Arkansas Turfgrass Association P.O. Box 185 • Bryant, AR 72089 Tel: 501-860-0187
P R E S I D E N T ’S M E S S AG E
Published by: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, TN 37064 Tel: 615-790-3718 Email: info@leadingedge communications.com
NEW OPPORTUNITIES for a NEW DECADE
Richard Covert, ATA President
T
his is my first article for the ATA magazine as well as the first of the new decade. First and foremost I’d like to thank the outgoing President Kyle Sanders for his many years of service as a board member and the last year as the President. Under his leadership we have seen new opportunities to learn and grow as turfgrass professionals. Kyle has brought us the annual awards for excellence in the turf industry which are given out at the yearly conference in Hot Springs, as well as bringing Big Red Stores as an association sponsor. When Kyle approached me to join the Board back in 2016, I was honored and eager to serve and make the association thrive. Our Board is made up of many different people from all areas of the turfgrass industry, people that I respect and who share my same passion for what I do. Our 2020 turfgrass show was a success and there are many people to thank for that being possible. I’d like to thank our sponsors and exhibitors, without them we couldn’t have a show; our speakers who give of their time and wisdom; our Board members that spend almost a year planning and working the conference; and finally, our attendees that take the time to travel to Hot Springs. We take seriously the feedback that we get from all areas and will work diligently to accommodate as many of those ideas as we possibly can. As we look forward to 2021 and beyond, there will no doubt be changes to the show that need to be implemented. Our goal has been and will always be to learn and be the best we can be. I appreciate this opportunity and encourage you to reach out to us for any of your concerns or questions. Thank you and Happy New Year! Richard Covert President Arkansas Turfgrass Association
ATA OFFICERS Richard Covert, President Baptist Health Systems Richard.covert@baptist-health.org Kyle Sanders, Immediate Past President Sanders Ground Essentials 501-315-9395 kylesanders@sandersground.com Jeff Haskins, Treasurer Paragould Country Club 870-780-5883 Ja1116@earthlink.net Mary Beth Rogers, Executive Secretary 501-860-0187 arkturfgrassassn@att.net Doug Karcher, Ph.D., Education Chair University of Arkansas • 479-575-5723 karcher@uark.edu Pat Berger, Director Emeritus University of Arkansas • 479-575-6887 pberger@uark.edu Charlie Bowen, Director Emeritus Arkansas Hydroseed • 501-315-7333 charliebowen@yahoo.com Seth Dunlap Arkansas State Plant Board seth.dunlap@agriculture.arkansas.gov 501-225-1598 Mark Brown Nabholz • 501-749-7459 rmbrown2@ualr.edu Rodney Fisher Life Member, Founding Member Agra Turf, Inc. • 501-268-7036 agrarod@yahoo.com Ron Fisher Agra Turf, Inc. • 501-268-7036 agraron@yahoo.com Steve Ibbotson Conway Parks & Rec. • 501-328-4173 Steve.ibbotson@cityofconway.org Josh Landreth Ace of Blades • 479-530-7001 aceofblades@cox.net Mark Mowrey, Director Emeritus Oaklawn • 501-538-1600 bntgrns@yahoo.com Guy Oyler Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation goyler@jerrypate.com • 501-317-5980 Rodger Pevehouse Life Member Michael Rush Rush Lawn Care • 501-279-8980 mrush@rushlawn.com
6 • A R K A N S A S T U R F G R A S S • Spring 2020
Ricky Self Cypress Creek r.self@yahoo.com • 501-605-8000