CLERMONT, Fla.—Senninger Irrigation Inc. is pleased to announce its celebration of 50 years in business and the agricultural irrigation industry. Senninger has grown to employ over 200 team members and works with more than 2,000 dealers worldwide.

Joe Senninger—a retired engineer from Park Ridge, Ill., who moved to Central Florida during the early 1960’s to grow citrus—started the company after solving a bothersome problem for all growers alike: He created an “insect-proof” sprinkler. Before his invention, mud dauber wasps nested in nozzle orifices of overhead sprinklers when the irrigation system was not in operation, impeding water flow.

Soon after, Senninger recruited his nephews, Mark and Andy Healy, bringing their extensive marketing and engineering backgrounds to help the business grow. In 1970, the company faced the untimely death of its founder, Joe Senninger, and mourned the great loss. Honoring Joe’s commitment to the business, company leaders—Mark and Andy Healy—kept focused, propelling the business forward and continuing to produce innovative products which have exceeded customer expectations.

For 50 years, Senninger has pioneered numerous irrigation products such as: the first high-quality, in-line pressure regulator in 1966; color-coded nozzles for easy size identification in 1970; Wobbler Technology in 1978; Super Spray with interchangeable deflector pads in 1980; a four-mode LEPA Quad Spray in 1986; the integral weight concept in 1999; the double gooseneck and truss rod hose slings in 2002, as well as the UP3 Easy Clean Nozzle in 2008 and more.

See the November issue of Potato Grower magazine for a full-length feature.