Indiana LICA brought contractors, industry professionals, educators and guests together July 21–22 for its Tile Drainage Installation Field Day at Purdue University’s Agronomy Center for Research and Education in West Lafayette. After days of unbearable heat and scattered thunderstorms leading up to the event, the weather cooperated for two hot but successful days in the field. Water bottles and sunscreen were never far away as crews worked throughout both days and attendees moved between the Agronomy Center, educational sessions and the active installation site.
At the center of the event was the drainage installation itself. Several crews and machines moved steadily across the field as tile plows installed the drainage tile. Compact track loaders followed behind, pushing soil back over the newly connected lines, while ground crews checked the work and kept the installation moving. Watching the equipment and crews work side by side gave attendees a close look at the coordination involved in a large drainage project.
Small ATVs, trailers, golf carts and larger utility terrain vehicles transported attendees to and from the field. Volunteers and neighboring State Chapters also helped with transportation, including Michigan LICA, which brought a utility vehicle to assist throughout the event.
National LICA Executive Vice President Allison Hack, National LICA CEO Dennis Mikula Jr. and The LICA Contractor Editor-in-Chief Caroline Krug attended the opening day. Activities included a live in-trench rescue scenario conducted by the Lafayette Fire Department, along with educational discussions involving drainage maintenance, water recycling and other topics connected to agricultural water management.
The shop served as a central gathering place for educational sessions and lunch. Food trucks served hot dogs, pulled pork and other options, while exhibitors set up tents and tables outside around the lunch area. Ohio LICA Executive Directors were also onsite with a booth promoting the organization and connecting with attendees.
The field day was organized under the leadership of Indiana LICA Executive Director Nanci Gutwein and State Chapter President Keith Miller, with support from a dedicated group of volunteers. From coordinating the site and educational schedule to assisting with transportation, demonstrations, meals and day-of logistics, the event reflected the cooperation required to bring a large working field day together.
Equipment, tile and other materials were contributed by participating pipe and equipment manufacturers and industry supporters. Those contributions helped create a setting where attendees could see installation work firsthand and spend time talking with contractors, manufacturers, educators and others involved in the drainage industry.
As National LICA continues to focus on membership growth, education, new programs and stronger connections between State Chapters, events like this show what that work looks like on the ground. It is contractors sharing what they know, chapters helping one another, industry partners and educators bringing resources directly to the field, and attendees seeing the value of LICA in real time. Indiana LICA did more than host a successful field day, it created a working example of how LICA can serve its members, strengthen the industry and build momentum for what comes next.