Water, Wisdom and a World of Ideas: Highlights from the 2025 Trailblazer Tour

The 2025 Zimmatic™ Trailblazer Sustainable Irrigation Tour brought together a group of passionate irrigators, farmers, and industry professionals from across New Zealand and Australia for a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience through the western United States.

From 7–14 September, the group travelled through Utah, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon, gaining global insights into water, agriculture, and environmental management. Beginning at the Bonneville Salt Flats and wrapping up near Portland, Oregon, the tour offered a powerful reminder of how vision, innovation, and community support can shape sustainable water futures.

Seeing the Big Picture

Led by Sarah Elliot, Senior Marketing Specialist for Lindsay ANZ, and supported by James Craft (AgTech Sales Specialist), Michael Harward (Regional Manager), Stephanie Johnson (Global Product Line Manager), and Chuck Powell (Regional Manager), the itinerary combined large-scale engineering with on-the-ground farming insights.

Participants toured Bettencourt Dairy, Cranney Farms, and Wada Farms; explored the Grand Coulee Dam and Columbia Basin Project; visited Royal Family Farming, Nelson Irrigation, and the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District; and enjoyed a slice of American culture at the Pendleton Round-Up Rodeo and Tillamook Creamery.

“The irrigation supply race that carries water from Banks Lake after being pumped from Grand Coulee is roughly ten times larger than the supply race we use in Mid-Canterbury,” says Andrew Mockford, CEO of MHV Water. “Yet the principles of good water management, efficiency, accountability, and environmental stewardship, are universal.”

Shared Learning Across Borders

David Downie, a Tasmanian farmer and founding member of the Elizabeth Macquarie Irrigation Trust, says the tour offered invaluable perspective.

“The sheer scale of US farm operations and irrigation systems was mind-blowing,” he says. “Seeing it up close gave me a whole new appreciation for what’s possible with large-scale infrastructure and investment, but equally valuable were the conversations with others on the tour.”

Ethan O’Sullivan, Irrigation Manager for Ngāi Tahu Farming, was struck by the positivity surrounding US agriculture.

“Their communities really get behind them, which is quite different to what we often feel in New Zealand. It was refreshing to see agriculture so strongly recognised as a positive force.”

Haidee McCabe, Managing Director of Irricon Resource Solutions, found inspiration in how American farmers connect education with agriculture.

“Integrating grassroots farming and irrigation education into primary schools really stood out. Bridging New Zealand’s urban–rural divide starts with building appreciation and understanding from an early age.”

For Andrew Mockford, the standout lesson was collaboration - how irrigation providers, regulators, and farmers in the US work together toward shared outcomes.

Innovation and Inspiration

At Nelson Irrigation, the group witnessed innovation and precision on another level.

“It was incredible to see the level of innovation and precision that goes into manufacturing irrigation components,” says Craig Rich, a mixed-enterprise farmer from Victoria. “It gave me a new appreciation for the technology behind the systems we often take for granted.”

Richard and Wendy Parsons from Omarama were equally impressed.

“Nelson Irrigation stood out as a highlight,” they said. “The advanced sprinkler technology and automation were fascinating, and spending time with other travellers, sharing experiences, made the tour even more valuable.”

Hamish Tait, an irrigation engineer from Ashburton, was impressed by how American operations blend passion and long-term vision.

“The large and often complex farming operations were impressive,” he says. “Businesses like Nelson Irrigation showed how keeping at the front of technology while retaining passionate employees for decades produces enduring success. New Zealand can learn a lot from that focus on legacy.”

Ben Coulton, a fourth-generation farmer from northern New South Wales, described the Columbia Basin Project as “mind-blowing.”

“Only 2 percent of the Columbia River’s water is used for irrigation - that’s incredible!” he says. “It gives us confidence in the way we’re managing water back home and shows what’s possible with big-picture thinking.”

Nico Butler, who manages Ongaha Farm in South Wairarapa and is a 2024 Zimmatic™ Trailblazer Award winner, says the tour reinforced his own philosophy.

“The tour really quantified the value of water and how important it is to use it wisely,” he says. “It aligned perfectly with our goals of farming sustainably and efficiently and showed how technology like FieldNET® can help us get there.”

Mark Saunders, a South Canterbury dairy farmer, reinforced the importance of forward-thinking investment.

“Visiting the Columbia River, Grand Coulee Dam and irrigation districts gave me confidence to keep lobbying for a more visionary approach in New Zealand,” he says. “Our infrastructure is still young - there’s so much potential if we’re courageous enough.”

People, Connections, and Perspective

While the sites were impressive, many agreed the greatest value came from the people, both those on the tour and the generous hosts.

Mick Williams, a farmer from Wairarapa, says, “The people you meet and the ideas you exchange add so much value to the experience. It’s always good to get a different perspective on challenges and opportunities.”

For Pennie Saunders, the diversity of experiences. from farm dairies to potato processors, offered a full picture of irrigation’s role in resilient food systems.

“Some stops that might not seem your cuppa tea at first turned out to be the most eye-opening and memorable parts of the journey,” she says. “And of course, the Pendleton Rodeo was an absolute highlight!”

Karen Williams, Chief Executive of Irrigation New Zealand, reflected on the broader lessons for home.

“US farmers hugely value the family farm and growing the asset to sustain the wider family, enabled through water,” she says. “Their long-term investment in capture, storage, and distribution has set communities up for success. It’s an approach our New Zealand government could learn from.”

Gratitude and Looking Ahead

The Trailblazer Tour group expressed heartfelt thanks to the many hosts and partners who made the journey possible- including Bettencourt Dairy Farms, Cranney Farms, Wada Farms, Royal Family Farming, Irrigation Specialists, Nelson Irrigation, and the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District, as well as Water Strategies LLC and the Lindsay team.

The Trailblazer Tour group expressed heartfelt thanks to the many hosts and partners who made the journey possible - including Jeff and Don from Bettencourt Dairy Farms; Ryan from Cranney Farms; Brian and Kip from Wada Farms; Bobby from the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District; Austin, Erin, and Michael from Royal Family Farming; Troy from Irrigation Specialists; and the entire team from Nelson Irrigation - as well as the extended Lindsay team.

A special thank-you to Kris Polly, Dillon Kuehn, and Lane Simpson from Water Strategies LLC for their invaluable coordination, insights, and warm hospitality throughout the tour.

The 2025 Zimmatic™ Trailblazer Sustainable Irrigation Tour proved that when passionate people come together to learn and share ideas, they return home not just with knowledge, but with renewed energy, collaboration, and belief in what’s possible for the future of water and farming across New Zealand and Australia.