2024 Irrigation Show & Education Week connects industry

The 2024 Irrigation Show & Education Week, held in Long Beach, California, attracted close to 3,000 attendees and featured 206 exhibitors showcasing the latest innovations in irrigation technology. The event, hosted by the Irrigation Association, provided a platform for professionals across agriculture and landscape irrigation sectors to explore new products, attend training sessions and participate in discussions on water management. 

Throughout the show, attendees had access to 30 IA University courses, including five newly introduced courses covering core irrigation principles. Certification exams were also offered for eight different irrigation credentials. 

In addition to education, 14 Industry Insights sessions brought together experts for in-depth discussions and quick updates on industry challenges and opportunities.   

Innovation spotlight: New Product Contest winners 

Another highlight of the event was the 2024 New Product Contest, which recognized innovations across agriculture irrigation, landscape irrigation and landscape lighting. This year, 22 products were entered into the competition, and winners were selected based on innovation, design quality, water/resource-use efficiency, ease of use and product lifespan. 

The agriculture irrigation category winner, Nelson Irrigation’s Twig-V Plus, provides a wireless, solar-powered solution for irrigation control with compatibility across remote systems. In the Landscape Irrigation category, two winners were recognized based on company size. The Moasure 2 Pro by Moasure took the award for smaller companies, offering a compact motion-based measuring device for complex job sites, while Hunter Industries’ MP Rotator MP-820 won for larger companies, introducing a nozzle that enhances water distribution efficiency. FX Luminaire’s Runa RP-32 earned top honors in the Landscape Lighting category, offering an adjustable path light with precise control features. 

“The irrigation industry is innovating every day to advance the wise use of water, and celebrating these 2024 New Product Contest winners demonstrates our dedication to recognizing and supporting companies that develop solutions that help make growers and farmers more productive and allow our communities to thrive,” says IA CEO Natasha Rankin, MBA, CAE. “This year’s winners showcase the excellence within our industry and the important role we all play in shaping the future of sustainable water management.” 

Official judging took place at the show, with winners announced during the IA General Session on November 7. 

Celebrating new talent: 2024 Pitch Competition winners 

Another focal point was the IA’s 2024 Pitch Competition, which showcased startups pioneering the next generation of irrigation solutions. The Agriculture Irrigation winner, Krah USA LLC, specializes in large-diameter HDPE pipes for efficient water transport, while the Landscape Irrigation winner, Wirevirus, offers a dual-valve control device that maximizes field wire utility, reducing installation costs and environmental impact. 

“The exceptional innovation and forward-thinking solutions showcased in this year’s Pitch Competition are truly inspiring,” says Rankin. “These entrepreneurs are not only advancing their own businesses, but also driving creativity and transformative ideas that help propel the entire irrigation industry toward greater sustainability, growth and long-term success.” 

The 2024 Irrigation Show wrapped up with an announcement that next year’s event will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana, from Dec. 8-11. For more information on the 2024 product entries and competition details, visit irrigationshow.org.