Some 4,500 attendees and 295 exhibitors filled 180,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space inside the Phoenix Convention Center, Dec. 5-7, at 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 over 90 technical sessions, co-presented by IA and the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.
“The Irrigation Association considers the 2010 show a great success, with more attendees, exhibitors and students than in 2009,” said Fred March, chair of IA’s Expo Advisory Committee in 2010. “Despite the challenging economy, irrigation professionals from around the U.S. and 38 other countries came to Phoenix to network, learn and generate business opportunities for themselves.”
The New Product Contest, IA’s annual recognition of the most innovative products released in the last 12 months, recognized two innovations:
UP3 Universal Pivot Product Platform from Senninger Irrigation, Inc. for the agriculture category.
Rain Bird XFS Subsurface Dripline from Rain Bird Corporation for the turf and landscape category.
IA presented its annual awards:
Industry Achievement Award (Agriculture) – Wendell Dorsett, retired from Valmont Industries (Valley, Neb.)
Industry Achievement Award (Turf/Landscape) – Richard Hunter, Hunter Industries (San Marcos, Calif.)
National Water & Energy Conservation Award – Otay Water District (Spring Valley, Calif.)
Person of the Year – John Busch, of Baker City, Ore., retired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Finally, IA’s Smart Irrigation Month Committee presented the winners of its first Smart Marketing Contest, designed to recognize the best efforts of 2010 to promote the initiative:
Turf and landscape distributor/manufacturer: Ewing Irrigation Products (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Contractor: ValleyCrest Landscape Maintenance (Calabasas, Calif.)
Agriculture manufacturer: Trimble Navigation Limited (Sunnyvale, Calif.)
Affiliate: City of Calgary, Parks and Water Services (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
Small business: Millenium Irrigation (Fayetteville, Ga.)
New name for Education Foundation. 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 General Session also introduced IA’s 2010-2011 Board of Directors, who officially took office immediately following the show. Featured as keynote speaker was Robert Glennon, professor of law and public policy at the University of Arizona and author of Unquenchable: America’s Water Crisis and What To Do About It.
The 2011 Irrigation Show will be held Nov. 6-8 in San Diego. For more information, visit www.irrigationshow.org.
