Congratulations to tomorrow’s irrigation leaders

The Irrigation Association’s workforce development program promotes careers in irrigation through its programs and initiatives. One of these programs includes awarding scholarships to support students pursing irrigation-related degrees at two- or four-year institutions. Congratulations to these 2021 winners with an interest ag irrigation.

Beginning in 2021, Rain Bird Corporation is sponsoring the scholarship program. To honor Rain Bird’s late president and CEO, for the next five years the program has been renamed the Anthony W. “Tony” LaFetra Scholarship Program Sponsored by Rain Bird. In addition, the top two scholarship winners will be designated as Anthony W. “Tony” LaFetra Scholars, one pursuing a career in ag irrigation and the other in turf or landscape irrigation.

2021 Anthony W. “Tony” LaFetra Scholar

Kiera Scott

California State University-Fresno 

“I became interested in irrigation by taking a couple of irrigation courses at California State University, Fresno with Dr. Florence Cassel. The irrigation field is constantly changing and innovating to conserve the most amount of water possible in the state of California because of the significantly limited water available and high volume of agricultural commodities produced; furthermore, this makes it very intriguing because of the never-ending change and every little aspect that goes into making decisions to be more effective and efficient. In the future, I hope to go into the irrigation field to apply what I learned in the classroom and utilize it through hands-on experience; moreover, I hope to be a helping hand in developing new irrigation techniques or technologies to ensure that our limited water is put to use in the most efficient and effective way.”

Tracinal Carr 

Shasta College

“I am interested in irrigation because I have always loved how farmers went about watering their crops and how landscapers built sprinkler systems to water lawns. How crops grow, gardens prosper and landscapes stay green through irrigation intrigues me. My future interest in irrigation is to ensure that I know my product is versatile for matching precipitation to create designs that water the plant material in the garden patio designs I draw and install. I want to be the best at what I do to ensure that our valuable resource — water — is used efficiently and effectively in every design I create.”

Herbert Franklin

Florida A&M University 

“My future plans for irrigation are to use the knowledge and skills I have acquired about irrigation and use it in nonrural areas, to help combat food deserts and food insecurities in the urban areas. The solution to these problems can be fixed with irrigation. Using the Arduino systems board, we can program the system of connecting pipes and timers all connected to a rain catchment from the roof of an urban building to feed the water to plants alongside the windows, parking lot areas or even raised gardens depending upon the open area that’s available.”

Erick Cervantes

Fresno State University 

“I am passionate about irrigation because water is the most important element for life. We need water for our species to survive on this earth or anywhere in the galaxy. It is important that the population is conscious that if we continue to use our precious element in vain it will not be available for future generations to come. We need to use it wisely and one way is to not waste it when we grow our food. That is why I became interested in hydroponic systems that recycle water and use less than any agricultural system. I plan to use new technology to precisely grow food in an indoor environment where water does not evaporate as easily and what is not used by the plant is recycled. It is a new technology that I believe can solve two problems, food insecurity and our water usage.”

Brett Lynn

University of Nebraska-Lincoln 

“Irrigation is a critical component in bolstering agricultural systems while reducing mankind’s environmental footprint, which is what drew me to the field. While in the doctor of plant health program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, courses in plant-water relations and water law have prepared me to address the scientific and social issues occurring in the irrigation field. Following graduation, I intend to pursue a career advising growers on crop production with a focus on irrigated cropping systems in the High Plains.”

Kayla Morrison

Oklahoma State University 

“I became interested in irrigation about six months ago when I was awarded an E3 irrigation grant to attend online classes and build my knowledge in the field of irrigation. Irrigation has taught me ways to become more sustainable as a whole and with proper design and technique, both time and money can be saved. I am excited to further my education in the horticulture field and eventually design, build and operate my own greenhouse and living food forest. I would like to open the greenhouse to my community and to teach about the importance of horticulture and sustainable irrigation.”

Zachary Rosenkrans

Kansas State University 

“One of my biggest takeaways from learning irrigation is how it connects to every part of the horticulture industry. Everyone uses water, especially those of us working with plants. The class is where I first became interested in the course and since then, I’ve been increasingly intrigued by audits and irrigation in the greenhouse industry. After college, I hope to become a greenhouse grower or to work in a botanical garden as a means of connecting society back to nature and sharing the joy of plants.”