Recent Event

Lawn and Landscape Workshop 2021! The ATA “Comes Together” with a Hybrid Workshop

By Melanie Bonds

Our Association was able to hold an “in person” education meeting for the first time since March of 2020 at our Lawn and Landscape Workshop on March 10th. Our choice of venue made social distancing possible for this “hybrid” meeting. Gardendale Civic Center offered a spacious meeting center, and all the room we could use for outside exhibitors. It was a beautiful early spring day in March! Participants were pleased to be able to network in person again, even though masked and socially distant!

The program was solid, with one speaker, Dr. Bryan Unruh, University of Florida, being Zoomed in for his presentation on “Ride-On Applicators.” We were fortunate to have Landscape Design Architects Ed Norton and Sean Hufnagel of Holcombe Norton Partners join us. They spoke on commercial and institutional design. Ed has a special interest in athletic turf and sports facility design.

Peter Lange of PBI Gordon

Daniel Strickland of Site One provided an update on new chemicals available for lawn and landscape. We were fortunate to have our old friend, Cory Blair, come over from Georgia to speak on “Irrigation Products for the Landscape.” Peter Lange of PBI Gordon also spoke. Special thanks to Peter and PBI Gordon for their lunch sponsorship!

Outdoor venue allowed for an in-person event

In closing, I want to acknowledge our appreciation for Dr. David Han, our education advisor who has helped us tirelessly with our educational meetings and didn’t let us down at our first live event this year! He and Dr. Jacobi do a wonderful job! Also, James Horton, editor of the ATA Turf Times is always willing to lend a hand and is so much appreciated! Please take time to thank these individuals for all they do for the ATA next time you see them!

MANY THANKS to our sponsors and exhibitors at the event:

Alabama Green Industry Training Center

Corteva Agriscience

Greenville Turf & Tractor

Harrells

Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation

Prime Source

SiteOne Landscape Supply

Walker Mowers / Wright Mowers