E3 participants turn experience into opportunity at the 2025 Irrigation Show

The future of the irrigation industry was on full display in New Orleans this past December as the Irrigation E3 participants attended the 2025 Irrigation Show and Education Week.

Designed to deliver exposure, experience and education, the E3 program connects irrigation students and educators directly with the industry, placing them inside the conversations, classrooms and career pathways shaping irrigation today. By attending the Irrigation Show, the 2025 E3 leaders and learners gained the opportunity to move beyond theory and into real-world application.

What is the E3 program?

The Irrigation E3 program is a competitive workforce development initiative that provides selected students (E3 learners) and faculty members (E3 leaders) with travel and education grants to attend the Irrigation Show and Education Week. Participants engage in IA University education, industry sessions, networking opportunities and hands-on exposure to the latest irrigation technologies and practices.

Since its inception in 2012, the program has supported hundreds of emerging professionals and educators, reinforcing the IA’s long-term commitment to strengthening the irrigation talent pipeline.

Learning beyond the classroom

For the 2025 E3 cohort, education was a defining feature of the experience. Interest in IA University classes reached an all-time high among E3 participants in 2025, with learners and leaders attending 35 courses. This underscores the group’s enthusiasm for expanding both technical knowledge and practical skills. The group took advantage of a wide range of course topics, from irrigation design and hydraulics to soils, scheduling and landscape systems, building competencies directly aligned with industry needs.

Equally impactful was the opportunity to connect classroom learning with industry context. By spending time on the exhibit floor, participating in networking events and engaging with manufacturers, contractors and consultants, E3 participants gained a clearer understanding of how their education translates into careers across the irrigation sector.

When opportunity becomes reality

For one E3 learner, that connection proved immediate. While attending the 2025 Irrigation Show, the participant received a job offer on-site — a tangible reminder of how powerful in-person industry engagement can be when preparation meets opportunity. Though not every outcome is that immediate, the moment captured what the E3 program is designed to do: open doors, spark conversations and introduce new career paths.

“The networking opportunities were absolutely fantastic here, and being able to connect with the other award recipients and really understand what they’re doing on their level.”
— Andrew Fleet, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension

Building confidence and career clarity

Throughout the week, E3 learners and leaders reflected on how the experience reshaped their view of the irrigation industry — highlighting the diversity of career paths available, the collaborative nature of the profession and the industry’s shared commitment to water stewardship and innovation.

The following E3 participants were part of the 2025 cohort attending the Irrigation Show and Education Week:

1. Daniel Cisneros, College of the Sequoias
2. Andrew Fleet, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension (E3 leader)
3. Masoumeh Hashemi, Utah State University
4. Pedro Henriquez, College of DuPage
5. Bianca Naranjo, Texas State University
6. Sushma Perati, Texas A&M University
7. Victor Salazar, Texas State University
8. Ryan Utley, Washington State University
9. Luke VanBooven, Kansas State University
10. Carlos G. Vega Lara, California State University, Fresno
11. Tadd Wheeler, Washington State University (E3 leader)
12. Lucas Youngblood, Shasta College

“There is a gap between research or university and industry, and they are kind of suffering from this gap, and I think the Irrigation Association [Irrigation Show] wants to make a bridge between this gap.”
— Masoumeh Hashemi, Utah State University

Investing in what’s next

As workforce challenges continue to shape the irrigation industry, programs like E3 demonstrate the value of intentional, hands-on engagement. By combining education, exposure and experience, the IA is preparing students and educators for today’s challenges and helping to ensure the industry’s strength for years to come.