The Irrigation Association supports contractors and businesses by providing industry insights, certification opportunities and expert publications. 

The Coffee Shops™, the award-winning online communities where the industries meet for technologies, safety, information and education for the construction trades of roofing, metal, coatings and outdoor living are pleased to welcome the Irrigation Association (IA) into their community. 

The IA has spent decades supporting irrigation professionals through education, advocacy and industry standards that promote efficient water use and responsible irrigation practices. Serving contractors, manufacturers, distributors, consultants and other industry professionals, the association is the recognized authority on efficient irrigation and works to advance the irrigation industry while helping members stay informed on evolving technologies, best practices and workforce development opportunities. 

One of the IA’s most recognized offerings is its certification program, which helps irrigation professionals demonstrate technical expertise and commitment to industry standards. Certifications cover a variety of specialties, including irrigation design, installation, auditing and management. These programs help contractors build credibility with customers while strengthening workforce development throughout the industry. 

In addition to certifications, the association provides continuing education, training resources and networking opportunities through events, webinars and conferences. Its annual events like the Irrigation Show & Education Week bring together industry professionals to discuss emerging technologies, water conservation strategies and business trends impacting the irrigation market. The IA also actively advocates for policies that support water efficiency and sustainable irrigation practices at both the state and national levels. 

The IA further supports contractors and businesses through technical resources and industry publications, including its quarterly magazines Irrigation Today and Irrigation & Lighting. Irrigation Today is IA’s publication that focuses on agriculture irrigation, while Irrigation & Lighting magazine serves as the association’s official landscape irrigation publication. Both publications help professionals stay current with changing regulations, innovations and trends.  

For contractors and businesses looking to strengthen their expertise and stay connected to industry advancements, the IA continues to serve as a valuable resource for education, advocacy and professional growth. 

The Coffee Shops are proud to welcome the Irrigation Association!

Colorado HB26-1034 has been signed into law and is set to take effect on August 12, 2026. 

In Colorado, the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado and the Irrigation Association have worked with policymakers and state agencies to address legislation affecting irrigation equipment and professional practice. The issues involved, as well as the outcome, reflect broader policy conversations that could influence how irrigation is regulated in other states.

As a result of these efforts, Colorado HB26-1034 has been signed into law and is set to take effect on August 12, 2026. The enacted statutory language repeals Colorado’s appliance standards requirements for both irrigation controllers and spray sprinkler bodies.

The IA and ALCC worked to support repeal of the irrigation controller requirement because the law contained important ambiguities, lacked workable exceptions and did not lead to a practical compliance solution with the state agency. It also left unclear whether popular, water-savings products used to retrofit existing controllers could continue to be sold. Repeal avoids a framework that would have created confusion, compliance risk and interfered with water savings from the retrofit market all without a clear path for implementation.

We view this as a win for the industry as well as a pragmatic outcome for how best to achieve water efficiency. It preserves the ability of irrigation professionals to choose the right product for the right landscape, which remains essential to saving water in the field.

The spray sprinkler body issue followed a different path. Industry organizations originally proposed a modification to the sprinkler body requirement, but the state agency ultimately requested that it be removed altogether. The agency concluded it was not in a position to enforce the requirement or allocate resources toward compliance activities for these water products. As enacted, HB26-1034 repeals that requirement as well.

We will continue to support efficient irrigation practices and products while advocating for policies that are clear, workable and grounded in how irrigation systems are actually designed, installed and managed. Complete this form to receive updates on the IA’s advocacy initiatives and future developments like the work highlighted above.

Each year Equip draws thousands of landscapers, dealers, contractors, hardscape experts and outdoor power equipment manufacturers to see the latest equipment, connect with each other and learn from the most innovative and successful leaders in their industry.

Equip Academy, a new in-person and online training package presented by the industry's epic annual trade show, Equip Exposition, aims to help contractors and landscapers confront today's current business challenges head on.

“The economy is rapidly changing. Pricing, equipment, recruitment, training, service portfolios and marketing can make or break the success of any landscaping business,” says Kris Kiser, president and ceo of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), an international trade association which owns and manages the award-winning trade show. Equip drew nearly 30,000 people to Louisville last year.

"With Equip Academy, we're building an education platform that supports how our landscapers and contractors prefer to learn – whether in-person at Equip or online after the show," says Kiser.

Attendees can buy individual education sessions for a fee, but an Equip Academy pass for $170 will give attendees access to dozens of education sessions.

"There's no way you could attend every education session we offer in Louisville during the four-day show. But with the Equip Academy you can catch what you missed at home," says Kiser.

In 2026, education tracks will help attendees focus on sessions that help address many issues, including:

• Hiring and retention: Learn how to attract and keep critical employees
• Top 150 strategy: Learn from the leaders at companies on the Landscape Management Top 150
• New business opportunities: How to offer lighting, irrigation tree care and chemical application and to grow your business
• CEO/leadership for landscapers & contractors: Design a vision and better manage as leader-in-chief
• Women's leadership: Discuss the unique needs of women in the industry and then attend the Women's Leadership Reception, sponsored by Belgard, SiteOne and Hunter/FX Luminaire, with a keynote address by Susan Packard, a media entrepreneur who helped create popular TV channels like HGTV, CNBC and Food Network
• Growth mode: Develop your younger company and learn how to deal with new professionals. Get amped by The Morning Show at Expo, sponsored by Rehlko and ENERGIZE sponsored by Exmark and BOSS Snowplow.
• Snow removal amped: Discover how to take your business through all seasons and grow this lucrative service line

"With recent market and labor uncertainties, Equip is the best value to get help with business challenges for landscape contractors," says Kiser. He noted many companies bring crew leaders and even entire teams.

Some education sessions are also delivered in Spanish, and every attendee finishing an Equip Academy class will get a certificate of completion.

HGTV host and veteran no-nonsense contractor Mike Holmes will be Equip 2026's keynote speaker and is sponsored by Kress. He will offer real-world insight on raising standards and demanding quality that pushes the entire industry forward.

Education partners include:

• Landscape Management magazine
• Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals
• CultureID 
• Texas A&M University
• The Davey Institute
• Academy Trained
• Equipment and Engine Training Council
• Hardscape North America
• Irrigation Association 
• Kentucky Horticulture Council

In addition, the show, scheduled for October 20-23 at the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC), provides landscapers, dealers, contractors, hardscape experts and outdoor power equipment manufacturers a unique platform to learn from each other through dedicated peer to-peer networking events. These include a Tuesday Welcome Reception at Churchill Downs sponsored by Caterpillar Inc., a Wednesday night 4th Street Live Concert sponsored by the Propane Education & Research Council, the closing Paristown Pointe Block Party & Concert sponsored by Gravely, and more.

Registration is only $25 through May 31, 2026 at EquipExposition.com. Equip Academy costs an additional $170 and the price will go up after September 10, 2026.

Each year Equip draws thousands of landscapers, dealers, contractors, hardscape experts and outdoor power equipment manufacturers to see the latest equipment, connect with each other and learn from the most innovative and successful leaders in their industry. Last year Equip broke attendance records attracting nearly 30,000 registrants to the Kentucky Exposition Center.

The show will begin a two-city rotation in 2029, with Equip being held in Orlando and thereafter biannually. Equip will return to Louisville in 2030.

Registration for Equip 2026 is open and pricing for attendee registration is only $25 through May 31, 2026. Hardscape North America continues to co-locate with the show.

Equip brings more than $31 million to Louisville.

Visit www.equipexposition.com to register and book hotel rooms. 

About Equip Exposition

Equip Exposition, the international landscape, outdoor living and equipment exposition, is held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, and is one of the top three largest trade shows in the United States. The show is a Trade Show Executive Gold 100 Grand Award Winner, including "Greatest Trade Show of 2024," and is co-located with Hardscape North America. Equip publishes "equip" magazine and is owned and managed by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, an international trade association representing manufacturers of outdoor power equipment, parts, small engines, battery power systems, portable generators, utility and personal transport vehicles and golf cars, and their suppliers. For more information visit www.equipexposition.com.

DEADLINE EXTENDED! Submit by May 13!

More time to share your expertise! Great ideas deserve the chance to be heard. We’ve extended the deadline to submit proposals for the 2026 Irrigation Show and Education Week—giving you more time to refine your session and bring your expertise to the stage in Las Vegas this December. If you’ve been considering submitting, now is the time! Choose from one of three tracks and develop a session that delivers real value to attendees.

Quick guide to the three tracks

1. IA University education sessions 
   Designed for deeper learning and real-world application — courses should include measurable learning objectives, practical takeaways and an approach that goes beyond passive listening. Courses must be at least two hours and vendor-neutral.

2. Industry Insights: Business & economics 
   Built for decision-makers and practitioners who want clear takeaways on business conditions and market forces. Sessions are 25 minutes and held on the exhibit floor in the Insights Theater. Content should be practical and should not include competitively sensitive topics.

3. Industry Insights: Emerging technology & research
   Focused on emerging science, applied research and near-term innovation, these sessions are 25 minutes in a classroom-style setting. Strong proposals clearly explain what’s new, what evidence exists so far, and why it matters for products, practices or management decisions — tailored to irrigation industry audiences.

Tips for a proposal that stands out

• Lead with what attendees will learn (and how they’ll use it).
• Keep content educational and vendor-neutral; use examples to illustrate broader lessons, data or field results.
• Aim for clarity: a strong title, concise summary and focused outcomes.

If you have a perspective that can move the industry forward, we want to hear from you — whether you’re a seasoned presenter or bringing a fresh voice to the stage. Go online for more information about this call for proposals and the three tracks.

Proposals will be accepted through May 13. Thank you for helping the IA deliver education that’s relevant, credible and impactful.

Questions? Contact the IA team (703.536.7080).

Start your proposal application today!

By Emma Peterson. 

Diving into how the Irrigation Association supports and advances the outdoor industry.  

If you work in the outdoor industry, you’ve probably heard of The Irrigation Show and Education Week. With an expo floor full of cutting-edge technology, best-in-class education offerings and more, this is the ultimate place for irrigation professionals to meet and level up their skills. But what do you know about the organization behind this iconic show?  

The Irrigation Association (IA) is a leading trade organization dedicated to “promoting efficient irrigation technologies, products and services.” The annual Irrigation Show and Education Week is one of the ways they pursue this goal. Other ways they serve their members and the industry include:  

• Advocacy: The IA has a dedicated government affairs team that advocates for the needs of the irrigation association. They work on all levels of government (federal, state, regional and local) to share information about water stewardship, respond to public policies related to water resource planning and work with other associations/partners to define best water practices.  
• Workforce development: IA also has a workforce development team (previously working under the name Irrigation Foundation) that works to promote careers in irrigation. They do this through the E3 program, the Faculty Academy, scholarships and more.  
• Certifications: And IA is not only focused on bringing new people into the industry. They also provide a variety of certification and education opportunities to give their members a competitive edge. These certification opportunities include everything from becoming an irrigation designer to becoming a golf irrigation auditor.  
• Publications: Through Irrigation Today and Irrigation & Lighting magazines, IA keeps their members and other professionals up to date on “the latest trends, technologies and issues in both the agriculture and landscape irrigation industries.” 
• Landscape Irrigation Pros Week: Like the education week, this is an annual event. However, the Landscape Irrigation Pros Week is specifically designed to be a virtual event so that professionals can learn from where they are. Courses are hosted on Zoom over the course of five days and are divided into two categories – Industry Basics and Industry Pros – making this perfect for professionals of all skill levels. 

These examples are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the programming and support IA offers outdoor professionals. Learn more about IA at www.irrigation.org. 

By Jenny Yu.  

The program helps contractors understand irrigation technology through science-based education and independent product evaluation. 

At the Irrigation Association’s 2025 Irrigation Show & Education Week, Karol Weyman of The Coffee Shops™ spoke with Charles Swanson, extension specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, to discuss how the university’s irrigation technology program is supporting contractors, manufacturers and industry professionals. 

Charles works within the Texas A&M University agricultural engineering department, where the program focuses on advancing irrigation knowledge through training, research and independent product evaluation. “What we do is we offer irrigation training courses as part of the landscape irrigation industry,” Charles shared.   

The program provides a wide range of educational resources designed to help contractors and agricultural professionals improve efficiency and adopt new technologies. These resources include technical publications, training programs and online learning options that are accessible to professionals across the country. 

“We have a series of fact sheets and publications for contractors and agricultural users to access. We have online courses, in-person courses,” Charles explained. “And then we also have what we call our smart irrigation laboratory, where we do independent testing and evaluation services for manufacturers and then basic product testing that we use in our short courses to help contractors.” 

At the Irrigation Show, the Texas A&M team focused on raising awareness of the many resources available to industry professionals. Swanson noted that the program offers both live and self-paced online training opportunities, along with free downloadable publications.  

“We're here just to let people know the availability of our different resources,” Charles stated. “Then, we're here meeting with manufacturers, seeing how we can offer our services to help them improve their products or do independent, third-party testing.” 

By collaborating with manufacturers, the program helps to bridge the gap between research, product development and contractor education. “We collaborate with lots of manufacturers, especially on the technology side, looking at new technologies, new products in the marketplace that we've evaluated,” Charles said. “Then, we can take the science side, the product performance, and send that back to students in our short courses.” 

As the industry continues to adopt smarter irrigation systems and water-saving technologies, programs like Texas A&M’s help ensure professionals have access to critical data and training.  

Watch the full interview to learn more about the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension program.

By Emma Peterson. 

Irrigation Association’s work with the Plant for Life program is helping give back to vital communities 

This year, the OutdoorCoffeeShop™ crew had the chance to attend the Irrigation Show for the first time! Our team had a great time exploring the expo floor, attending informative sessions and chatting with other professionals in the outdoor industry. The show is hosted by the Irrigation Association (IA), a not-for-profit 501(c)(6) organization dedicated to promoting efficient irrigation that fuels healthy stewardship of water and the planet’s other resources for the benefits of all.   

One standout event that caught our attention during the show was the Plant for Life initiative. This is a community support program organized by IA that gives Irrigation Show attendees the chance to make a lasting difference for the community hosting the show each year.  

To learn more about Plant for Life, Karol Weyman spoke with Anne Blankenbiller, the senior communications manager for IA. She shared, “Our main reason for doing this is to give back to the community that's supporting us by hosting our show. So, every year we try to find some partner organization that we can contribute to and provide some sort of way to give back to that community.” 

For the show, IA partnered with organizations to help local communities in the city of New Orleans, choosing to work with  Edible Schoolyard New Orleans (ESYNOLA) and FirstLine Schools. Anne shared, “After talking with these great groups, we decided that one of the best things we could do is provide some take-home garden kits for them to give to their kids. So, while the show is running, we’re having attendees help fill 300 garden kits with some watering cans, towels, seeds, pots – everything these kids need to go home, plant some flowers/seeds and watch them grow.” 

This is not the first year that IA has implemented the Plant for Life program. When the show was in San Antonio, Texas, they created backpacks of school supplies for kids. Looking ahead, Anne is excited to see how this program grows. She shared, “We're really hoping to continue to do it, and we love the idea of connecting it with our industry by doing something garden related.” 

Learn more about Plant for Life by watching the full interview with Anne.

By Emma Peterson. 

A look at the Irrigation Association’s dedication to serving the industry.  

Every year, the Irrigation Association (IA) hosts a trade show and education week with the goal of “support[ing] IA initiatives to benefit its members and the irrigation industry through advocacy and professional development.” Whether you are a contractor looking for valuable insights from industry experts, a student hoping to make meaningful connections  with peers or a researcher interested in cutting-edge irrigation solutions, there is a place for you at the show.  

At the 2025 Irrigation Show, Karol Weyman interviewed Noreen Rich, IA’s member engagement and industry relations director, to learn a little more about the show. Noreen opened by sharing some general information about IA, explaining, “We are a trade association. So, we generally focus on company memberships, but we also represent about 13,000 people from those companies. And these people are from all over the industry, golf, turf, landscape and more.”  

The annual Irrigation Show is where IA members come together in one place to learn and network. Noreen explained, “This is our biggest event where everything comes together. It’s our biggest opportunity to educate and certify individuals in person.” In addition to this flagship event, IA provides their members with a variety of events and programs throughout the year. Noreen shared:  

We do education certification, training, advocacy representation and more all year long. So, in the first quarter of 2026 we’ll host the Landscape Irrigation Professionals Week, which is an online opportunity for people to prepare for the certified irrigation technician exam, and we’ll also have our advocacy summit, which is where we train some of our volunteers to go to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. and connect with decision makers there. 

These are just two examples of the year-round programming that IA hosts for their members. They also host workforce development webinars, irrigation seminars, interest group meetings and more!  

To learn more about this incredible trade association and their work, watch our full interview with Noreen.

By Jenny Yu.  

Dive into two products by The Toro Company that make irrigation intuitive and easy. 

At the 2025 Irrigation Show & Education Week put on by the Irrigation Association (IA), Karol Weyman spoke with Matt Hall, product marketing manager for The Toro Company’s residential-commercial controllers and sensors, about two of the division’s newest products.  

The first product Matt introduced is Toro’s new RXC controller, designed for residential use. “The controller has basic programming. It’s very intuitive with six programs — a few more programs than some of the competition,” Matt shared. “It’s good, day-in and day-out. If you need it to turn on irrigation and turn off irrigation, it's going to do a fantastic job of doing so.” 

What really sets this product apart, though, is when it is paired with Toro’s new Oasis software platform, available through the app and a contractor website. “A contractor will be able to create their organization, create client profiles that they manage and have access from anywhere to any one of those clients at any time,” Matt explained. “We spent a lot of time working on the setup and the handoff. Those are the two biggest places where contractors and users get stuck; this way, they're able to pick how they want their dashboard to look, quickly see a list of their clients and filter through that.”   

One of the unique tools the controller and software duo features is smart irrigation. “It has internet-based weather for smart irrigation. You'll get daily weather data downloaded from the cloud that'll make a daily runtime adjustment to the irrigation based on the weather in your area,” Matt said. “So, you're going to save water when you don't need it and get the water you need to keep the landscape healthy.”  

Tools like smart irrigation and a fully customizable dashboard took much research, development and testing, creating products that Toro is proud to provide. “We really have worked hard to catch the pain points for contractors and homeowners,” Matt expressed. 

Watch the interview to see Toro’s new product innovations!

Join us December 8 – 11 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana!

The Irrigation Show and Education Week is the irrigation industry’s ultimate resource for cutting-edge technology, best-in-class education and invaluable networking opportunities. If you’re ready to elevate your skills and supercharge your business, this is the event for you!

The Irrigation Show attracts professionals from all corners of the industry. Our attendees include irrigation contractors, manufacturers, dealers, distributors, consultants, growers, researchers, educators and students.

Register today!