FALL 2021
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ON
MTC BOARD MEMBER
SHAUN MEREDITH SAVE THE DATE FOR
MTC and UNIVERSITY of MARYLAND’S
WINTER TURFGRASS CONFERENCE AND TRADE SHOW
MARYLAND TURFGRASS COUNCIL 303 S. Talbot Street #389 St. Michaels, MD 21663 ExecDir@MDTurfCouncil.com www.mdturfcouncil.org MTC Turf News is published quarterly for the MTC by: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street, Suite 200 Franklin, TN 37064 Phone: 615-790-3718 Fax: 615-794-4524 info@leadingedge communications.com
2021 MTC OFFICERS & BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT
Ben Ellis – Superintendent Fort Belvoir Golf Course 2806 Brewster Rd Waldorf, MD 20601 Cell: 571-340-0122 golfturf54@gmail.com
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VICE PRESIDENT
Brandon Sands MNCPPC M&D Randall Farm 4200 Ritchie Marlboro Rd Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 Office: 301-780-2426 Cell: 240-821-7139 Brandon.sands@pgparks.com
SECRETARY
Cheryl Gaultney 12 Pressie Lane Churchville, MD 21028 Home: 410-734-0650 Cell: 410-322-8275 Sandqueen10@aol.com
TREASURER
Katy Cooper 303. S. Talbot Street #389 St. Michaels, MD 21663 Office: 410-745-9643 Fax: 410-745-8867 Cell: 443-496-0750 treasurer@MDTurfCouncil.com
14 CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
• FALL 2021
10 UPCOMING EVENT
DEPARTMENTS
MTC and University of Maryland’s Winter Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show
6 President’s Message
14 COVER STORY Member Spotlight on MTC Board Member Shaun Meredith
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MTC TURF NEWS
6 Index of Advertisers 8 Executive Director’s Corner 18 News from MTC
Vernon Cooper All States Turf Consultants 303 S. Talbot Street #389 St. Michaels, MD 21663 Office: 410-745-9643 Cell: 443-742-6618 Fax: 410-745-8867 execdir@MDTurfcouncil.com
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Jamie Roell Anne Arundel. Co. Rec. & Parks 1010 Kinder Farm Rd. Millersville, MD 21108 Work: 410-222-6250 Cell: 443-370-2582 Fax: 410-222-6138 Personal Cell: 410-215-1425 Rproel09@aacounty.org jamroell@verizon.net
Three-Year Director Terms Pat Coakley Dura Edge Products 1121 Oakwood Lane Bel Air, MD 21015 410-241-3013 pcoakley@duraedge.com Logan Freeman – Superintendent Mountain Branch Golf Club 1827 Mountain Rd Joppa, MD 21085 Cell: 208-866-6380 lfreeman@mountainbranch.com Amanda Stillwagon Calvert County Recreation & Parks 175 Main St. Prince Frederick, MD 20678 Work Cell: 410-610-3959 Amanda.Stillwagon@ CalvertcountyMD.org
Two-Year Director Terms Brian Haga Scientific Plant Service P.O. Box 62 Brooklandville, MD 21022 410-321-0970 brianh@spsonline.com Scott Orndorff Landscape Supply 5325 Columbia Rd, Apt. D Columbia, MD 21044 301-458-5625 scott@landscapesupplyva.com Perry Whaley Newsom Seed P.O. Box 510 11788 Scaggsville Rd. Fulton, MD 20759 240-554-0359 Perry@newsomseed.com
One-Year Director Terms Keith Bowman McHale Landscape Design 6212 Leapley Rd Upper Marlboro, MD 20722 Cell: 240-375-8753 keithb@mchalelandscape.com Matt Coates Nationals Baseball 1500 S. Capitol Street S.E. Washington, DC 20003 Office: 202-640-7545 Cell: 202-731-4774 Matt.Coates@Nationals.com Shaun Meredith Calvert County Rec & Parks 175 Main Street Prince Frederick, MD 20678 Cell: 410-610-9007 Office: 410-535-1600 Shaun.Meredith@ calvertcountymd.gov
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
I N D E X O F A D VE RT I SE RS
CHANGING TIMES
Beam Clay............................................ 19
took over as the Maryland Turfgrass Council’s President a few months before the world changed. A worldwide pandemic that is still causing our world to work and move in a different way may have reopened the eyes of many to the importance and benefits of the turfgrass industry. I have compiled some of the highlights from our Maryland Turfgrass community over the past two years.
Civitas / Holly Frontier............................. 7
I
•A pril 2020 Department of Homeland Security Guidance list of essentials businesses includes “landscapers” as essential (found in the Public Works and Infrastructure Support Services section of the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce: Ensuring Community and National Resilience in COVID-19 Response version 3.0). The Federal Government continues to view the landscape industry as critical and essential. •M arch 2020 Maryland golf course maintenance departments are considered essential during Covid 19 Pandemic. •D ecember 2020 Maryland Turfgrass Conference went Virtual. A great program that was able to support and benefit hundreds of turfgrass professionals in the state of Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. • June 2021 MASTMA releases Best Management Practices (BMP) manual. •U niversity of Maryland began the search for an Associate Professor and Extension Turfgrass Pathology Specialist. •D ecember 14, 2021 The Maryland Turfgrass Conference will again be in-person at Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City, MD with a limited virtual option if needed. I look forward to seeing everyone at the conference this December. Please stay safe.
Ben Ellis
Maryland Turfgrass Council, President
www.BEAMCLAY.com
Buy Sod, Inc........................................... 9 www.buysod.com
Central Sod Farms of Maryland, Inc........ 13 www.centralsodmd.com
www.civitasturf.com/default.asp
Collins Wharf Sod Farm.. ........................ 19 www.collinswharfsod.com
East Coast Sod & Seed.. ........................... 6 www.eastcoastsod.com
Fisher & Son Company, Inc...................... 3 www.fisherandson.com
Greene County Fertilizer Co.................... 11 www.greenecountyfert.com
Landmark Turf & Native Seed................... 5 landmarkturfandnativeseed.com
Luck Ecosystems. . ................................. 17 www.luckecosystems.com
Mid-Atlantic STIHL . . .........Inside Front Cover www.stihldealers.com
Nutrien Solutions. . ................................. 16 www.nutrienagsolutions.com
Progressive Turf Equipment Inc.............. 13 www.progressiveturfequip.com
D I G IT A L M A R K E T PLACE SCAN T HESE QR C ODES TO L EA R N MOR E A B OU T T H E S E C O M P A N I E S .
Summit Hall Turf Farm, Inc........Back Cover www.summithall.com
The Turf Zone....................................... 19 www.theturfzone.com
To discuss advertising opportunities, contact Leading Edge Communications:
615-790-3718 888-707-7141 ( T OL L F REE )
sales@leadingedgecommunications.com www.LeadingEdgeCommunications.com 6
MTC TURF NEWS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S CORNER
SEE YOU AT THE CONFERENCE! As always, things are moving and changing in the Turfgrass Industry and the period since the Spring MTC Turf News is no exception. First and certainly the most exciting is that This Year’s Annual Winter Turfgrass Conference is once again LIVE and returning to the Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City on Tuesday, December 14, 2021. Mark the date to attend one of the three excellent educational tracks being prepared for golf, sports turf, and lawncare. A limited virtual live stream option is available for those not feeling well or concerns of crowds. Have you ever thought of being an exhibitor at the Trade Show to show off your company’s wares with a tabletop display and/or display equipment outside? If you prefer to help support the Council and the University turfgrass programs but don’t want to do a display, then sign up to be a conference sponsor and be recognized with banners showing your support for everyone to see. Of course, you can do both if you would like to do that too.
On a more solemn note, I also want to advise you of the loss of three industry icons since our last issue. On April 16, 2021, MTC Past President and Golf Course Superintendent Ben Stagg (age 86) of Easton, MD passed on to join his beloved wife, Hilda. On August 16th, 2021, MTC Past President Nick Gammill (age 73) of Capitol Sports Fields in Hyattsville left this world from his home in Nicaragua in Central America. Lastly, on August 22, 2021, Steve Iles (age 66) of Green Way Lawns in Westminster passed due to injuries sustained on the job. These men have been leaders and good friends to our industry. They are gone and will be greatly missed but their leadership continues in the rest of us in the Turfgrass Industry.
Complete the form in this magazine and send it in to hold your spot today!!
Ben Stagg
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MTC TURF NEWS
Keep them and their families in your prayers.
Nick Gammill
Steve Iles
Speaking of future leaders, the TPM (Turfgrass Producers of Maryland) would like to announce that Camron J. Wayland (Cam) has been awarded the “Jim Claxton Scholarship” for the 2021/2022 school year. Cam just graduated from Rappahannock County High School, where he maintained a 4.0273 grade point average while being a Volunteer Athletic Student Assistant for four years, a Sports journalist for the last two years, and Class President for the last three years. Presently, Cam is starting his college career at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. His goal is to get his degree in Sport and Recreation Management in hopes of becoming a high school Athletic Director. In fact, he has his eyes on Rappahannock County High School. He has already formed ideas of what needs to be done to improve both the fields and programs at his alma mater. If any high school senior or full time two-year or four-year college student interested in some form of education and work in production, sports turf, golf, lawn care, or other occupations dealing with turfgrass would like to apply, applications are being taken now and the full requirements are included later in this issue. See you at the Conference!
Vernon W. Cooper
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO PLAY WITH
Neil Jones, Territory Manager – Virginia & Eastern NC njones@buysod.com • 910-975-0002
Maryland Turfgrass Council, Exec. Dir.
Camron J. Wayland (Cam)
FALL 2021
9
UPCOM ING E VE NT
GREETINGS AND WELCOME TO THE
2021 MTC Annual Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show! We are back LIVE once again at Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City on TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14
The
Education Committee is working to put together a fantastic program with renowned Turfgrass Experts including, but not limited to:
DOUG LINDE — Delaware Valley University BRAD JAKUBOWSKI — Penn State University BRAD PARKS — Rutgers University
provide a limited number of live streams via Zoom to get you your needed CEU’s. You will still have to complete the same “Attendance Verification Form” and submit it to the MTC office upon completion. If you need or prefer to join the conference by Zoom, please advise and register ASAP as spaces are limited. If you need a registration form go to our web page MDTurfCouncil.org or the MTC office at 410-745-9643 •
STEVE McDONALD — Turfgrass Disease Solutions KEVIN MATHIAS — University of Maryland Emeritus ELLIOT DOWLING — from USGA Plus, favorites like Joe Doherty, Dr. Mark Carroll, and Geoff Rinehart from the University of Maryland. This promises to be a program you will not want to miss. We are also requesting Continuing Education Credits toward recertification for Maryland Pesticide Categories 3A, 3C, 6, 10, 12, plus credits for Delaware, District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia Pesticide Applicator Recertification. We are also applying for Fertilizer Applicator CEU’s from both Maryland and Virginia. If there is something else you need CEU’s to maintain or improve your company, please ask and we will attempt to get approval for that recertification as well. You will also find in this issue an opportunity to become a Vendor to exhibit what your company offers for all to see and/or become a Sponsor to help defray the cost of the conference and increase the funding we will have to promote quality turfgrass and support the University of Maryland Turfgrass Programs. In exchange for your support, signage will be prominently displayed for your company or organization Hopefully everyone can attend, but if there is a reason you cannot or prefer not to attend, we are also attempting to
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MTC TURF NEWS
COVID Policy For MTC Annual Winter Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show In an effort to have an informative, stress free Conference and Trade Show we will be utilizing the following Covid guidelines to ensure everyone stays as safe and healthy as possible. To participate in person at the conference we request everyone EITHER Be vaccinated OR Have had Covid and a positive “antibody” test OR Obtained a “negative test” within the period of Dec. 4 to Dec. 14, 2021 Wearing of masks will be purely at the discretion and choice of the participant. If on December 14, you do not feel well, please stay home and we will work with you to connect virtually livestream to recertify your license.
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UPCOMING EVENT • continued
MTC a n d U N I V E R S IT Y o f M A R Y L A N D ’S
Winter Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14 will be here before we know it. So, it is time to commit to be a VENDOR AND/OR SPONSOR for the MTC and University of Maryland’s Winter Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show. The conference and Trade Show will once again be held at the Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City, right off Interstate 70 in Howard County.
VENDORS Displays will be throughout the main ball room where we can all visit and learn of the new products and companies just waiting to serve the Turfgrass Industry while enjoying a delicious lunch. At the request of previous years Vendors and Participants, we have increased the lunch time to be 11:45 to 1:15 to allow more time to interact. (lunch for vendors is 11:15 to 11:45). Booths available are a single booth (10' x 10'), a double booth 10' x 20') and a triple booth (10' x 30'). Each has an 8' covered table and 2 chairs. Electric and WiFi are also provided. 2 name badges are included with each booth. Additional badges may be purchased for $25 each. PLEASE NO SUITCASING Single Booth $550
Double Booth $1000
Triple Booth $1500
Outside equipment displays space is available but limited. Outside only $550
No charge for outside if inside booth is also rented
SPONSORS Conference Mailing $550 (2 additional passes)
Coffee & Sweets $800 (3 additional passes)
A.V. Equipment $800 (3 additional passes)
Break-Out Rooms $550 (2 additional passes)
Trade Show Hall $1100 (4 additional passes)
Lunch $1100 (4 additional passes)
Friend of the University Programs $350 (No additional passes are available) Company | Contact | Mailing Address | City | State | Zip | Email | Phone | Check made to MTC
Credit Card (American Express, Discover, MC or Visa is accepted)
Credit Card # | Name as it appears on credit card (if different from above) | Billing Address (if different from above) | Security Code (3 or 4 digit) |
Expiration Month | Year |
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE PART OF THE ADVENTURE, PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM AND RETURN IT TO VERNON BY E-MAIL, FAX, OR US MAIL. THANKS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!!! Vernon W. Cooper, Executive Director | 303 S. Talbot St. #389 | St. Michaels, MD 21663 | Fax: 410-745-8867 | ExecDir@MDTurfCouncil.com 12
MTC TURF NEWS
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FALL 2021
13
SHAUN M ER E D I T H MEM B E R SPO TL I G H T ON
P AR K A N D S A F E T Y D I V ISIO N CH I EF FO R CALVERT CO UN TY
What do you do in your current position for Calvert County? In the current position I have a really big scope of work. A lot of it has to do with athletic fields. We have over 60 total, some of them are local elementary and middle school fields we help maintain for the school district. We also have stuff ranging from highly maintained turf that has irrigation and bermudagrass or bluemuda, but the majority is not even irrigated. At that point, it’s just keeping it as green as you can. Per my title, for our department, I also see a lot of safety issues and I also manage all of our capital improvement projects for the Park and Recreation Department, which is about $32 million worth of projects. We have a pretty big staff as well — if we’re full staff, we’re up around 60 people. We work over 600 acres of land that doesn’t just have athletic fields. It’s everything from trails to tennis courts, basketball courts, skate parks, dog parks, you name it, so customer service gets involved in a lot of that too, with being a public facility. What was your career path prior to this position? My family had a landscape business, so I grew up in that field of work. When I was a kid, I remember being out there mowing grass with my grandfather and the natural progression of things led me into the turfgrass industry. I went to Penn State and got a turfgrass degree. I went in there with all intentions of working on golf courses. Freshman year of college, I got in a bad fourwheeler accident, broke my neck in four places and paralyzed my right arm. That had me thinking about whether it was the right career path anymore. Obviously it’s not a job where you get to sit behind a desk all the time. But I stuck with it, I had a lot of good support. People encouraged me to stay in this field of work and I’m glad for that. I wouldn’t be where I’m at without it. I started off going into baseball. I worked in minor league baseball for eight years, going from State College up to New Hampshire. Minor league baseball, as people probably know, is a lifestyle, I like to say, more than it is a job. You have to be fully invested and want to spend the majority of your time there
during the season. A lot of people do it, but my wife and I thought it was a good idea to try and look at a career change and find something that’s a little less hour-dependent, which led me into parks and recreation, where I am now. I honestly enjoy it a lot and I miss being on the grass all the time, but it keeps it fresh. Days go fast and really widen up the umbrella of knowledge. With such a diverse range of tasks in your current position, what’s the best part? Is it still the grass? Oh yeah, that’s my love, there. I think probably my staff probably doesn’t want me out there with them anymore. That’s certainly what really puts blood into my veins. But I’ve found that I had a lot more of a love of construction than I thought before. I’m sure it’s a combination of new things, I’m learning a lot as I go through and do it. I didn’t have formal education in it or anything like that, so it’s always nice to learn something new and I really enjoy the planning aspect of it, and over the years work on different facilities and fields and you try and find someone who knows how it was built, or what happened here or what’s in the ground there… the nice thing is that now that I’m planning it, building it, and then maintaining it, I kind of have all that insider knowledge and it really is nice. What’s the biggest challenge of your job? It sounds cliché to say it, but I think it’s the people aspect of it. I had a professor in college, Dr. Andrew McNitt, he’s one of the best professors I had. He gave lectures, going on for weeks about turf and soils and dirt and at the end of it, he’d say, “Now don’t forget, the grass will grow itself, it’s everything else that’s hard.” As a college student, you don’t really understand what that means. But once you get out there, you do. If all we had to do was worry about the grass, you have a pretty easy job, but it’s the people, probably. Not just staff, but people in general, especially now that we reach a lot of people in what we do. And unfortunately, you don’t really hear the thank you’s as much as you do the complaints. CO N T I N UE D
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MTC TURF NEWS
“
If you want to keep moving forward and moving up that ladder and getting better, you’ll snatch every opportunity you have. It’s not always going to be the right choice — not every one is a homerun, but if you didn’t try, you only have regret.
”
FALL 2021
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT • continued
For the most part you have to let it roll off your back, but those days that you’re giving it your all and it ends with somebody complaining, it’s a little deflating. But Dr. McNitt was right — the grass really does take care of itself to a certain aspect. It is all the other things — getting purchase orders and jumping through the hoops to do certain things, that’s the hard part. You’ve been on the MTC Board for three years. What made you want to step up into that volunteer role?
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MTC TURF NEWS
Fred Heinlen Eastern Shore 443-669-4284 fred.heinlen@nutrien.com
Harry Kenney DE, MD/Northern VA 410-375-6148 harry.kenney@nutrien.com
I’ve always wanted to be involved in the industry in whatever way that could be, and that alone is a driver enough for me to do it. But it was kind of funny, our annual conference is when we typically vote in the new board. One of the existing board members who’s still there now, I was sitting there eating lunch and he came up to me and said, “Shaun, we need one more person to fill the role. Somebody just backed out, can you do it?” I said, “Sure, why not.” No pressure, they were 15 minutes away from announcing it, but I said, “Yeah, I think I could do that, I’d like to be a part of it.” It is gratifying – you hope that you make the industry, your job, your relationships better and just leave a mark on somebody or something or some part of the industry when you leave it. What is a lesson you’ve learned the hard way in your career? When I was at one of the minor league ball parks, I had a general manager that generally speaking wasn’t really my favorite person I ever worked for, but I was young and it’s very stressful at times there. I lost my temper one time and he came to me and he said, “Shaun, your hard work and stress to you is the same as everyone else’s hard work and stress is to them.” It hit home for me, and it makes sense. I was of the mindset then that if your hands aren’t dirty, and you’re not dripping sweat, you’re not working. You get older and you learn that that’s not the case. But it really put it in perspective for me and it was probably one of the hardest lessons I had to learn because at that time, I was losing my temper, getting upset and it really wasn’t warranted.
What would you tell young people who are just entering the field or are considering turfgrass management as a career? Remember that you’re not going to come out of college and not work and get your hands dirty. I think that’s something that a lot of people don’t realize — that you’re getting your knowledge to apply out in that field, you’ve still got to be out in that field. I do a lot of interviewing now, even with existing employees that I have, I find myself going back to them like, “You sure did leave a lot on the table.” Thinking outside the box doesn’t just apply to a task, it applies to everything that you do. If I’m interviewing you and I ask if you’ve ever drug a baseball infield, don’t say no. Stop for a second and think, “What else have I done that’s similar to that?” Have you drug a horse rink, a beach, have you drug a grader up and down your driveway at home? Think about the concept behind it and apply it to something there, and always be thinking in that direction. As long as you keep doing that in everything you do, you’re going to continue to move forward. Also, keep up with continuing education, get involved in a board. The more you do, the more you do, right? If you want to keep moving forward and moving up that ladder and getting better, you’ll snatch every opportunity you have. It’s not always going to be the right choice –not every one is a homerun, but if you didn’t try, you only have regret.
MTC would like to thank Shaun for his dedication to the Board and the industry. To hear our full interview, visit us at THETURFZONE.COM.
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What do you enjoy doing outside of work? I’ve got two little ones so they keep me quite busy for sure. Honestly, I probably do just work outside of work. We have a little slice of land with a couple of goats and chickens. There’s always some type of job or something I have to build or something around my house. I really just enjoy doing that, tinkering around on projects on my own time and just being outside. I do like to hunt, I’ve hunted all my life. But like I said, I’ve got two little kids, so my opportunities for hunting aren’t like they used to be. •
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FALL 2021
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NEWS FROM MTC
THE
JIM CLAXTON SCHOLARSHIP FUND AD MIN I STERED BY: TURFG RASS P RO D UCERS O F MARYLAND
The
Jim Claxton Scholarship Fund was initiated during the Spring of 2011 to honor Jim and his contributions to the Mid-Atlantic area turfgrass industry and financially support students while pursuing a college degree. Jim worked as a salesman for Newsom Seed from the early 1990’s until soon before his passing on March 20, 2013. He made great contributions to turfgrass related businesses during this period, especially businesses involved in turf production. The Jim Claxton Scholarship Fund allows for a single, annual $500.00 award to be issued to a winning applicant prior to the fall college semester. Written requests for applications for The Jim Claxton Scholarship Fund can be sent to:
Turfgrass Producers of Maryland P.O. Box 389 St. Michaels, MD 21663 Attention: The Jim Claxton Scholarship Fund And/or email to: Vernon@AllStatesTurf.com and/or Harry.kenney@nutrien.com
Completed applications, along with any essays, letters of recommendation, transcripts, etc. should be postmarked and mailed by 05/31/2022 to the same address.
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MTC TURF NEWS
In addition to a possible interview with one or more Turfgrass Producers of Maryland Board Members, the following criteria will be considered by the TPM board while deciding who will be awarded this scholarship:
•T he applicant should be a current high school senior or be enrolled full time in a two-year Associate Degree or four-year Bachelor Degree college or university program. Proof of college or university enrollment in an Associate Degree or Bachelor’s Degree program may be requested by the TPM board. •T he applicant should reside in the Mid-Atlantic area or be enrolled in a college or university located in the MidAtlantic area. •T he applicant should have earned a high school or current college level GPA of at least 2.5. A transcript should be submitted along with the application. •P reference may be given to students enrolled in a turfgrass related field. •P reference may be given to students with experience in turf production and/or turf maintenance. •A n essay of one page or less, using 12 pitch x New Roman or equivalent with a one-inch margin that should include how you intend to utilize your Associate or Bachelor’s degree. •A current high school and/or college level transcript and up to three letters of recommendation can be submitted with the completed application. •
MTC Turf News is the Maryland Turfgrass Council magazine. Subscriptions are complimentary to MTC members. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, its board of directors, MTC Turf News, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as MTC members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in any issue of MTC Turf News. Copyright © 2021 by the Maryland Turfgrass Council. MTC Turf News is published quarterly. Presorted standard postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: MTC allows reprinting of material published here. Permission requests should be directed to MTC. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photo-
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