Award Winners
2024
Carmelo Giuffrè
Irritec
Carmelo Giuffrè founded Irritec SpA in Italy in 1974 and is currently the CEO of the worldwide company. With a focus on the importance of water saving, sustainability and an investment in research for irrigation innovation, over the last 50 years Giuffrè has been instrumental in growing Irritec from a small handcraft company into a global organization that distributes its products in over 100 countries worldwide. Through his forward-thinking vision and entrepreneurial expertise, Giuffrè has driven significant advancements in the industry, fostering growth and innovation. Read more about Giuffrè’s career and the pivotal moments in his journey that have shaped Irritec’s growth and success.
2023
Craig Borland, CIC, CID, CIT, CLIA, CLWM
The Toro Company
Craig Borland has dedicated 28 years to the irrigation industry as an employee of The Toro Company. He provides irrigation technical support in the areas of product engineering, legal, marketing and landscape drip. Borland has served as a volunteer instructor for the Irrigation Association for the past 22 years. He is widely viewed as one the top experts on irrigation and leads efforts to promote excellence in experience and education.
2022
Jack Buzzard
Rain Bird Corporation
Jack Buzzard retired from Rain Bird in 2006 after a 40-year career with the company. As vice president and director of the Rain Bird International Strategic Business Unit, Buzzard lived and worked in France, introducing Europe, and later parts of South America, to the concept of total, complete automatic irrigation systems as we know them today.
2021
Angelo Mazzei
Mazzei Injector Co. LLC
Angelo Mazzei is the chairman/CEO of Mazzei Injector Co. LLC. During his over 40-year career, he has not only built a successful company but also worked to create multiple innovative solutions to solve irrigation issues, starting with the Mazzei Injector he crafted in his garage in 1978.
2021
Jackie Robbins, PhD, PE, CID, TSP
Irrigation-Mart Inc./Robbins Association
Jackie Robbins’ career has included extensive teaching, research and consulting nationally and internationally, as well as starting a successful full-service microirrigation design and distribution company. He also served on the IA Board of Directors, the Certification Board and the Standards and Codes Committee, and he was heavily involved in the development of the IA’s certification program.
2020
Brent Q. Mecham, CID, CLWM, CIC, CLIA
Irrigation Association, retired
Brent Mecham has been part of the irrigation industry for more than 45 years and is considered one of the most respected resources on landscape irrigation in the United States. He recently retired as the IA’s industry development director, a position he held since 2007. Mecham was a major part of the success of the certification and education programs, taught irrigation courses for over 20 years, and has been extensively involved in the standard and codes process for irrigation equipment and practices.
2020
Lynda R. Wightman, CGIA, CIT
Hunter Industries, retired
Lynda Wightman retired from Hunter Industries after 35 years with the company. She was the 13th employee hired at Hunter and spent her career focused on elevating the industry through volunteer leadership and education. She leaves behind a strong legacy of impacting the industry through volunteerism and a dedication and commitment to irrigation and education.
2019
Jake LaRue
Valley Irrigation
As head of the research and development department of Valley Irrigation, LaRue’s career has been devoted to technological advancements. He regularly advises national and international organizations regarding education, standards development and adoption of efficient irrigation technologies. LaRue also holds numerous patents and was integral in the development of several irrigation technologies, including variable rate irrigation, scheduling, telemetry and sensors.
2018
Jim Klauzer
Clearwater Supply
Klauzer is currently a sales agronomist with Clearwater Supply, where he focuses on selling and designing efficient drip irrigation systems.
Klauzer joined Clearwater Supply in 2000. At that time, approximately three percent of the onion fields in the Treasure Valley were under drip irrigation. Now, drip irrigation accounts for approximately 65 percent of the onions in the area. Klauzer has been instrumental in driving this significant increase in the use efficient irrigation technology in both the Treasure Valley and the entire Pacific Northwest region of the United States, through Clearwater Supply.
2017
Clarence Prestwich, PE, CAIS, CID
USDA-NRCS
Prestwich is an IA-certified instructor who has served on several IA committees and has also been a member of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers for over 30 years.
Prestwich has been with the Natural Resource Conservation Service under the U.S.Department of Agriculture for 34 years assisting landowners in design, installation and management of irrigation systems. He has developed many of NRCS’ irrigation technology manuals, including chapters in the National Engineering Handbook regarding irrigation pumping plants, microirrigation systems and sprinkler irrigation systems.
His involvement with universities, industry and other government agencies has helped develop and distribute new and current irrigation technologies. He has traveled across the nation providing training and passionately encouraging better irrigation practices.
2016
Inge Bisconer, CID, CLIA
The Toro Company
Inge Bisconer is the technical marketing and sales manager for Toro Micro-Irrigation. Bisconer has been involved in many irrigation industry aspects in leading and teaching capacities for some 40 years. She is an excellent technical writer, and her recent publishing of the Toro’s Micro-Irrigation Owner’s Manual and chapter 11 of the Irrigation Association’s Irrigation, Sixth Edition fully demonstrates those qualifications. The 129-page Toro manual is a comprehensive guide for both new and existing row, field and perennial crops and an excellent example of her irrigation knowledge, interest and technical publishing capacities. She has been instrumental in the establishment of the Grange Network, a site where all can go to learn more about the drip industry.
2015
Brian Vinchesi, CGIA, CIC, CID, CLIA, CLIM, CLWM
Irrigation Consulting Inc.
Vinchesi was honored due to his exceptional leadership on the Smart Water Application Technologies Executive Task Team and IA’s Standards and Codes Committee. Vinchesi’s direct involvement in these initiatives has led to the development of testing protocols and standards and codes based on sound science that recognize the importance of the managed landscape.
Vinchesi’s involvement with the association is indeed impressive. In addition to his participation with SWAT and standards and code development, Vinchesi has also served as IA president and chair of both the Certification Board and the Irrigation Foundation Board of Trustees. He’s also held a seat on IA’s Technical Conference Committee, the Membership Committee, the Nominating Committee, the Turf and Landscape Common Interest Group, the Awards and Honors Committee, and the Education Committee.
For over 20 years, he has taught courses for the IA, several universities, the National Association of Landscape Professionals (formerly PLANET), and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. He has published articles in more than 20 industry publications, was named a WaterSense Irrigation Partner of the Year in 2009 and received the Hunter Industries Trailblazer Award in 2012.
Other Past Recipients
2014
Richard Reinders
Reinders Inc., retired
2013
Vince Nolletti
Paige Electric Company LP
2012
Ray and Sue York
Ewing Irrigation Products
2011
Rene Evelyn-Veere (landscape)
Rain Bird Corporation
2010
Wendell Dorsett (agriculture)
Valmont Industries, retired
Richard Hunter (turf/landscape)
Hunter Industries
2009
Bob Dobson
Middletown Sprinkler Company
2008
Charles Meis
Lindsay Corporation
2007
Gershon Eckstein
Drip Irrigation Systems Ltd.
2007
Fred Hamisch
Hydratec
2006
Les Jochens
Western Irrigation Supply House Inc.
2005
James M. Barrett
James Barrett Associates Inc.
2004
William R. Pogue
Irrometer Co. Inc.
2003
Bob Rupar
Nelson Irrigation Corporation
2002
Anthony LaFetra
Rain Bird Corporation
2001
Ed Shoemaker
Rain Bird Corporation
2000
Thomas W. Crockett
Tom Crockett Irrigation
1999
James Roberts
Roberts Irrigation
1998
Fred Kruse
Kifco Inc.
1997
Larry Meyer
Nelson Irrigation Corporation
1996
Lon Schultz
Agricultural Products Inc.
1996
Don Olson
Olson Irrigation Systems
1995
John Chapman
Valmont Industries
1994
Andrew and Mark Healy
Senninger Irrigation
1993
Richard Chapin
Chapin Watermatics
1992
Richard Reinke
Reinke Manufacturing Company
1992
Leroy Thom
T-L Irrigation Company
1991
Phil Tropeano
Larchmont Engineering & Irrigation
1990
Frank W. Murphy
Frank W. Murphy Manufacturing
1989
Robert Morgan
IA Historian
1988
Bart Nelson
Nelson Irrigation Corporation
1987
Robert B. Daugherty
Valmont Industries
1986
Clinton C. Warren
Cornell Pump Company
1985
Edwin J. Hunter
Hunter Industries Inc.
1984
Arthur Jensen
Thunderbird Irrigation
1983
Mary E. LaFetra
Rain Bird Sales Inc.
1982
Clemens W. Laufenberg
Berkeley Pump Company
1981
Herrick Waterman
Waterman Industries Inc.
1980
John E. Schrunk
Schrunk’s Agricultural Service
1979
Wade Newbegin Sr.
R.W. Wade & Company
1978
Marion Miller
Marion Miller & Associates Inc.
1977
Charles Lake
Rain for Rent
1976
Keith Holman
ASC Tubing Division Inc.
1973
Frank Zybach
Valley Manufacturing Company
1971
Birger Enstron
McDowell Manufacturing Company
1970
A.R.J. Friedmann
The Skinner Irrigation Company
1969
Alfred S. Gray
Rain Bird Sprinkler Manufacturing
1968
Crawford W. Reid
Rain Bird Sprinkler Manufacturing
1967
William H. Stout
Stout Engineering Company
1966
Sam V. Gunnison
W.R. Ames Company