At the tender age of 14, Gary Morgan entered the business world when he started a lawn mowing service. Ironically, today he is back in the “mowing” business as president of Dixie Chopper. Along the way, he accumulated a wealth of experience in wholesale and retail business.

From a job with the FBI to a career in the landscape industry seems like an unlikely leap, but that is exactly what Charles (Bud)Knowles decided to do when helearned that the FBI was going to transfer him from Dayton, Ohio to New Jersey.

Some people are born into the irrigation industry. For others, the industry finds them. In the case of Travis and Shelly Komara, it all started - strangely enough—with a ’50sthemed Internet cafe.

Brothers Don and Dave Hendrickson were exposed to the irrigation business at a very early age. Growing up in Corona, California, their means to extra income was tending to the orange groves owned by their father, Bill, and keeping those groves properly watered.

A couple of months ago I lost a soul brother, and the landscape industry lost a dedicated friend and fellow contractor. He passed away quietly. I wanted to say something at the time, but I was at a loss for words. Can you imagine me, at the loss for words? Now that I have gathered my thoughts, I can recall many fond memories.

IT ISN’T TOO OFTEN THAT WE COME across an individual like Ken Hutcheson. On the outside he is warm, engaging and charming. However, under his skin lies a savvy, dedicated businessperson.

The irrigation industry was completely different than what it is now when David D. Pagano designed his first system in 1957. Smart controllers were years away from being invented, as were sensing devices. If you asked anyone in the industry what a rotary nozzle was, most likely your answer would have been a silent, quizzical look from someone wondering what on earth you were talking about.

WHEN JOHN MILLER WAS STILL A teenager he was managing his own lawn care company. Called Superior Lawns, Miller’s company handled everything from mowing lawns to working with tractors. It was a pretty successful venture. Between high school proms and mid-term exams, Superior Lawns occupied much of Miller’s focus, and before long, he was pulling in enough business to bring some of his schoolyard friends onboard as workers.

Ken and Harold Fay’s parents started a lumber yard back in 1947 in Ojai, California. When their father passed away, the sons—Ken and Harold— helped their mother run the lumber yard. In time, the mother phased out of the business and Ken and Harold were the proud owners of Ojai Lumber.

As Stephen Smith assumes the presidency of the Irrigation Association, he realizes the challenges the irrigation industry currently faces. Pressure to reduce water consumption is building and landscape sustainability is the new buzzword. But Smith assumes this position with a background of invaluable experience and a wealth of knowledge of the irrigation industry.