The 2024 Irrigation Show and Education Week has wrapped up after four days at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center in Long Beach, Calif., showcasing a plethora of new products and familiar faces that aim to advance the industry.
Hosted by the Irrigation Association (IA), this year’s show started with two days dedicated to IA University, with classes teaching everything from the fundamentals of irrigation design to water management and more advanced topics.
Overall, 30 courses were available for attendees, with five new ones joining for 2024. On the second two days, there were 14 Industry Insight sessions, and participants could also take exams for eight different certifications.
“There are a bunch of different reasons why folks come to this show, and I think one of the key components will always be the education component. What’s current, what’s new?” Shawn Sandink, a coach on the training team at SiteOne and one of the class instructors, said. “You want to be on top of what’s new.”
Sandink said that as technology evolves and cultural norms, municipal ordinances and other rules change, staying educated on best practices is extremely valuable.
On the show floor
After two days of dedicated education sessions, the exhibition floor opened up for the rest of the nearly 3,000 attendees. In total, 206 exhibitors set up camp on the show floor to showcase their newest company updates.
One of them was Husqvarna Group, which, along with a few of its products on display, focused on finding better ways to conserve and manage water in the irrigation and landscaping industry.
“We’re really serious about changing the way the world waters. There is a better way to irrigate today,” said Richard Restuccia, senior vice president of Husqvarna. “We’re helping people understand how to use our technology to change the way the world waters.”
Two other companies showcasing their products were GeoTrencher and MiniTrencher, with new handheld and battery-powered tools to help landscapers efficiently dig into the ground to lay pipes and wires.
“It’s a lightweight tool that does a lot by itself and does a lot in conjunction with other equipment that a landscaping crew would have,” said John Hatch, technical director for GeoTrencher. “But unlike other larger machines, it doesn’t take up room on the trailer.”
Along with the exhibitors, the Irrigation Show also highlights unique, new and innovative products. The show had an entire section dedicated to promising startups and new ideas at its aptly named Innovation Row, and a New Product Contest sees products get judged based on several industry standards to find the ones that can further the industry the most.
“The New Product Contest highlights the innovative spirit driving the irrigation industry forward. Each year, we celebrate and recognize companies creating solutions that manage water resources more efficiently and allow our communities to thrive,” said Nathan Bowen, IA policy and industry advancement vice president. “The 2024 contest winners exemplify our industry’s commitment to advancing the wise use of water, showcasing the technology and practices that will help shape the future of sustainable water management.”
Showing community
Amidst all the new products and innovations to see at the Irrigation Show, one common theme is that people enjoyed seeing other people.
The Irrigation Show provides a great opportunity to explore the latest and greatest in the industry and connect with fellow industry peers and friends in person.
Ray Thengvall, president of California-based irrigation company The Frog Hollow Green Group, says he attended the 2024 show to see the latest innovations, and one stop he had to make was with the team at the Toro exhibit to see their new precision nozzles that out debris and can resist clogging.
“I know a lot of those guys and have been using Toro products since the early ‘80s, so a lot of those guys I hang out with and talk to,” Thengvall says. “They really support what we do.”
This year was Restuccia’s 25th time attending the show, and while he said he enjoys the business aspect he gets out of it, connecting with friends, clients and distributors is another positive aspect that brings him back.
“I am seeing all my friends for 25 years, it’s like a big reunion,” Restuccia says. “I am seeing customers that we’re able to have good discussions about how to help their customers change the way the world waters. It’s very positive. The industry is a very nice industry.”
The emphasis on connecting and up-close investigation of what the industry has to offer was clear in 2024, and that trend aims to continue with next year as well as the 2025 Irrigation Show and Education Week is set to be hosted in New Orleans from Dec. 8-11, 2025.
“The energy on the exhibit floor at the 2024 Irrigation Show was truly inspiring. Seeing the latest industry products firsthand and connecting with other professionals created an unmatched excitement,” said Tiffany Erickson, engagement and growth vice president for the IA brand. “This face-to-face interaction is invaluable — not only for networking and building meaningful connections but also for advancing our industry. There’s something powerful about being able to experience these innovations up close, share ideas and work together to shape the future of irrigation.”
