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Laurie Tollefson is an irrigation specialist. He doesn't see irrigation as only an immediate problem.

"I think that the field of irrigation is growing," he says. "If we're going to be able to feed the world, we need to be able to apply water more efficiently and we need to learn to make better use of our water resources."

Tollefson knows what conditions are like in other countries, too. "This job has given me the chance to travel around that world to work in countries with people that are less fortunate than we are," he says.

"Anyone interested in irrigation as a career should think globally. I think that's what's interesting about what we do. It's useful around the world. So don't just think within your province or your state, think globally. Think big!"

Of course, big thinking begins at home. Tollefson says that a degree in agriculture or bioresource engineering is a good place to start.

"In my mind, there are two kinds of irrigation specialists. There are irrigation agronomists. Those are people that look at irrigated crop production. They study soil and plants and how to get the right amount of water to those plants at the right time," he says.

"Then there are people who study farm water management systems. They build systems and work on efficient uses of water. That's more of an engineering person. And they really are two different people," he says.

"These people need to know basic background on drip irrigation and scheduling. Scheduling is used in predicting water use and to allow people to schedule irrigation.

"Someone with an engineering slant is looking more at the sustainable application of irrigation techniques because water is becoming expensive and there is a lot of competition for the use of that water. These people are looking at systems that put water on and how to improve efficiency."

Tollefson, by his own definition, is an engineering-type irrigation specialist. He seems to enjoy his job. He points to the ability to help others as one of the greatest benefits. "It's been really interesting."

Amy Johnson is an irrigation specialist. She says that she loves her job. In her previous position, she designed pump stations. "I loved the design work. The types of projects that I worked on were great. Pump station design is about getting water to the irrigation system, from concepts to in the ground, running."

However, Johnson recently went to work for another company where she gets to work on other types of irrigation designs. "I love it," she says. "I wanted to broaden my knowledge base, and now I get to work on designs for storm water and sewer work. I still do some pump stations, but there are also other opportunities and it's a bigger variety of work."

The opportunity to work on a variety of projects has also given Johnson the opportunity to do something else that she loves -- working with more people. "I deal with a lot of people on any given day -- tons of clients and other engineers. It's a lot of fun. I love the interaction and the math and science that are involved."

There is more to the job than just talking to clients and engineers and solving problems, however. "A typical day is spent multi-tasking. I handle numerous projects at one time, so I'm contacting clients and contractors. I do design work. And there is a lot of communication through memos and updating clients about the status of the job."

Johnson says she got into irrigation in a "stereotypical way. I was good at math and science in school, so all of my teachers said I should take engineering in college. I started in chemical engineering, but decided I didn't like it. So I talked to some of the other engineering students and professors in other departments, and I decided to study irrigation design.

"At the time, it appealed to me in part because I wanted to work with farmers. Of course, what I'm doing now is not working with farmers, but a lot of the thought is still there. And the field at this point is growing, because of the economy in general.

"For every new building that goes up, there is new landscaping, which means new irrigation. And on the agricultural side, there is growth in the different and new technologies and equipment that are needed. So yes, there is room for growth."

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