P R E S I D E N T ’S M E S S AG E
Looking Forward
Arkansas Turfgrass Association P.O. Box 185 • Bryant, AR 72089 Tel: 501-860-0187 Published by: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street, Suite 200 Franklin, TN 37064 Tel: 615-790-3718 Email: info@leadingedge communications.com
Richard Covert ATA President
I
hope that you all have found time this summer to relax and enjoy some time with loved ones, before the hustle and bustle of the upcoming school/sports season is upon us. As turf managers, I know that many of you will be at your peak season this early fall with all the sports and kids’ activities that happen in so many of our parks and sports facilities. We are so excited to talk about some of the changes to our annual meeting and tradeshow! We have changed the format this year, where the tradeshow is going to be one FULL day, from 7 am – 6 pm on the 27th, and we will be running the educational component concurrently that day for the pesticide recertification. The 28th will be the breakout sessions where you can make your own program and choose which talks from our experts you want to hear. We are just beyond excited to be able to bring back the meeting this coming year, and with some changes that are going to be for the better! Speaking of changes, please be watching our website, arkansasturf.net. In the very near future, we plan on being able to sign up new members directly on our website and have a “members only” portal with news, and special events only open to members. You will also be able to print off your membership certificates from the site. We are excited to start utilizing our web presence more. With that, we are also going to be more active on social media! We have a Facebook page – find us at Arkansas Turfgrass Association – and we have a Twitter (@Ark_Turf_Assn). Be watching those pages for useful tips, announcements about meetings/events, and as a pathway to engage with us. Shelby has really hit the ground running and we are excited at some of the ideas we have cooking that she has brought to the table.
Stay safe, stay healthy, and let us know how we can serve you! Richard Covert ATA President
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 Shelby Hanson Executive Director sgouche@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
The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Arkansas Turfgrass Association, its staff, or its board of directors, Arkansas Turfgrass, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as Arkansas Turfgrass Association members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this quarterly publication. Copyright © 2021 by the Arkansas Turfgrass Association. Arkansas Turfgrass is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of the Arkansas Turfgrass Association. Third-class postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. Printed in the U.S.A. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information. 4 • A R K A N S A S T U R F G R A S S • Fall 2021
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 Ricky Self Cypress Creek r.self@yahoo.com • 501-605-8000
