Episode 16 - Workforce Development

Mission: Promoting careers in irrigation

Episode Highlights:

• ​[1:04] Welcome IA Foundation and Administration Director Janine Sparrowgrove - In this episode, we focus on her role with the Irrigation Foundation. 
  
  
• [1:56] Foundation's mission is to promote careers in irrigation - Programs help support this mission, including:
  
  
  • Faculty Academy - the goal of this program is to reach those that are training our workforce (college professors and some high school teachers now) to help give them the knowledge they need to teach their students. There are currently two faculty academies - one focused on landscape irrigation and the other focused on agriculture irrigation.
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    • 2017 Agriculture Faculty Academy: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension on June 8 - 9.
      
      
    • 2017 Landscape Faculty Academy: Disney World Horticulture Services on June 15 - 16.
      
      
• [6:48] How the Irrigation Association & Irrigation Foundation Overlap - IA's new strategic plan includes workforce development.
  
  
  • See past episodes to learn more about the association's work:
    • Episode 7 - Certification
      
      
    • Episode 8 - Irrigation Industry
      
      
    • Episode 12 - Irrigation Show​
      
      
  • Workforce is an issue we see throughout the irrigation industry (agriculture listening sessions and survey of irrigation contractors). 
    
    
  • Brent saw this firsthand earlier this week at the Northern Green Expo while walking the trade show floor. Many booths had large help wanted signs and he heard people speaking about how "there is a demand in all aspects of the landscape industry for qualified, trained people."
    
    
• [15:16] Irrigation Foundation Vision Statement - The Foundation strives for a future where the irrigation industry is thriving with an ample supply of educated, highly skilled professionals who employ technology and best practices to provide efficient irrigation solutions that protect water and the environment.
  
  
  • ​Foundation programs run off of this vision statement:
    
    
    • E3 Program - Exposure, Experience & Education - bring students to the Irrigation Show. At the 2016 show, 23 students came and networked with others in the industry and look at new technologies. 
      
      
    • Irrigation Career Link - Job bank where job seekers can put up their resumes.
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    • [20:10] Scholarship Program - New program that will award scholarships ranging from $1,000 - $2,500. Deadline to apply is Feb. 15, 2017.
      
      
• [21:33] Update on the California Drought - Is California out of drought?
  
  
  • Appears to be over in the Northern part of California - may get to Southern California but right now they are still in extreme drought.
    
    
  • Last week: 19% of California drought-free. This week: 35% drought-free. The entire state was in drought 3 months ago. See below graphic of the Drought Monitor from a Washington Post article.
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California Drought Monitor
Changes from October 11, 2016 and then in January 2017

Washington Post graphic.