The 2024 Irrigation Show and Education Week brought together professionals from across the industry for innovative solutions, helpful networking and hands-on time with new technologies. Attendees celebrated the drive and dedication that make irrigation such an effective and important industry. The week was full of great moments, practical insights and rewarding connections. Here are a few of the top headlines from the event.
Meet the new Board of Directors
Four industry professionals officially joined the Irrigation Association’s Board of Directors at the conclusion of this year’s Irrigation Show and Education Week. Each of them brings their own experience and expertise to the board and shares a commitment to working together with other professionals. They’ve joined the 15-member board for a three-year term each, supporting and driving the IA’s strategic direction, policies and programs.
Alan Ence
Alan Ence, QWEL, is general manager of landscape and agriculture at Hydro-Rain. During his 30-year career, he has worked in multiple areas including product development, business development and management. He is named on multiple U.S. patents for products in the field of irrigation. Ence is a 1995 graduate of Weber State University in Odgen, Utah, and earned certification as a Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper in California in 2022. He has served one partial term on the IA Board of Directors.
“I love the irrigation community. In associating over the past 30 years with ‘rank and file’ landscape irrigation contractors, farmers, local, regional, and national distribution channel associates, landscape architects, property managers, water managers, small business owners, municipalities, water districts, manufacturers and consumers, I have seen where there is much opportunity for the IA’s programs, education, and influence to positively benefit patrons and connected communities,” he says. “Being an effective advocate voice to and from one or two of these multiple channel categories in order to instigate awareness that benefits lifestyle and finite resource sustainability is motivating to me.”
Brad Jakubowski
Brad Jakubowski, CIT, has over 35 years of industry experience working with landscape, grounds, sports field and golf irrigation systems, installation and service. He is also familiar with pivot and furrow irrigation systems and supported avionics electronics maintenance in the Air Force. With over 23 years of teaching experience, he currently teaches plant and turfgrass irrigation courses at Penn State University and has developed an online irrigation course for PSU World Campus. He was awarded the IA Excellence in Education Award in 2022.
“I would like to serve on the IA Board of Directors to help contribute to an already outstanding organization,” he says. “I would like to provide my experience within the industry and with education to help further the IA mission of promoting best practices in water-resource usage and management.”
Gretchen Kah
Gretchen Kah is director, executive vice president of K-Rain Manufacturing Corp. She has been involved in sales and marketing at K-Rain since officially coming on board in 1995. She currently leads the West Coast K-Rain division.
Frank Toves
Frank Toves, CAIS, CIC, CID, is president of AvidWater LLC. His career started in the office of a small ag irrigation dealer, moved to the warehouse, and then to working with construction crews as an installer. He became an automation technician and started working in outside sales, helping start several new locations. Before taking on his current position, he worked as a regional sales manager and director of sales and marketing. He currently serves on the IA Technical Working Group and Advocacy-Agriculture Advisory Group.
“The irrigation industry is critical in securing the long-term sustainability of our planet’s water and it has been the focal point of my professional journey throughout my career,” he says. “I am committed to its advancement and evolution. Serving on the Irrigation Association Board allows me to leverage my extensive professional experience for the greater good of our industry.”
Irrigation Association announces 2024 New Product Contest winners
The IA celebrated the innovative products and technologies that are shaping the future of water management in announcing the winners of the 2024 New Product Contest. This annual competition showcases the newest premier products in the irrigation industry, underscoring the commitment of industry leaders to sustainable water use and improved irrigation efficiency.
A total of 22 new products and technologies were entered in three categories: agriculture irrigation, landscape irrigation and landscape lighting.
Landscape irrigation category
With 12 entrants in the landscape irrigation category, awards were given in two tiers according to the company’s annual revenue.
In the category of companies with annual revenue less than $20 million, the winner is the Moasure 2 Pro by Moasure. The pocket-sized Moasure 2 Pro is the second generation of the motion-based measuring device and utilizes high-performing sensors to capture x, y and z data as it moves, simultaneously measuring and drawing complex and irregular job sites and automatically calculating perimeter, area, elevation and volume.
Among companies with annual revenue equal to or greater than $20 million, the winner is the MP Rotator MP-820 by Hunter Industries Inc. The MP-820, part of the MP Rotator Nozzle series, uses multiple rotating streams to apply water slowly and consistently across arc and radius patterns, expanding application rates across multiple pressures, maximizing flow potential while maintaining uniform coverage at half the precipitation rate of traditional spray nozzles.
Landscape lighting category
The landscape lighting winner is the Runa RP-32 – Directional Path Light by FX Luminaire. The Runa RP-32 features an easily adjustable, rotating head designed to illuminate pathways precisely where light is needed most, allowing contractors to elevate any lighting project and bring precise illumination with control and design flexibility.
Agriculture irrigation category
The agriculture irrigation winner is the Twig-V Plus by Nelson Irrigation. The Twig-V Plus Wireless Solenoid integrates a 12 VDC latching solenoid with Twig-V Wireless 900 MHz radio network compatibility, providing a solar-powered, truly wireless solution with no need for wire connections between the solenoid and RTU.
“The irrigation industry is innovating every day to advance the wise use of water, and celebrating these 2024 New Product Contest winners demonstrates our dedication to recognizing and supporting companies that develop solutions that help make growers and farmers more productive and allow our communities to thrive,” says IA CEO Natasha Rankin. “This year’s winners showcase the excellence within our industry and the important role we all play in shaping the future of sustainable water management.”
Products were evaluated based on innovation, design quality, increased water/resource-use efficiency, ease of use and product life expectancy. Official judging was conducted during the 2024 Irrigation Show and Education Week in Long Beach. Winners were announced Nov. 7 during the IA General Session.
Visit irrigationshow.org for more details about the contest and to see all the products entered.
Irrigation startups showcased as the Irrigation Association announces 2024 Pitch Competition winners
The IA announced the winners of the 2024 Pitch Competition, showcasing products by today’s groundbreaking agriculture and landscape irrigation technology startup companies. These companies are developing innovative products and solutions that are set to revolutionize the irrigation industry and lead to wise water use and improved irrigation efficiency.
The 2024 Landscape Irrigation Pitch Competition winner is Wirevirus. Wirevirus is a device that allows two valves to operate individually with just one good field wire, offering a cost-effective solution that reduces material waste, labor and installation time, while eliminating the need for additional wiring.
The 2024 Agriculture Irrigation Pitch Competition winner is Krah USA LLC. Krah USA manufactures large diameter HDPE pipe with profile wall and solid wall options for pressure and gravity flow applications with up to a 196-inch inside diameter.
“The exceptional innovation and forward-thinking solutions showcased in this year’s Pitch Competition are truly inspiring,” says Rankin. “These entrepreneurs are not only advancing their own businesses, but also driving creativity and transformative ideas that help propel the entire irrigation industry toward greater sustainability, growth and long-term success.”
This year’s competition featured eight irrigation startup companies that gave presentations and were judged by a panel of experts evaluating the quality of their presentation, the product, market need and economic feasibility. Official judging was conducted live on the exhibit floor on Nov. 6 during the 2024 Irrigation Show and Education Week. The winners were announced Nov. 7 during the IA General Session.
Visit irrigationshow.org for more details about the contest and to see a list of the startup companies that exhibited at the show and participated in the Pitch Competition.