On Dec. 5-7, 4,500 attendees and 295 exhibitors filled the exhibition space inside the Phoenix Convention Center for the 2010 Irrigation Show – the only national trade show for irrigation industry professionals.
In addition to the trade show, 422 students attended IA education classes, and more than 150 professionals tested for one or more of IA’s seven certifications, including the new certified agriculture water manager designation. More than 250 professionals attended the Fifth National Decennial Irrigation Conference, featuring more than 90 technical sessions, co-presented by IA and the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.
The General Session marked several key announcements:
- The New Product Contest, IA’s annual recognition of the most innovative products released in the past 12 months: UP3 Universal Pivot Product Platform from Senninger Irrigation for the agriculture category; Rain Bird XFS Subsurface Dripline from Rain Bird for the turf and landscape category.
- IA’s annual awards: Industry Achievement Award (Agriculture), Wendell Dorsett, retired from Valmont; Industry Achievement Award (Turf/Landscape), Richard Hunter, Hunter Industries; National Water and Energy Conservation Award, Otay Water District.
- Person of the Year: John Busch, retired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
- IA’s Smart Irrigation Month Committee’s first Smart Marketing Contest: Turf and landscape distributor/manufacturer, Ewing Irrigation Products; Contractor, ValleyCrest Landscape Maintenance; Agriculture manufacturer, Trimble Navigation Limited; Affiliate, City of Calgary, Parks and Water Services; Small business, Millenium Irrigation.
The Irrigation Association’s Education Foundation announced that it has officially changed its name to the Irrigation Foundation, launching a new logo and tagline: “Investing in Education. Advancing the Industry.”
The 2011 Irrigation Show will be held Nov. 6-8 in San Diego. For more information, visit irrigationshow.org.
