When the doors swing open for the 2024 Irrigation Show, Nov. 4-7 in Long Beach, Calif., the industry’s best and brightest practitioners and the companies that support them won’t be the only ones taking in the spectacle.
There will also be a host of staff members from local water and conservation agencies on hand who ply their trade in a region where water quality and availability are paramount.
“When we’re in a place like Long Beach, we’re able to highlight our industry’s innovation and the things we bring to the table to solve the challenges around water,” says Nathan Bowen, the advocacy and public affairs vice president for the Irrigation Association, which puts on the annual water-focused conference and trade show.
“When we come to Southern California or places in the Southwest, we always see a large number of municipal water agencies and conservation staffs who can come to the show and benefit from not just the education that is offered, but they get to see firsthand some of the technological solutions that they might not have been aware of.
“It’s exciting to us that we’re able to attract not only industry professionals, contractors and manufacturers, but also other key audiences and local decision-makers.”
What will the assembled professionals — including a host from the landscape industry — discover this year during their time at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center? Bowen says the event’s usual mix of top-notch education, an exhibit floor filled with the latest and greatest tools in the industry and a host of networking and social events will all be front and center, with a few new twists mixed in for good measure.
Showing off
Bowen says this year’s trade show floor will feature more than 200 exhibitors representing over 100 irrigation product categories. The show will be the feature event on both Wednesday, Nov. 6 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Thursday, Nov. 7 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
“Spending time on the show floor is really an opportunity to learn about the level of innovation in the irrigation industry,” Bowen says. “You’re going to learn about solutions that solve complicated problems for society … that help ensure global food security and thriving, healthy communities.”
That innovation will be front and center in the Innovation Hub and on Innovation Row on the trade show floor, designated areas dedicated to startup companies and presentations highlighting the latest trends and advancements in irrigation. Attendees can also check out new products entering the irrigation and landscape lighting markets through the New Product Contest Showcase. The contest winners will be announced during the General Session on Nov. 7.
Class is in session
The learning and discovery that’s at the core of the Irrigation Show’s exhibit floor jump to another level with the educational opportunities available in Long Beach Nov. 4-6, most notably IA University, the core curriculum for irrigation professionals. Tailored for professionals with varied levels of irrigation experience and in sectors ranging from agriculture to landscape and golf, the bulk of these sessions are offered annually, but five new classes will be available this year.
The classes offered focus on real-world applications and case studies and teach current techniques and best practices that result in proven results, all led by instructors with industry expertise and previous teaching experience. These sessions are priced separately, and attendees must be registered for the Irrigation Show to participate.
“The education and training offered at the Irrigation Show really advance the professionalism of the industry at large but also an individual’s professional development and career advancement goals,” Bowen says. “It’s an opportunity for an individual to invest in their career.”
In addition to the paid IA University options, the show also offers its Industry Insights program, learning opportunities included with registration. A wide range of topics will be featured, from staff development to irrigation wire diagnostics and the role of artificial intelligence in the green industry.
Making connections
In addition to expanding attendees’ knowledge at the Irrigation Show, the event also offers plenty of opportunities to expand their professional networks, as well … and even have a little fun along the way.
For those attending the Irrigation Show for the first time, Bowen says the First-Timers Roundtable on Tuesday, Nov. 5, is a must-attend event.
“We really do value the connections that can be forged at the Irrigation Show, so we wanted to create an opportunity that makes it easy for our newcomers to do that,” he says. “The First-Timers Roundtable is a chance to meet others who are going through the experience for the first time, but also connect with people who have attended for a long time and can offer their insights and expertise about how to get the most out of the event.
“It’s always nice when you’re doing something new to have someone in the same boat as you, and so this is an opportunity to meet people who are in a similar place as you are.”
Other networking events for specific groups that Bowen encourages attendees to put at the top of their list are the Young Professionals Social — a networking happy hour for irrigation or lighting professionals under the age of 40 — on Tuesday, Nov. 5, and the Women in Irrigation Breakfast on Wednesday, Nov. 6, which will spotlight women working to make a difference in irrigation and landscape lighting.
Finally, a trip to the Irrigation Show wouldn’t be complete without a chance to relax and unwind with colleagues from around the industry, and two events in Long Beach fit that bill this year — the Pacific Coast Party on Wednesday, Nov. 6 and the Craft Brewfest on Thursday, Nov. 7.
“Networking and meeting people doesn’t just happen at formal events, so these social events are a great way to continue doing that but in a different environment,” Bowen says. “I know I’m looking forward to both the Pacific Coast Party and the Craft Brewfest, and I think they’ll be great events whether this is your first Irrigation Show or you’ve been many times.”
Giving back
Irrigation Show attendees won’t be the only ones benefiting from the event’s stay in Southern California. The Long Beach community will also benefit through a community service project where attendees and exhibitors alike will help assemble garden kits for area students.
“One of the priorities of the Irrigation Association the past couple of years has been to leave something positive behind in the communities where we take the Irrigation Show,” Bowen says. “We want to demonstrate that we’re committed to doing the right things for the right reasons but also maybe teach them a little bit about the industry … and that the companies in our industry are eager and willing to advance and support the communities where they’re doing business.
“These garden kits are tangible things that can help students with their education and really understand the role water plays in ensuring a reliable and sustainable food supply.”
This marks the second consecutive year that the Irrigation Show has had a community service event. And if last year in San Antonio was any indication, this year’s effort in Long Beach will be a smashing success, too.
“We were blown away by the response of our attendees last year,” Bowen says. “We had budgeted a couple of hours to assemble the backpacks and school supplies we did last year. We had such an onslaught of people who wanted to help that we were finished in 15 or 20 minutes. It just shows how eager to help the people in this industry truly are.”
