MD Turfgrass Conference: Getting Better Every Year

WOW!! Anyone who missed the “2019 Annual Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show” at Turf Valley on Dec. 10, 2019, missed a great opportunity to update on the latest information from some of the greatest experts in our industry from several of the better Turfgrass Universities across the USA such as Dr. Travis Gannon, NC State; Dr. Jim Brosnan, Univ. of Tenn.; Dr. John Kaminski, Penn State; and Dr. Joe Roberts, Clemson Univ. We also were well covered by the exceptional Maryland experts who are directly aware of our unique Maryland issues. Just a few of Maryland’s experts included Mr. Joe, Dougherty; Mr. Geoffrey Rinehart; Dr. Mark Carroll; Dr. Karen Rane; and great industry experts like Mr. Elliott Downing. We also cannot forget the efforts of the crew from Turf Equipment and Supply for presenting an outstanding program for our Mechanics. Lastly, a very special thanks to Dr. Joe Roberts who managed to compile this excellent program while accepting a new job and moving his family to Clemson.

Mark your calendar for Tuesday, December 8th, 2020 for our next Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show at Turf Valley Resort, you won’t want to miss it!!

We took your suggestions from the evaluations after the 2018 conference and implemented them for you. This included:

• Renting larger Educational Rooms so more table space was available.

• We separated the “registration area” from the “Coffee & Sweets” area to move registration quicker and still provide space for socializing and networking.

• You wanted more Trade Show/Lunch time but wanted the conference to remain one day. We added an additional 30 minutes to the Trade Show time. This resulted in our Vendors increasing from 26 inside vendors and 2 outside in 2018 to 32 inside and 2 outside.

• One complaint we had in 2018, which was actually done intentionally, was that there were insufficient dining tables in the Trade Show hall for all to sit and eat at one time. As stated, this is intentional so that some visit the Vendors while some eat and then they switch. As we continue to get larger, we will have to look at adding more dining tables in other areas.

• Almost unanimously, the responses were to keep the conference to a 1 day conference and trade show. However, credit for more certifications were requested and that was expanded this year.

• We, at your request, also expanded the recertification and continuing education credits this year. We had the following recertifications:

MD Pesticide: 156

MD Fertilizer: 123

DE Pesticide: 10

DC Pesticide: 17

NJ Pesticide: 1

PA Pesticide: 2

VA Pesticide: 9

WV Pesticide: 3

For a total of 321 recertifications. In addition, we were able to offer GCSAA & STMA CEUs.

If you would like to have something else offered or changed for the 2020 conference or anything you would like to see your MTC offer, please take a moment and send me an e-mail or note.

Vernon W. Cooper

MTC Executive Director

Vernon W. Cooper, MTC Executive Director