The Irrigation Association announces the 2026 award winners

The Irrigation Association is proud to announce this year’s IA awards recipients.

These individuals and projects represent excellence in leadership, innovation, education and collaboration, demonstrating a shared commitment to advancing the irrigation industry and promoting the efficient use of water.

The 2026 IA Award recipients will be honored during the 2026 Irrigation Show and Education Week in Las Vegas, Dec. 7-10.

The Industry Achievement Award was established in 1966 and honors an individual whose career demonstrates outstanding contributions to the advancement of the irrigation industry.

Steve Hoveln has been named the recipient of the 2026 Industry Achievement Award. This award is being presented posthumously. Hoveln is being recognized for more than four decades of service and leadership in the irrigation industry. Beginning his career in landscape irrigation contracting before moving into distribution and later joining Hunter Industries, Hoveln played a key role in advancing rotor and valve technologies that improved product performance, durability and water efficiency. Beyond his technical contributions, he was widely respected as a mentor, educator and volunteer whose commitment to helping others and serving communities left a lasting impact on both the industry and the people within it.

The Innovator Award honors individuals who have made significant, tangible contributions to irrigation through innovative work that advances the industry and improves the wise use of water resources.

Abed Masarwa, vice president and head of product management at Orbia Netafim, has been named the 2026 Innovator Award recipient for his significant contributions to irrigation technology and precision agriculture. Drawing on his background in mechanical engineering, Masarwa has led the development of innovative solutions such as Orion PC and the UniRam Hybrid Dripline, helping address challenges related to irrigation efficiency, labor and system performance. Known for collaborating closely with growers and industry partners, he has consistently transformed field insights into practical technologies that improve reliability, performance and access to precision irrigation.

The Excellence in Education Award recognizes an outstanding educator who is actively teaching or has formerly taught irrigation, water management and/or water conservation.

José Chávez, PhD, of Colorado State University, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Excellence in Education Award for his outstanding contributions to irrigation education, research and outreach. Throughout his career, Chávez has modernized graduate coursework in irrigation water management, systems design and drainage engineering while incorporating emerging technologies such as remote sensing and precision irrigation. His influence extends beyond the classroom through mentorship, university extension programming, international training and applied research, helping prepare future irrigation professionals with both technical expertise and practical experience while advancing irrigation education worldwide.

The Vanguard Award honors an innovative project in the irrigation industry executed by a team of individuals, companies, organizations or other group entities. This year, the IA is presenting Vanguard Awards in both the agriculture and landscape categories.

Agriculture

The Precision Irrigation Access Program has been selected as the 2026 Vanguard Award – Agriculture recipient for its innovative approach to accelerating irrigation modernization in water-stressed regions. Led by Netafim, Orbia Precision Agriculture, the collaborative initiative brings together growers, corporate partners and implementation organizations to overcome financial barriers to adopting advanced irrigation technologies. By combining corporate cost-share funding, digital tools, real-time monitoring and verified water benefit reporting, the program helps farmers improve water, fertilizer and labor efficiency while creating a scalable model that aligns agricultural productivity with long-term water stewardship goals.

Landscape

The Frontier Family Park Project in Queen Creek, Arizona, has been named the 2026 Vanguard Award – Landscape recipient for demonstrating innovation, collaboration and sustainable irrigation design on a large municipal scale. Led by J2 Design in partnership with the Town of Queen Creek and a multidisciplinary project team, the 85-acre park incorporates advanced irrigation technologies including smart controls, multi-point flow monitoring and a high-capacity pump station. Designed to balance efficiency, reliability and long-term sustainability in a challenging desert environment, the project has become a model for resilient and effective water management in public landscapes.