Rain Bird Corporation is an international privately held manufacturer and provider of
irrigation
Irrigation (also referred to as watering) is the practice of applying controlled amounts of water to land to help grow crops, landscape plants, and lawns. Irrigation has been a key aspect of agriculture for over 5,000 years and has been devel ...
products and services for landscapes, golf courses, sports fields, and agriculture which are designed to minimize water consumption. The firm is headquartered in
Azusa, California, with offices and manufacturing facilities in Tucson, Arizona;
Steele, Alabama; Mexico; France; and China. Rain Bird sells its products and services in over 130 countries.
History
Rain Bird had its origins in 1933 when
Glendora, California
Glendora is a city in the San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles County, California, east of Los Angeles. As of the 2020 census, the population of Glendora was 52,558.
Known as the "Pride of the Foothills", Glendora is nestled in the foothills ...
, citrus grower Orton Englehart developed the first prototype of the horizontal action
impact sprinkler. This new design offered slow rotation and more efficient watering than other sprinklers of that era, features that were long sought after by local irrigators. Orton's friend and neighbor Clement LaFetra began helping him build and market the sprinklers, and they urged him to patent the invention. was awarded on April 16, 1935. Englehart preferred farming, so in 1935, he sold the business to Clement and Mary Elizabeth LaFetra, whose descendants operated the company until January 2022.
The name
Rain Bird was taken from the Native American legend of a bird that brought rain, in reference to the bird-like appearance of the impact sprinkler in action. Since its beginnings, the firm has offered irrigation products for farms, golf courses, sports arenas, commercial developments, and residential landscapes. Rain Bird has obtained over 450 patents since its founding.
Recognition
The Rain Bird horizontal action impact-drive sprinkler head was recognized as a historic landmark of
agricultural engineering
Agricultural engineering, also known as agricultural and biosystems engineering, is the field of study and application of engineering science and designs principles for agriculture purposes, combining the various disciplines of mechanical, civil, ...
in 1990 by the
American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) is an international professional society devoted to agricultural and biological engineering. It was founded in December 1907 at the University of Wisconsin–Madison as the A ...
.
This invention led to sprinkler irrigation development that currently exceeds worldwide.
In 2015, the firm was recognized by National Business Research Institute with its prestigious Circle of Excellence award, based upon its outstanding employee engagement.
References
External links
Rain Bird Corporation* {{cite web, last=Howser, first=Huell, title=Rain Bird – California's Gold (12002), url=http://blogs.chapman.edu/huell-howser-archives/2010/11/08/rainbird-californias-gold-12002/, work=California's Gold, publisher=
Chapman University Huell Howser Archive, authorlink=Huell Howser, date=November 8, 2010
Irrigation
Companies based in Los Angeles County, California
Manufacturing companies established in 1933
Companies based in Tucson, Arizona
1933 establishments in California