The International Irrigation Show, held last week in San Diego, hosted a number of "firsts" in the irrigation industry.
Ewing Irrigation President Doug York took the helm as president of the Irrigation Association; he's the first person in IA history to follow both his father and mother into the presidency. Raymon York led the IA in 1986 and Susan York was president in 1998.
The show broke attendence records -- with nearly 7,000 professionals attending over three days.
More than 300 certifications exams were taken and 600 people attended IA classes.
The show hosted the largest number of exhibitors ever -- 380.
Here are a few more highlights:
Irrigation Association outgoing President John Roberts of John Deere Water Technologies kicks off the International Irrigation Show with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Dec. 9 in San Diego. The show was another record-setter, Roberts said, with 380 exhibitors – up 30 booths from last year.
Attendees peruse the turf/landscape section of the New Product Contest area. Flowtech’s Contractors Automatic Valve won the turf/landscape award; Champion-Arrowhead’s Arrow-Breaker took the specialty category prize; and Lindsay Corp.’s FieldNet Wireless Irrigation Network won in the agriculture honor.
Roberts welcomes new IA President Doug York to the stage at the International Irrigation Show’s general session, which was attended by 1,500 irrigation professionals. York, president of Ewing Irrigation, is the third in his family to lead the IA. His primary goal will be to implement the IA’s new strategic plan.
General session attendees got a taste of what “Living with Ed,” is like during the keynote speech and video montage presented by actor Ed Begley Jr. Begley, an environmentalist, has a reality show on HGTV that portrays his green lifestyle. Begley spoke about the potential irrigation professionals and all citizens have to make a difference, even if it’s with baby steps. “You don’t run up Mt. Everest, you put one foot in front of the other and climb as high as you can,” he said. “You do what you can, and we call all do more.”
