” she said. “Cities and municipalities are now requiring someone like me, who has certifications to create these designs. HOAs are seeing that benefit as well, and they’re now requiring us to come out and verify that the designs were installed properly before they are turned over from the home builder to the HOA. That’s huge.”
Her advice to other women: “Be confident, be willing to get dirty and don’t choose this field expecting to fight about whether you belong. You already do.”
Michele Hatler | Global Director of Product Management | Weld-On (IPS Corporation)
For the first 20 years of her career, Michele Hatler enjoyed success in life sciences and biotech, working with lab research products, medical devices and instruments. After two decades, she was ready for a new challenge—one where she could apply her portfolio management, project management, strategy and leadership skills in something new—the piping industry.
“The chemistry portion was immediately relatable for me because I have a strong background in safety data sheets, chemical makeup and chemistry across the board,” she said. “Learning about how to use the chemicals and the importance of pipes and regulating water and where it can be transferred, and how important infrastructure is to that was the part that I really tried to learn about, and I’ve been really interested in and become more passionate about.”
When Michele joined the irrigation industry in 2024, she was pleasantly surprised by the industry’s appetite for women’s participation and quickly found ways to get involved by joining the IA and the Plastic Pipe and Fitting Association.
“I am excited about the continued growth of the industry and think there is a lot of opportunity for ensuring irrigation water in other countries and seeing if there is a way for IA to be part of ensuring that water is being used efficiently,” she said.
Her advice: “I think it’s important to make sure that we are continuing to drive education and leadership for women across the many different roles available in the irrigation industry.”
Inge Bisconer, CID, CLIA | Irrigation Consultant | IA Past President & Industry Achievement Award Winner
After graduating from UC Davis in 1981, Inge Bisconer thought she would return to the family farm. Instead, she turned down an agribanking job to take a corporate ag field position, and then got scooped up by the irrigation industry, where she has spent most of her career.
Through numerous roles in the irrigation industry, she became the bridge between researchers, manufacturers, and farmers, advocating for efficient irrigation not just in the marketplace but also in state and national policy arenas. But in the early 1980s, she was often the only woman in the room, sometimes the only woman in a crowd of 80 men.
“Being a woman in irrigated agriculture wasn’t easy, especially early in my career. I was often the only woman in the room, in the building, on the farm or on the team,” she said. “To succeed, I worked harder, became good at what I did and tried to know as much as or more than the rest, which made me valuable to managers and colleagues alike.”
Fast-forward 40 years, and she is grateful that there are more women in the industry than before. Where once she was the only woman in a meeting, now she might see 10, and she sees the future as providing more opportunities for women.
“There are a number of highly successful women in the irrigation industry today, such as my colleagues on the IA’s BOD and its CEO, who I trust will set the example and mentor other women into the industry,” she said. “The younger generation of professionals is more open-minded than the last, and I’m hopeful they will be received by folks who are more inclusive. Technology is helping level the playing field by emphasizing brains more than brawn.”
Her advice to other women: “Other than work hard and know what you’re doing, get involved in activities and organizations outside your own workplace, such as the Irrigation Association. This will give you an opportunity to contribute in meaningful ways, broaden your horizons in ways you could not imagine and provide other women with a role model by simply making women more visible.”
