I like to get into the field as much as possible. That’s why I jumped at a chance to go this weekend to the Indiana Ground Water Association’s Spring Field Day and Mud School.

“Franklin Electric, the IGWA, GEFCO and Baroid are honored to co-host about 150-200 groundwater professionals from Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio,” said Franklin Vice President DeLancey Davis. The event is Saturday, April 25, 2015, at the company’s Engineering Development Center in Fort Wayne, Ind.

If you happen to work in one of those states and can make the training, you can sign up using this form. Meeting readers is always a privilege.

The event will feature training from National Driller columnist Brock Yordy, product manager and drill trainer for GEFCO, and Chad Yordy, field representative for Baroid IDP in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. They’ll go from A to Z on a complete drill plan, covering methods, fluids management, mud mixing, solids control and everything else, with a focus on meeting safety and environmental requirements. Training will even cover mud testing and how to interpret those results.

GEFCO’s new 20K will be on site, drilling to a 100 foot depth to show training concepts in action. They’ll also show off their new Mud Doctor solids control system.

“The ground water industry is largely self-taught,” Brock Yordy said. “This is one reason why GEFCO and Baroid IDP lead training sessions throughout the country.  We’re very pleased that we can put our expertise to work under the support of the Indiana Ground Water Association and Franklin Electric to bring the latest technologies in the industry to local drillers.”

Anyone who reads my blog knows I’m a big advocate of training. Yes, everyone in this industry works works hard and picks up skills on each job. That’s a given. At the same time, getting outside your crew can help show you how others in the industry do things. The kind of training offered here can help you mix it up — and improve — what you do.

Drilling is hard enough. Attending trainings like this can help you learn to work a little smarter, instead of harder. That’s worth the price of admission.

Stay safe out there, drillers.