Features
Conference preview: Working with stakeholders on effective water management
January 15, 2024 By Bree Rody
On March 5, Drainage Contractor will host its first-ever North American Drainage Conference, a special half-day, virtual event that brings together the best minds in drainage. Together, speakers will deliver talks on key topics related to drainage, water management and farming to help contractors and landowners make better drainage decisions.
Throughout the next month, we’ll be giving you a preview of some of these topics by showcasing the work of our amazing speakers. The second is Jacob Handsaker. A farmer-turned-contractor, Handsaker ensures quality of work while also working with multiple stakeholders – government, agency, industry and the broader public – to ensure that the drainage and water management systems he implements are doing some good. To hear more of Handsaker’s journey and learn more about Iowa’s batch-and-build program, ensure you tune into the conference.
Today, we’re talking to our second 2023 honouree: Jacob Handsaker of Hands-On Tiling and Excavating. Nominated by Jeremy Mulholland, Jacob has been widely recognized by a number of other professionals in the field for his efforts to push the industry forward, especially in Iowa. Jeremy described Jacob as being on the front edge of critical water quality practices such as installing multiple saturated buffers on Iowa fields through the state’s batch and build program. In partnering with the ADMC, the Iowa Agricultural Water Alliance, the NRCS and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Jacob has installed upwards of 50 saturated buffers, proving that one can get serious business done while also focusing on conservation and water quality.
This episode is brought to you by The Water Table, a Prinsco education initiative which supports the GroundBreakers program. The GroundBreakers will be back in two weeks to bring you more stories from our class of 2023.
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