08/27/2026
Thank you to Dr. Sumit Sharma and his graduate students for representing Oklahoma State University at this spectacular and crucially important national conference.
More than 50 ag water leaders representing existing and emerging Master Irrigator programs spanning 15 states – along with other key stakeholders – attended the 3rd Annual Master Irrigator Summit, August 10-12 at Quartz Mountain State Park Lodge in southwest Oklahoma.
The Master Irrigator (MI) Summit is designed to support knowledge exchange among coordinators and advisors involved in leading state-level MI programs, which help farmers improve water management and conservation while remaining productive and profitable. Attendees included producers, ag educators, researchers, state and federal conservation professionals, and ag industry representatives from across the U.S.
One panel featured national perspectives from the following conservation and ag industry leaders: Clint Evans, USDA-NRCS state conservationist for Colorado; Trey Lam, Oklahoma Conservation Commission executive director; Marla Peek, Oklahoma Farm Bureau senior director of regulatory affairs; and Keith Sides, USDA-NRCS state irrigation engineer for Texas.
About Master Irrigator: Master Irrigator is a training course offering 24+ hours of instruction focused on precision irrigation management for profitable agricultural outcomes and success with water conservation. Local, producer-led advisory committees tailor programs to regional needs, drawing on hydrology, agronomy, engineering, technology, and business planning expertise. MI emphasizes peer-to-peer and hands-on learning, interactive discussion, networking, and practical precision agriculture strategies to reduce costs, inputs, and labor while improving water use efficiency.
Learn more about Master Irrigator in Oklahoma: https://extension.okstate.edu/programs/master-irrigator
