Andy Smith Named IA Director of State and Affiliate Relations

FALLS CHURCH, Va. – Andy Smith, a Michigan irrigation contractor who has been active in water and irrigation issues in the state legislature, has been named Irrigation Association (IA) Director of State and Affiliate Relations.

Smith, an IA Certified Irrigation Contractor, Certified Irrigation Designer and Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor, has a strong background in agriculture as well as turf/landscape and golf course irrigation.

He operated a family farm in the late 1980s before becoming a partner in an irrigation contracting company and then working in irrigation equipment specification and sales for a Grand Rapids, Mich., firm.

Since 1999, Smith has been president of Smith Irrigation Inc, which specializes in technical applications for a variety of clients ranging from small residences to golf courses and agricultural drip systems. Smith will sell the company to focus on his new duties with the IA. He will remain in Michigan.

As a member of the IA Contractor Common Interest Group, Smith was instrumental in bringing new organizations and contractors into the association. He has also actively promoted the interests of the irrigation industry in Michigan, serving on the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality non-agricultural irrigators subcommittee. He recently testified before a state Senate committee and a working group of the Council of Great Lakes Governors.

In his position at the IA, Smith will continue working to bring affiliate organizations into the IA and to recruit new members. He will also continue as an advocate in state legislatures around the country, assisting the 46 IA state and regional affiliate organizations with legislative initiatives.