In this series, learn more about the 25 recipients of the Irrigation Association’s 2022 E3 Program, sponsored by The Toro Company and the Carolinas Irrigation Association, awarded to college students studying and pursuing careers in the irrigation field.
The Irrigation Association created the program to focus on providing irrigation students (E3 learners) and faculty members (E3 leaders) with exposure, experience and education that revolves around the irrigation industry. The program shows that the “three e’s” are the best way to actively engage the next generation of irrigators.
The sponsorships include an education and travel award to attend the 2022 Irrigation Show and Education Week Dec. 5-9 in Las Vegas.
Joe Crouch
Undergraduate student at Central Piedmont Community College, Charlotte, North Carolina
Graduation date: December 8, 2023
How and why did you get involved in turf/landscape?
I spent the last 10 years working in the injection molding industry. I am at a point in my career where I am ready to make a career change. I have always participated in sports. I love golf. I have also periodically worked in landscaping. Once I purchased my first house, I discovered a love for gardening, so the logical union of these interests was turf management. Fortunately, there is a fantastic turf management program at Central Piedmont Community College.
What experience do you have in the turf/landscape industry?
I don’t have extensive experience in turf management. I worked landscaping in the past when I was younger. I also have learned quite a bit about landscaping and horticulture by building up my own personal garden.
What is a personal accomplishment within the turf/landscape industry that you’re proud of?
While I don’t have very much experience, I am very proud of the complete irrigation replacement we performed around the practice greens on campus at CPCC. We have a bentgrass green and a bermudagrass green. The previous irrigation system was showing its age. It also had an old controller and several valves per green. We completely trenched out and installed new irrigation lines, streamlined the valves and sprinkler heads and installed a new controller that provides more flexibility to the watering schedule.
What kind of career in turf/landscape are you working toward?
To be honest, I am open to many different career paths related to turf management. I started this journey with the intention of working my way up to becoming a superintendent at a golf course. That is still the leading plan. However, since I started my studies, I have been introduced to the irrigation industry as well as the turf consulting industry. I want to pursue the option that works best for my family as I have young children.
What does smart irrigation mean to you?
Smart irrigation is the implementation of technology to hone irrigation strategies. With the technological improvements that have been accomplished over the last few years, there are many ways the irrigation industry can benefit. With the increased use of Bluetooth and wireless controllers, soil moisture sensors and other monitoring devices, turf managers can more efficiently and more cost-effectively maintain all different types of properties. Smart irrigation can also help managers be more environmentally conscious and make more real-time decisions about all the areas they manage.
What advancements in the turf/landscape industry are most exciting to you and why?
As the world becomes more connected different practices from different parts of the world are exposed to the industry at large. I learned that fraize mowing is a cultural practice that is fairly popular in the UK and it has started to make its way to the United States. Different approaches with different intended outcomes can help turf managers tackle problems in new ways that can help them be more successful while also being more efficient with their team’s time and budget.
Trevor Shaw
Undergraduate Student at Oklahoma State University
Graduation Date: May 13, 2023
How and why did you get involved in turf/landscape?
I started in high school when I joined my FFA [Future Farmers of America] Nursery/Landscape Career development event. I learned many important landscaping plants and design terms. From there, I did basic landscaping jobs such as my grandmother’s flower bed. I then graduated high school and pursued my education in public horticulture at Oklahoma State University.
What experience do you have in the turf/landscape industry?
I have worked at the Botanic Garden at OSU and we did designs and then planted flower beds based on our designs. I don’t have much experience in the residential setting, but plant design and maintenance use the same principles as a garden setting.
What is a personal accomplishment within the turf/landscape industry that you’re proud of?
I don’t have too many accomplishments because I am not established in the industry yet, but I did design a bed at the Botanic Garden at OSU when I worked there, which turned out to be a beautiful display.
What kind of career in turf/landscape are you working toward?
As of right now, I am currently looking for many jobs ranging from public gardens, residential irrigation, and golf courses.
What does smart irrigation mean to you?
Smart irrigation is smarter and better. Not only is it smarter for the user, but it is smarter for the environment too. With better technology, we can better forecast weather events and regulate irrigation controllers to be better with water consumption. Smarter devices with easier interfaces are always great too. I think, on a larger scale, systems that can be controlled through an app on a phone or a program on a computer are a huge step toward smart irrigation.
What advancements in the turf/landscape industry are most exciting to you and why?
I think new technology that makes the job easier. As I mentioned about the systems that can irrigate based off weather patterns. This makes irrigation much more efficient and helps a lot with either clients not needing to turn off the system, or the caretaker not having to run to 40 clients’ homes and turn off each system.
Read more about the E3 program.
