Rain Bird

Rain Bird is an American irrigation-equipment manufacturer and service provider headquartered in Azusa, California. The company traces its origins to 1933, when California citrus grower Orton Englehart developed a horizontal-action impact sprinkler intended to distribute water more efficiently than contemporary designs. The sprinkler’s slow rotating action and practical watering pattern attracted interest from local irrigators. Englehart’s neighbor, Clement LaFetra, helped build and market the devices, and the invention was patented in the United States in 1935. Englehart preferred to remain in agriculture and sold the business that same year to Clement LaFetra and his wife, Mary Elizabeth LaFetra. The LaFetra family played a central role in Rain Bird’s development. After Clement LaFetra died in 1963, Mary Elizabeth “Betty” LaFetra became the company’s second chief executive. During her leadership, Rain Bird expanded beyond its early California agricultural base and developed an international presence. Her son, Anthony La Fetra, became chief executive in 1978 and continued to lead the company until his death in 2021. Art Ludwick served as interim chief executive afterward, and Mike Donoghue was appointed president and chief executive in February 2022. Rain Bird’s portfolio now covers irrigation hardware, controls, water-delivery products, and related services. Its products are used in agricultural irrigation, residential gardens, commercial landscapes, golf courses, sports fields, public spaces, and other managed outdoor environments. Product categories include impact and rotor sprinklers, spray heads, drip-irrigation components, valves, timers and controllers, central-control systems, filtration and water-management equipment, and accessories. The company positions its products around dependable irrigation performance, professional installation, coverage uniformity, and the reduction of unnecessary water use. The company states that it offers more than 4,000 products and services and sells in more than 130 countries. Its production and operating footprint has included facilities or offices in the United States, Mexico, France, and China, in addition to its California headquarters. Rain Bird has also accumulated more than 450 patents since its founding. Its original horizontal-action impact sprinkler was recognized in 1990 by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers as a historic landmark of agricultural engineering. The invention is associated with the broader development of sprinkler irrigation on tens of millions of acres worldwide. Rain Bird remains an active, privately held specialist brand rather than a publicly traded corporation. Its competitive identity rests on a combination of professional irrigation expertise, a broad installed-product range, and a long history in water-distribution technology. The brand serves both trade and end-user audiences, including irrigation contractors, landscape professionals, agricultural operators, golf-course managers, sports-facility operators, municipalities, and homeowners.

Rain Bird began in 1933 in California’s citrus-growing region. Orton Englehart, a citrus grower in Glendora, developed a horizontal-action impact sprinkler after seeking a more effective way to distribute irrigation water. The device rotated slowly and delivered water in a pattern that local irrigators considered more efficient than available alternatives. Clement LaFetra, Englehart’s neighbor, assisted with construction and marketing. The two men were encouraged to protect the design legally, and United States patent 1,997,901 was granted on April 16, 1935. Englehart chose to remain focused on farming and sold the sprinkler business in 1935 to Clement LaFetra and Mary Elizabeth LaFetra. Under the LaFetras, the enterprise developed from a local sprinkler operation into a broader irrigation manufacturer. The name Rain Bird referred to a Native American rain-bringing bird legend and also reflected the bird-like appearance of the sprinkler in operation. The company’s early agricultural foundation later expanded to include landscape irrigation, golf courses, sports facilities, commercial developments, and residential properties. Clement LaFetra died in 1963. Mary Elizabeth “Betty” LaFetra then became Rain Bird’s second chief executive and guided the company through a period of geographic and commercial expansion. In 1978, her son Anthony La Fetra succeeded her as chief executive. His tenure lasted more than four decades and coincided with the growth of Rain Bird’s product range and international distribution. The company progressively moved beyond individual sprinkler heads into complete irrigation systems, including rotors, spray devices, valves, controllers, drip products, and control technologies. Rain Bird’s products became increasingly relevant to professional landscape contractors, agricultural operators, golf-course managers, sports-field authorities, municipalities, and homeowners. The company also built an international manufacturing and operating presence, with facilities or offices identified in Arizona, Alabama, Mexico, France, and China, while retaining its headquarters in Azusa, California. According to the company’s cited reference material, its catalog includes more than 4,000 products and services and reaches customers in over 130 countries. The original impact sprinkler was later recognized for its historical importance. In 1990, the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers designated the Rain Bird horizontal-action impact-drive sprinkler a historic landmark of agricultural engineering. The invention is linked to the wider adoption of sprinkler irrigation across more than 50 million acres globally. Rain Bird also reported receiving a National Business Research Institute Circle of Excellence recognition in 2015 for employee engagement. Anthony La Fetra died in 2021 after serving as chief executive since 1978. Art Ludwick was named interim chief executive, and Mike Donoghue became president and chief executive in February 2022. Rain Bird continues to operate as a privately held international irrigation company. Its modern business emphasizes integrated irrigation products and services designed to support reliable outdoor water delivery while reducing waste and improving control over irrigation schedules and coverage.

1. 2022Mike Donoghue becomes president and chief executive

   Mike Donoghue was appointed president and chief executive in February 2022.

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2. 2021Anthony La Fetra dies

   The long-serving chief executive died, after which Art Ludwick served as interim chief executive.

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3. 2015Circle of Excellence recognition

   Rain Bird received recognition from the National Business Research Institute associated with employee engagement.

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4. 1990Impact sprinkler receives agricultural-engineering landmark recognition

   The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers recognized the horizontal-action impact-drive sprinkler as a historic landmark.

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5. 1978Anthony La Fetra becomes chief executive

   Anthony La Fetra succeeded his mother and led Rain Bird until 2021.

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6. 1963Mary Elizabeth LaFetra becomes chief executive

   Following Clement LaFetra’s death, Mary Elizabeth “Betty” LaFetra became the company’s second chief executive.

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7. 1935Impact-sprinkler patent granted and business sold to the LaFetras

   U.S. patent 1,997,901 was granted on April 16, 1935. Englehart subsequently sold the business to Clement and Mary Elizabeth LaFetra.

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8. 1933First horizontal-action impact sprinkler prototype developed

   Citrus grower Orton Englehart developed the prototype that became the foundation of Rain Bird’s business.

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A professional, water-conscious irrigation-solutions provider with products spanning residential, commercial, golf, sports-field, and agricultural applications.

• Horizontal-action impact sprinklersAgricultural and landscape sprinklers1933

  Rain Bird’s original product family was based on a horizontal-action impact mechanism. The sprinkler’s intermittent impact action drives rotation and distributes water over a broad circular area. The design established the company’s early reputation in agricultural irrigation and became historically significant as an influential sprinkler-irrigation technology.

• Rain Bird 5000 SeriesRotors

  The 5000 Series is a professional landscape-rotor line intended for lawns, parks, sports areas, and other managed landscapes. Rotors are used where larger-radius coverage and adjustable distribution are needed. The line represents Rain Bird’s role in contractor-oriented irrigation systems rather than only standalone residential sprinklers.

• ESP-TM2Irrigation controllers

  ESP-TM2 is an irrigation controller for scheduled operation of residential and light commercial irrigation zones. Controllers coordinate valves and watering programs, allowing users or installers to manage run times and schedules instead of operating each irrigation zone manually.

• Drip-irrigation systemsDrip irrigation

  Rain Bird’s drip-irrigation products deliver water more directly to planting areas through emitters, tubing, and related components. These systems are used in landscape and agricultural settings where controlled application near plant roots can support water management and reduce overspray.

• Commercial and golf irrigation systemsIntegrated irrigation systems

  Rain Bird supplies integrated equipment for golf courses, sports fields, commercial developments, and other large landscapes. Such systems combine sprinklers, valves, controllers, and distribution components to manage extensive areas with differing coverage and scheduling requirements.

• 2022Leadership transition after the La Fetra eraStrategy

  Anthony La Fetra died in 2021 after serving as chief executive since 1978.

  What changed. Rain Bird moved from an interim chief executive arrangement under Art Ludwick to Mike Donoghue as president and chief executive in February 2022.

  Aftermath. The company continued operating as a privately held international irrigation-equipment manufacturer.

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• 1935Transfer of the sprinkler business to the LaFetra familyOther

  Orton Englehart developed the original sprinkler but preferred to continue farming rather than build a manufacturing business.

  What changed. Englehart sold the business to Clement and Mary Elizabeth LaFetra after the invention received a U.S. patent.

  Aftermath. The LaFetra family led Rain Bird’s subsequent development and international expansion.

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• 2022Rain Bird appoints Mike Donoghue as president and chief executive officer

  Mike Donoghue became Rain Bird’s president and chief executive in February 2022 after Art Ludwick’s interim tenure following Anthony La Fetra’s death.

  Leadership change
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• 2021Anthony La Fetra dies after leading Rain Bird for decades

  Anthony La Fetra, who had served as Rain Bird’s chief executive since 1978, died in 2021, prompting an interim leadership arrangement.

  Leadership change
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• 2015Rain Bird receives National Business Research Institute Circle of Excellence recognition

  Rain Bird was recognized with a Circle of Excellence award associated with employee engagement.

  Other
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• 1990Rain Bird impact sprinkler recognized as an agricultural-engineering landmark

  The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers recognized Rain Bird’s horizontal-action impact-drive sprinkler as a historic landmark of agricultural engineering.

  Other
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1. Rain Bird
2. Rain Bird Corporation