Get to know the IA Board: Randy Wood

In this series introducing readers to the Irrigation Association’s board members, get to know Randy Wood, president elect of the IA board and president and CEO of the Lindsay Corporation in Elkhorn, Nebraska.

How did you get involved with the irrigation industry?

I’ve spent my entire career in the agricultural industry, but I didn’t get exposed to irrigation immediately. I grew up in southern Ontario, Canada, and irrigation wasn’t prevalent in that area. I do remember being in Grand Island, Nebraska, in 1997, where I was putting on a training program for some of the first GPS yield monitors. Many of those maps had a clear circular pattern and that’s how I learned about center pivots. I had the great opportunity to join Lindsay in 2008 and have loved being part of this industry ever since.

Why is smart irrigation important to you?

It’s really about being good stewards of the land so that we have something to pass on to future generations. Our mission at Lindsay is to provide solutions that conserve natural resources, enhance the quality of life for people and expand our world’s potential. This is something I take very personally, and it’s something that our entire organization believes in. We’ve got to do our part to sustainably support a growing population and an increased need for food, fuel and fiber.

What’s the most important thing an irrigation professional needs to know to be good at what they do?

This space is evolving so quickly and the support tools and technologies available to irrigation and agronomic professionals and our customers is growing exponentially. Ongoing education and training are important parts of ensuring we can continue to make good recommendations and support our customers’ need to grow more while consuming less. This is where the Irrigation Association plays such an important role for our industry.