FROM THE TTA PRESIDENT Christopher
C. Sykes
WHAT A SHOW!
Thank you to everyone who participated as the 56th Annual Tennessee Turfgrass Conference and Show was a tremendous success. The TTA has for sure come out on top following one of the most tumultuous periods in our lives as we continue to navigate the ever changing ‘new normal’ associated with the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic. I want to take this opportunity to pay a debt of gratitude to our outgoing President, Mr. Doug Ward, who served as our leader during this historic time. He was for sure the right person to lead our association through these difficult times.
The virtual platform worked well in 2021, but we knew it was time to get folks back in person in 2022. We had some concerns as we all heard about the Omicron variant but remained optimistic that our members had a strong desire to get back in person and would show up. We ultimately had near record attendance and participation in all aspects of the conference.
The conference education was as strong of a program as we have ever produced. Kudos to the entire Education Committee, which is headed by Dr. Jim Brosnan, for a diverse and outstanding lineup of presenters. We had science, business, professional development, golf, sports turf, sod, and multiple hands-on workshops. We had something for everybody, and I would put our show content up against any in the green industry. We had as many as five Concurrent Tracts on Wednesday that were all packed. This is a tremendous value to our members to continue their professional development in a customizable fashion.
The trade show was a huge success as well and the new setup worked beautifully. Providing lunch is a no brainer and created a very comfortable platform to conduct business or just talk shop. The new setup for the Awards and Business Luncheon created a packed house for our awards presentation, which only adds to that portion of the event. The Tennessee Turfgrass Golf Championship at Top Golf was a hit as well with close to 150 participants. Everything felt normal and everyone seemed to have a great time learning, networking and most importantly sharing in some good old-fashioned fellowship.
One of the biggest highlights each year for me personally are the awards, most notably the Dr. Tom Samples Professional of the year award. There is no more deserving recipient than Mr. Bob McCurdy who is our 2021 TTA Professional of the Year. Bob and his entire family for that matter have played a huge role with TTA through the years and it is our honor to properly recognize his contributions. If you haven’t watched the video tribute it is located on the front page of our website at ttaonline.org. Thank you to the Awards Committee, headed by Mr. Ryan Blair, for another outstanding production. This year was even more special as we were able to celebrate the careers of two Turfgrass Legends in Tennessee, Dr. Tom Samples and Dr. Alan Windham. They have meant so much to us all and we wish them nothing but the best in their retirement. I look forward to seeing them around for years to come as I am sure they will both remain involved.
Thank you again for a great event and we are already looking forward to next year!
Christopher C. Sykes TTA President
Tennessee Turfgrass is the official publication of The Tennessee Turfgrass Association
400 Franklin Road Franklin, Tennessee 37069 (615) 928-7001
info@ttaonline.org www.ttaonline.org
PUBLISHED BY
Leading Edge Communications, LLC
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EDITOR
Dr. James Brosnan
TTA OFFICERS
President Chris Sykes Tellico Village
Vice President
Ryan Storey Line to Line LLC
Secretary / Treasurer
Ryan Blair, CGCS
Holston Hills Country Club
Past President
Doug Ward
Belle Meade Country Club
Executive Director
Melissa Martin
Tennessee Turfgrass Association
TTA 2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jason Bradley
Bart Cash
Ben Dodd
Dan Johnson
Ashley Gaskin
Cal Hill
Jeff Huber
Jeff Kuhns
Bill Marbet
Bob McLean
Jason Sanderson
Mark Stovall
John Wagnon
Jeff Wyatt
TTA ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
Bill Blackburn
Dr. Jim Brosnan
Joe Hill
Dr. Brandon Horvath
Lynn Ray
Jeff Rumph
Dr. Tom Samples
Dr. Dennis Shepard
Dr. John Sorochan
Dr. Wes Totten
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LEARN TO LEAD , YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES
reetings and Happy New Year to all. First, I find it appropriate to thank everyone who was elected or appointed to serve TVSTMA for 2021 and 2022. I especially want to thank my friend and colleague, John Wagnon. John held the position of presidency from 2020 to 2021. I want to recognize him for his selfless service as well as leaving me large shoes to fill. John, I do plan to call on you often!
I begin this message to introduce myself. My name is Byran Farris. I now hold the office of TVSTMA president for 2022. I am a native Tennessean born and raised in Maury County. I am married to my wife Rachel of sixteen years. We have two children, Chaney (14) and Cole (12). I currently work for the city of Columbia, Tennessee Parks and Recreation Department and hold the position of Sports Turf Specialist. I have been with city government for seventeen years, with six of those years as a Firefighter, EMT, still holding an AEMT licensure. I also hold the certification of CSFM with STMA. I own and operate a honeybee business where we produce honey and sell bees for purchase. This is a topic for another day, so let’s get back to the point. I have owned and operated a lawn/landscape maintenance business for almost thirty years, gradually stepping away from residential/commercial property and transitioning into sports turf management. Perhaps like you, this is where I found my calling. I was not as fortunate as others to go to school and earn a turf or horticulture degree. However, I was tremendously blessed to live in an area where opportunities arose, mentorship was attainable, professionals were approachable, and organizations dotted the local landscape. This now leads me into my discussion for today.
Many of us have attended the local chapter meeting, a state conference, or the STMA in Savannah, Georgia. I hope you have taken these opportunities to grow professionally. These opportunities for education and networking are so valuable, especially at a time with technology and knowledge at our fingertips. When we get back to work and fall into the grind, do we find ourselves continuing to learn, LEADING our staff and organization, or does our growth halt?
I would like you to visualize with me. What in your mind does leadership look like? Is it someone who sits in an office all day barking out commands? Is it someone you never see or seldom interact with until things go wrong? Is it someone you work beside every day, listening to your boss’s frustrations and their superiors’ “unattainable goals”?
I want you now to think of someone who is a great leader. Is there a word or phrase that comes to mind to describe that leader? Words like tenacious, inspiring, a lover of people, meek, humble, have integrity, patience, hardworking, charismatic, visionary, etc. Is this leader within your organization? Are you that leader? Do you fit this description?
I will be the first to say I am not perfect and strive to be many of these listed characteristics. We all can be effective leaders. Any characteristic you think of in a great leader is a CHOICE and you can DECIDE to be that type of leader.
Leadership is simple because you get to decide how you want to lead. However, leadership is difficult because people alone make leadership difficult, whether it is the leader or those being led. So how do we know if we are leading properly? Do we read books on leadership to see how you compare? Do you compare yourselves to other leaders? I will spend the next few commentaries in the Tennessee Turfgrass magazine helping you decide what leadership can look like and how to be an effective leader in your workplace.
I look forward to serving you as TVSTMA president this year. If you need to reach out, my contact info is below. We have exciting things on tap for this year. By now you should have seen or heard of the re-brand of STMA, now SFMA (Sports Field Management Association). Our chapter will be exploring options to follow SFMA, so keep an eye out for emails, social media posts, and our website for ways to be involved. Thank you for your support.
Tifton, GA
THE VALUE OF YOUR LOCAL ASSOCIATION
TJason Bradley
his year marks my 26th year in the turf industry. It’s hard to believe that I have been in the business for a quarter of a century. During this period, I worked up North just outside of Buffalo, out West in Las Vegas, in the Southeast in Charlotte and now the Mid-South in Memphis. Heading into each market, apart from Buffalo where I grew up, I knew nobody working in turf nor did I know any of the vendors. The one resource that I did have was the local turf association in each of these markets.
The local turfgrass association is one of the best, if not the best turf resource we have. I have been involved with locals for 21 years and I wouldn’t be where I am today without my involvement in each chapter. I began my involvement with a local association in Charlotte in the early 2000’s just by joining and attending events and seminars. I consider myself an introvert, but being paired with others, golfing or sitting next to someone during a seminar, forced me to be open and talk. I soon realized that I had established a number of business and personal relationships within the Charlotte turf industry in a relatively short period. From the turf side, the contacts I have made within my peer group are invaluable. I know that if I have a turf issue I can call or text any of my peers and they will offer insight and guidance, and chances are someone has either dealt with the same issue or knows how to manage the situation.
Additionally, getting out to visit and play other golf courses in your market is a great benchmarking tool, I cannot count how many ideas I have incorporated into the courses I have worked at because of something I’ve seen while attending an event at another golf course, clubhouse, golf shop, or in the Agronomy facility that the Superintendent was willing to share with me. In all the markets I have been involved with there is always one constant, the comradery between turf professionals and vendors at the local level. The fact that we are all competing for the same customers and the same dollars and yet nearly every turf professional I have ever met is willing to share ideas and help with issues says a lot about the professionalism within our turf industry, and for me that all starts with the local associations. When I speak with interns and assistants in the business I am often asked what advice I have to share, my answer is always the same, join your local turf association and get involved, whether you are just attending the events, host an event or are involved with the executive committees, it’s the absolute best way to make contacts and get your name out within the industry. Having a large web of contacts is one of my greatest assets, not to mention the friends I have made along the way.
The MAGCSA would like to thank Andrew Foster for volunteering his time and energy the last two years as our President. I would also like to thank the current Board of Directors; Nick Bisanz, Michael Rosamond and Stephen Cox. I am very much looking forward to working with everyone over the next two years. The MAGCSA will kick the year off as we normally do with a shrimp and crawfish boil in March at TPC Southwind hosted by Golf Course Superintendent Nick Bisanz.
Jason Bradley 2022 MAGCSA
President
Meet your 2022 TTA OFFICERS & BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
PRESIDENT CHRIS SYKES Tellico Village
SECRETARY / TREASURER
RYAN BLAIR, CGCS
Holston Hills Country Club
VICE PRESIDENT RYAN STOREY Line to Line LLC
PAST PRESIDENT DOUG WARD
Belle Meade Country Club
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
MELISSA MARTIN
Tennessee Turfgrass Association
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JASON BRADLEY Memphis Country Club
BART CASH Buy Sod
BEN DODD McCurdy Sod Farms
DAN JOHNSON Old Hickory Country Club
ASHLEY GASKIN Pure Green, LLC
CAL HILL Winfield United
JEFF HUBER The Golf Club of Tennessee
JEFF KUHNS Montgomery Bell Golf Course
BILL MARBET SAF / Turface
BOB M c LEAN Indian Hills Country Club
JASON SANDERSON Troubadour Golf & Field Club
MARK STOVALL Harrell’s
JOHN WAGNON City of Franklin Parks
JEFF WYATT Smith Turf & Irrigation
TTA ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
BILL BLACKBURN
DR. JIM BROSNAN
JOE HILL
DR. BRANDON HORVATH
LYNN RAY
JEFF RUMPH
DR. TOM SAMPLES
DR. DENNIS SHEPARD
DR. JOHN SOROCHAN
DR. WES TOTTEN
José Javier Vargas Almodóvar
Research Associate II Turf & Ornamental Weed Science
The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive • 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg. Knoxville, TN 37996 (865) 974-7379 • jvargas@utk.edu tnturfgrassweeds.org • @UTweedwhisperer
Jim Brosnan, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Turfgrass Weed Science
The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive • 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg. Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-8603 • jbrosnan@utk.edu tnturfgrassweeds.org • @UTturfweeds
Frank Hale, Ph.D.
Professor, Entomology and Plant Pathology
The University of Tennessee 5201 Marchant Drive • Nashville, TN 37211-5201 (615) 832-6802 • fahale@utk.edu ag.tennessee.edu/spp
Tom Samples, Ph.D. Professor, Turfgrass Extension
The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive • 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg. Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-2595 • tsamples@utk.edu turf.utk.edu • @tnturfman
John Stier, Ph.D.
Associate Dean, The University of Tennessee 2621 Morgan Circle • 126 Morgan Hall Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-7493 • jstier1@utk.edu turf.utk.edu • @Drjohnstier
Greg Breeden
Extension Specialist, The University of Tennessee 2431 Center Drive • 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg. Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-7208 • gbreeden@utk.edu tnturfgrassweeds.org • @gbreeden1
Kyley Dickson, Ph.D.
Associate Director, Center for Athletic Field Safety Turfgrass Management & Physiology (865) 974-6730 • kdickso1@utk.edu @DicksonTurf
Brandon Horvath, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Turfgrass Science The University of Tennessee 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg. • 2431 Joe Johnson Drive Knoxville, TN 37996 (865) 974-2975 • bhorvath@utk.edu turf.utk.edu • @UTturfpath
John Sorochan, Ph.D.
Professor, Turfgrass Science The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive • 363 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg. Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-7324 • sorochan@utk.edu turf.utk.edu • @sorochan
Alan Windham, Ph.D.
Professor, Entomology and Plant Pathology
The University of Tennessee 5201 Marchant Drive • Nashville, TN 37211-5201 (615) 832-6802 • https://ag.tennessee.edu/spp/ @UTPlantDoc
PARTNER WITH REFUGE LAWN INDUSTRY LEADERS
TO HELP GUIDE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION OUTREACH
By Drs. Edicarlos de Castro and Jay McCurdy, Mississippi State University
Turfgrass occupies an estimated 40 to 50 million acres in the United States, approximately 40% of which is maintained lawn around homes, places of business, and institutions. There are numerous environmental and societal benefits of turfgrass in the human built environment, and the turfgrass industry contributes billions of dollars to the country’s economy each year. However, maintained turfgrass often lacks species richness to support insect pollinators, and residential properties offer poor nesting and habitat sites that are highly segmented.
An interdisciplinary group of turfgrass scientists has partnered on the Pollinator Friendly Lawns in the Southeastern United States project ($493,000), funded by the United States Department of Agriculture–National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA–NIFA). This project seeks to enhance lawn attractiveness and function for pollinating and other beneficial insects through the inclusion of flowering plant species and development of best management practices (BMPs).
Principle investigators met with industry advisers on October 8, 2021 to discuss scientific and Extension viewpoints regarding pollinator-friendly lawns and stakeholder acceptance.
INVESTIGATORS
• Jay McCurdy, Mississippi State University
• Edicarlos de Castro, Mississippi State University
• David Held, Auburn University
• Gerald Henry, University of Georgia
ADVISORS IN ATTENDANCE
• Tim Ray, Extension Agent II, Harrison County, Mississippi State University
• Felder Rushing, Radio Host and Meadow Lawn Advocate, Mississippi
• Danesha Seth Carley , Associate Professor, Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, and Director of the NC State NSF Center for Integrated Pest Management
• Jim Crockett, Nufarm US Turf and Ornamental, Regional Sales Manager
MEETING NOTES
“It is important to slowly change the mindset of American lawn people from preferring a high-maintenance horticultural lawn to lawn that includes pretty flowers and pollinators in different seasons,” says Felder Rushing who is a renowned speaker, writer, urban horticulturist, and FlowerLawn advocate. He believes that, to succeed, the project must focus on biodiverse turfgrass-forb systems that work well in our region (the Southeast) and can be easily replicated throughout the country. Felder and others raise an interesting point: stakeholders may be slow to accept conversions of their entire lawn, so the focus has to start with the conversion of “pockets” or just the side or back lawn. Jim Crockett, who provides technical training for lawncare professionals, calls this a “lawn with a purpose.” Jim’s expertise and connection to the professional lawn care industry will be helpful in developing long-term strategies for lawn diversity in the green industry.
“We can use small areas of lawns and make them diverse, maybe starting with buffer strips or areas along fences, so we will create a less fragmented suburban environment and increase pollinator habits,” says Jay McCurdy. According to Jim Crockett, Refuge Lawn must help create a structured landscape, perhaps with maintained monoculture turfgrass, alongside a biodiverse flower lawn in the transition between turfgrass and ornamentals or property borders. “Much like a golf course rough,” says Danesha Seth Carley, who advised Pinehurst during their renovations to restore native habitats. “The concept of a fairway, intermediate rough, and tall-grass rough is analogous,” says Gerald Henry.
David Held raises an important question: “How do we change the diversity of lawn settings and add value in these scenarios?” According to David, “we must create an ecosystem that produces quality forage and habitats for bees, not just pretty flowers. We must ensure that the plants and the new management strategy we are promoting will benefit pollinators, homeowners, and the green industry.” This requires a shift in societal goals within the built environment. Defining this new aesthetic will require stakeholder input. Danesha believes that, to achieve these goals, “it’s necessary to evaluate the impact of turfgrass species and common cultural practices” on forb establishment, persistence, effects on pollinator visits, and maintenance costs. Tim Ray, an Extension Agent at Mississippi University, says, “Its necessary to understand the influence of age on how people maintain their lawns. Younger generations may be more interested in environmental issues than older generations.” For these reasons, understanding human behavior and attitudes towards biodiverse lawns will be an important factor impacting whether the BMPs developed by the project will achieve public acceptance.
The Refuge Lawn concept isn’t new. How can a “flowering-lawn” provide benefits to local ecology in southern lawns? A key objective of our project is convincing home and property owners to set aside islands or buffer-strips each year for flower production and natural regeneration. These areas would be mown less frequently when flowers are present but may still be maintained as usable lawn. A clean hardscape or maintained turf border may be the best way to strike a balance between maintained and refuge landscape.
Spotlight on two interesting species: Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) is a spring flowering native capable of thriving in a typical lawn. It regenerates and spreads by an underground corm. This flower blankets warm-season lawns of the southeast during the later-winter and early spring.
A significant yet largely unquantified percentage of home lawns are maintained by lawn care professionals. For this reason, it is also necessary to gauge the attitudes of the professionals and companies that make up this sector. As an expert in the green industry, Jim adds, “the theory and philosophy of lawn maintenance companies in terms of pesticide use are changing. They’re decreasing the amount of applied pesticides and improving product formulation to increase safety and efficacy, and companies have been working to develop natural products.” What role these products may play in a diversified, mixed stand of forb and turfgrass species is largely unstudied. Society is willing to change; for an example, we need look no further than developments in plant varieties and ornamental species added to home lawns. Jim points out, “in the past, plant breeders have bred plants and flowers for appearance: for their size, color, and so on. However, they have now returned to breeding for resource quality (pollen and forage).”
Less than a year into this project, we have had numerous interactions with stakeholders interested in the project; most stakeholders have responded positively, but some, mainly professional lawn care operators, have questioned the project’s objectives. One asked, “So you’re telling LCOs [lawn care operators] not to spray
preemergence herbicides and not to mow?” and pointed out that this contradicts standard recommendations for weed management within lawns. Another questioned whether the project objectives are an appropriate use of university and taxpayer resources. A challenging part of Extension- and university-led turfgrass research is the dichotomy separating stakeholder groups (e.g., homeowner vs. professional; monoculture vs. “mow-what-grows”). This project seeks to bridge these gaps and help to maintain an economically viable professional industry while at the same time answering the need for biodiverse alternative lawns.
Throughout the project, it will be important to gauge stakeholders’ receptiveness to alternative and biodiverse turfgrass systems. Gerald says, “We need to understand stakeholder motivation. If we can’t understand it, it will be impossible to approach stakeholders with changes.” To overcome this problem, the project will create demonstration sites (i.e., “species islands”) to measure stakeholder preference, where lawn care professionals and homeowners can choose between biodiverse and monoculture turfgrass and even among individual forb species. According to David, the investigators eventually hope to identify species that provide a “flowering sequence that can cover all seasons and [can be] established within
Yard Aster (Symphyotrichum divaricatum) thrives in moderate-to-low height of cut lawns. Specialist insect species are hosted by this flower when blooming in late-summer and early-fall.
warm-season grass systems.” Danesha’s experience in sustainable landscapes is key to understanding the needs of stakeholders and practitioners in this project. Along with her staff at the Southern Region Pest Management Center, she has offered to help develop surveys to address stakeholder preferences.
On encouraging and promoting biodiverse turfgrass lawns, Felder is working on signage proclaiming “Flower Lawn of the Month” and advocates for a matching social media hashtag (e.g., #FlowerLawn). Among many other ideas, the investigators hope to incorporate BMPs into Master Gardener training, BMP documents, and on the project website: RefugeLawn.com
The project will also disseminate findings through an Extension program delivered by specialists and county agents throughout the Southeast. This Extension program will include field days, smallgroup trainings and webinars, publications, and other outreach activities (e.g., Master Gardener meetings, regional and national stakeholder meetings, etc.).
Finally, a dominant theme of the discussion centered around stakeholder adoption of BMPs. Although the project is new, investigators and advisors are certain that flowering forbs can be included in maintained lawns. According to Jay McCurdy, the questions
“What will that look like?” and “How will it integrate into the common lawn culture of the southeastern US?” remain. All present agreed on the ideas that BMPs must be easily adopted and practical across a highly diverse range of turfgrass landscapes. FOR MORE INFORMATION follow the project on Twitter ( @RefugeLawn ) and check out the project’s website (RefugeLawn.com).
Better Built. Quality Results.
FOR STANDARD A NEW SPORTS FIELD MANAGEMENT
By Barry Stewart, Ph.D. Associate Professor – Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Mississippi State University
Athletic field managers combine science, art, and long hours of hard work to provide playing surfaces that are safe, playable, and aesthetically pleasing. As Tennessee Turfgrass Association members know, there are numerous “standards” that give guidance to sports turf managers as to what minimums should be for athletics fields. Textbooks like the excellent “Sport Fields: Design, Construction and Maintenance” by Puhalla, Krans and Goatley, and Standard Test Methods, Specifications and Guides, like those published by ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) provide guidance for what practices should be used to create safe and playable athletic fields. Awareness of these standards becomes important if the management of a field ever comes into question such as could happen in a dispute over liability.
Overseeding at Smithville, MS High School
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The STMA (Sports Turf Managers Association) has recently released “Best Management Practices for the Sports Field Manager: A Professional Guide for Environmental Sports Field Management” which represents a new standard. A great thing about this publication is that it is available for free. It was developed by many volunteers serving STMA from industry and academia, as well as the STMA staff. If you are a sports field manager, you should read this manual before you head into your 2022 field management season. You may find an idea or two you can implement, and it would be a good refresher for even the most seasoned professional. For years I have used Puhalla, Krans and Goatley as a textbook for my PSS 4443 Athletic Field Management Course at Mississippi State University. I will still recommend it as a supporting book for this class, but this semester I am going to use STMA’s “Best Management Practices for the Sports Field Manager” as my “textbook”.
The manual was designed to provide guidance, but be adaptable as a general use guide, as well as for use at individual facilities. You may choose to adapt STMA’s BMP Manual for your own facility and possibly include parts for your employee manual. STMA’s BMP Manual will also help sports field managers educate a variety of stakeholders. These include decision-makers such as athletic directors, facility managers, municipal managers, regulatory agencies, recreation committees, parent organizations, and the interested public. This will educate them on what athletic field managers do; why they do it; and how their management affects playability, sustainability, and the environment.
Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida
Gulfport Sportsplex, Gulf Coast Softball Challenge
Steve Ellis steve.ellis@simplot.com cell: (615) 207-1062
D.J. Lerchen dj.lerchen@simplot.com cell: (865) 314-6862
Michael Brownlee michael.brownlee@simplot.com cell: (615) 336-2029
Scott Newman scott.newman@simplot.com cell: (901) 201-0320
The manual consists of 137 pages plus appendices and is divided into 10 sections: 1. Introduction, 2. Planning, Design and Construction; 3. Turfgrass Establishment; 4. Cultural Practices; 5. Pesticide Management; 6. Sustainable Landscaping; 7. Synthetic Turf; 8. Maintenance Operations; 9. Emergency Preparedness; and 10. Regulatory Information. Section 4. Cultural Practices covers 51 pages and is broken down into: mowing; nutrient management; irrigation; cultivation and surface management; and integrated pest management (IPM). Each section ends with a discussion of best management practices for each topic. This is a very comprehensive publication and covers every aspect of athletic field management except for the management of people.
With STMA being a national organization, the manual has information on both warm and cool season grasses. When tailoring this for regional, or facility use, it could be adapted for your specific grasses and practices. Much of this guidance is relevant nationwide. This starts with growing the thickest, strongest, healthiest turfgrass you can grow and the practices that allow a field manager to do this. That is what section four is all about. Successfully incorporating these BMPs requires an experienced, educated sports field manager, and the dedication to see them through.
Turfgrass fields are dependent on an adequate supply of water to perform well. Water is the medium that carries nutrients from the soil to the plant, provides some of the raw materials for photosynthesis and cools the plant through transpiration. There is an emphasis placed on water conservation and protecting water quality. Being good stewards of water will be an area of emphasis for all turf managers moving forward. Climate change will add uncertainty to the availability of water to be used for turfgrass. With some public opinion saying turfgrass uses too much water, it behooves us to manage it wisely. Proper irrigation scheduling, selection of water efficient turfgrass species, and cultural practices that allow better water infiltration and increased water holding capacity are highlighted in the manual. A tiered approach to water quality protection is presented, in which water quality is protected to keep problems from occurring. Water is controlled to mitigate potential problems, and water quality is monitored to ensure that fields are having a minimal effect on the environment.
The use of assessment tools is highlighted to allow field managers to know where they stand, monitor the effects of their management, and assess how things may be improved. From simple tools like soil tests to more advanced methods such as the Playing
University of San Diego –Soccer Field
Conditions Index (PCI) developed by STMA, data collection, documentation and analysis is emphasized to give the field manager a picture of current conditions and outcomes. To use these tools: records must be kept; observations must be recorded; field use should be documented; and pictures should be taken. As Dr. Wayne Wells told me many times “The best tool many turf managers have is their eyes.” The data generated will provide a basis for assessment of needs and justification for resources to counteract the degradation that field use causes. Many fields today are experiencing more use than ever before, so documenting the effects of this increased use is a key to justifying increased maintenance. Having numbers and pictures that stakeholders can understand may be influential in getting those groups on board to help you make your case with those who control your budget.
ATA members will appreciate that an integrated pest management (IPM) approach is also emphasized. Again, growing the thickest, strongest, healthiest turfgrass is the best defense against pests. The first line of defense in an IPM approach is to limit the amount of stress on our turfgrass. To do this, impediments like soil compaction, poor drainage, and nutrient deficiencies must be addressed. With this line of thinking we are proactive and not
reactive. For example, using an aerifier to relieve soil compaction will help our turfgrass out compete goosegrass. Or perhaps by improving the drainage of an area, it will be less prone to pythium in the spring. Of course, there will be times when chemical application must be made to combat a disease flare up or a pest like armyworms that can cause severe damage if not acted upon quickly. Chemicals are one of the many tools we have to provide safe, playable and beautiful athletic fields.
To summarize, “Best Management Practices for the Sports Field Manager: A Professional Guide for Environmental Sports Field Management” is a very useful and timely document that every ATA sports field manager should have. The manual can be used like a textbook and guide to provide BMPs for many aspects of athletic field management. It can be used as a template to write a BMP manual, or it can be adapted to be a guide for a specific facility or be the basis of an employee manual. It can be downloaded for free at https://www.stma.org/knowledge_center/bmps/ . While you are there you should consider joining STMA, many ATA members belong to both organizations.
FAMILY LEGACY TURFGRASS IS A
for TOM SAMPLES PROFESSIONAL of the Year RECIPIENT
BOB
M c CURDY
By Julie Holt
Ifyou want to visit Dyer, Tennessee, you’ll have to be going there on purpose. It’s not really on the way to anywhere, and for most people it’s not exactly a destination. But for the McCurdy family, it’s both the starting and end points of a journey built on a legacy of faith, community, and honest work.
Located in Dyer, McCurdy Sod Farms is a turfgrass island in the sea of row crops on the flat, fertile landscape of northwest Tennessee. The McCurdy family has called this area home for generations, and their impact has gone far beyond the land and soil they cultivate. Bob McCurdy, the 2022 recipient of the Tom Samples Professional of the Year award, is the senior partner of the farm and a stalwart leader in both Dyer, Tennessee and the turfgrass community.
Bob McCurdy’s influence in the sod production segment has certainly been immense, but it’s the impression he’s made across the industry that has allowed him to be a true leader and example for turfgrass professionals of all stripes.
A CHANGE OF COURSE
Like so many others, the McCurdys began their farming days in row crops. Anyone familiar with the area will tell you that outside of Memphis, west Tennessee is nothing but farmland, with the occasional small town built in the middle of it. While the industrial landscape in the area is now ramping up with the incoming Ford megasite near Memphis, for decades, career choices have funneled heavily to farming and manufacturing. It is this culture that nurtures the love of the land that local farmers need in order to make it through the lean years. Bob McCurdy says he knew very early that he wanted to raise his three children on the farm, and to provide them with the opportunity to continue that family business as they grew up.
When the row crop route dealt some blows that the family farm, then run by Bob and his father, Raymond, couldn’t overcome, they began looking for new opportunities to keep the family farm alive. Some short-term solutions included vegetables and seed cleaning operations, but it was a construction project where the seed of sod farming was planted.
“We were doing some conservation construction — backhoe work, dirtpan work. Those sites always needed some type of erosion control. We had all these pastures where we had cows, and we’d go out and steal a little bermudagrass and place in those areas,” Bob says. “Our closest sod farm was in Mississippi. But nobody did that, everybody that we knew and in our area were green thumbs, ag-related.”
In 1986, when Bob and Suzanne’s twins, Jay and Tom were just two years old, the simple beginning of McCurdy Sod Farm was when “we bought a little grass and put out enough to plant a couple acres.” By 2006, sod was the only crop the farm was growing. But those 20 years are not to be overlooked. Because of their determination to continue the family business, through the years, the McCurdys added acreage and staff to their operation. Jay and Tom, along with their younger sister Liz grew up on a family farm, just as Bob and Suzanne had hoped. “We did it, which was quite a success, in our opinion. We weathered some storms getting there, but eventually got out of vegetables and row crops, and we concentrated on sod.”
Bob accepts the Tom Samples Professional of the Year Award at the 2022 TTA Conference
While the three kids did grow up on the farm, it wasn’t the path they all chose for careers. Tom graduated from Vanderbilt University and is currently stationed on Coronado Island in California, where he serves in the Navy. Jay stayed in the family business of turfgrass, although not on the farm. After earning his undergraduate degree at the University of Tennessee at Martin, his Masters in Turfgrass Weed Science at UT Knoxville, he completed his Ph.D. work at Auburn University. He how works at Mississippi State University as a Professor and Extension Specialist. Liz left Dyer for a brief time, but returned home, where she and her husband Ben settled and became partners in the family farm. Each of Bob and Suzanne’s kids has two children of their own, and with Liz and Ben living nearby and working on the farm, another generation will have the privilege to grow up there.
GROWING… GRASS, A BUSINESS, COMMUNITY AND THE INDUSTRY
Currently, McCurdy Sod Farm is around 500 acres and employs six full time, year-round staff, a number that doubles in the spring and summer months. “We use the H-2A Program. We’ve hired some of the same guys for years. Experience matters. They’re the backbone of the hard work,” Bob says. He shares that it has been a privilege to be able to provide a steady, long-term job for several community members as well, and that he has continued the practice that Raymond started — hiring local high school kids, many of whom came back for the summer even through college. Of his employees he says, “It has been a real blessing to get to know them and their families.”
Bob with the man himself, Dr. Samples
While operating the farm is most certainly more than a full-time job, Bob doesn’t feel his responsibilities to the turfgrass industry stop there. In his decades of work, he has served on several industry association boards and has been a dedicated member. Bob is a past president of TTA and served on the board for eight years. He is a founding member of Midsouth Turfgrass Council, which represents five states and 25–30 sod farmers, and serves the primary purpose of raising funds for university research.
In January, Bob began his tenure as President of Turfgrass Producers International (TPI), an organization which exists to serve the turfgrass production industry “by uniting and representing turfgrass sod and seed producers as well as the many suppliers and manufacturers who are a part of this thriving industry.” This role requires a significant amount of time and some travel. One of the organization’s primary goals in the near future is a vote on a Sod Checkoff program, an industry-funded initiative that helps improve the market position of natural grass. “It’s an uphill battle, but one I think is worthy to pursue,” Bob shares.
While industry work is certainly a big commitment for Bob, his dedication to the Dyer community is also a top priority. Bob serves on the board of Gibson Electric, which has installed broadband in the area; he has been a Boy Scout leader for 20 years; and
he serves on the County Industrial Development board, which was instrumental in the Tyson development negotiation. If you haven’t lived in a rural community, it may be easy to underestimate the importance of these groups and initiatives. In economically depressed areas, small communities struggle to keep a strong workforce and the opportunities and quality of life that encourage young people to stay. This is one of Bob’s main motivations to be a leader in the community. “Community is important to all of us. I have tried to do as much as I can to give back. I think I’m still a little behind, I still owe more. I appreciate what the community has done for us.”
Bob and Suzanne are lifetime members of Methodist Church. Bob says their faith has been the most important thing in their lives and has gotten them through the good times and bad. Dyer community member and longtime family friend Tom Orr says, “Bob has served on many local community boards and is involved in Scouts. He is a true businessman, community supporter and devoted family man.”
For as much effort and dedication as Bob has shown to his neighbors and his family, the natural overflow of that has been a gift to the turf community. It is no secret that Bob’s work ethic, commitment and humility are the reasons he’s had such success and influence on his peers for all these years.
A view from McCurdy Sod Farm
Upon being recognized for this high honor, Bob shared his appreciation. “A really elite bunch of folks have already gotten this award. The first person I remember was Joe Kennedy. I remember thinking ‘Wow, this guy’s something special. What an honor it is to get something like this from your peers.’ Especially as a sod farmer, because this is a golf association. To have been able to achieve or influence or baffle your way through is such a nice thing. But it is special to me, and special to my family, especially to Jay because he understands the significance. I hope that I can continue to earn what’s been bestowed in this award. I wish my dad could’ve have known and could have been here, he probably earned it more than I did. It worries me the folks that deserve it that haven’t gotten it, some more deserving than me. I want to thank those who thought enough of me to give me a chance.”
“We owe a big debt to Dr. Samples. When we started, had it not been for Tom to guide us through it, I’m not sure how far we could’ve gotten. He took us under his wing and extension has been a big benefit to us.” Dr. Samples’ guidance and his friendship with Raymond McCurdy were an integral part of the beginning of McCurdy Sod Farm, and to come full circle with Bob receiving TTA’s highest honor is a wonderful full circle moment for the family and the business.
WHAT’S NEXT?
While Bob insists that he was not cut out for sitting still, and has plenty of work ahead of him, he and Suzanne have made some tentative plans for when the succession plan is complete and Ben and Liz are the primary operators of McCurdy Sod Farms. He says he’ll always be involved in the farm in some capacity, and with the changing landscape in the area, there are still plenty of big decisions to be made about the direction of the business. But what about a traditional retirement plan? Bob admits he’s unsure of exactly how that will look. “Suzanne and I like to travel. I don’t have a lot of hobbies. I run, but I’ve messed a knee up, and can’t run like I used to. Community is one, but those need to go to younger people too.”
There’s no doubt that Bob will find plenty to keep him busy, and his leadership has created a legacy in his family, his community and in the turf industry. Congratulations, Bob, on your well-earned recognition as TTA’s Tom Samples Professional of the Year and thank you for your dedication to the association and the greater turfgrass industry!
“I’ve learned a lot from him already. I look forward to learning much more for years to come.He’s a quintessential sod farmer –great guy, member of the
family man, astute businessperson, and I’m actually convinced he also has a second career as a comedian.”
— Casey Reynolds — Executive Director, TPI
“Bob’s always been
everyone. He’s extremely
— Bobby Winstead — Winstead Turf Farms
CONFERENCE TRADE SHOW 56 TH ANNUAL
TTA AWARDS
Tennessee Turfgrass Association’s 56th Annual Conference and Trade Show was held January 10 – 12 at the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro. After hosting a virtual conference in 2021, it was a priority of the TTA Board of Directors to bring our membership back together for an in-person event to kick off 2022.
Much thoughtful planning was put into coming back and more than 400 turf professionals from across the state were registered for the event! As always, our Education Director, Dr. Jim Brosnan, put together a phenomenal lineup of speakers covering topics from infield mixes to GDD and Zoysiagrass greens. In non-technical sessions, attendees learned why “It’s Good to be in the Tennessee Green Industry” directly from those who lead at UT. Kraig Kann brought an impactful perspective to the Professional Development session with a simple question: Can You Get Our Attention?
Opportunities for networking were plenty: the Awards luncheon on Monday; Tuesday kicked off with prayer and fellowship, followed by an afternoon on the trade show floor and the Top Golf event in the evening. As always, CEUs, pesticide certification and examination were available for those who needed them.
Each year, TTA honors members who go above and beyond at their facilities. These awards honor the efforts and dedication of not just the individual turfgrass professional, but also their crews, employers and the communities that support them. We are proud of the top-notch professionals who represent our association and our industry so well!
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE Knoxville TN
Over the last five to six years there has been a tremendous amount of growth and building all across campus. During these construction projects, the University has worked passionately for conservation of natural resources and to reduce their impact on the environment. Specifically, the Knoxville campus has installed several cisterns in the past five years to collect rainfall to be recycled for irrigation. During the recent construction of buildings such as the Student Union, Strong Hall, and the Orange and White Dormitories cisterns were installed to capture and hold storm water. Combined simultaneously, these cisterns can collect up to 200,000 gallons of water. Stormwater is captured and filtered through a biofiltration system before being held in the cisterns for later use. This prevents the water from going to waste through natural runoff, which leads to erosion and contamination of our local watershed. Each cistern is connected to an irrigation system that is closely monitored to fit local weather patterns. These systems reduce pressure on our city’s limited freshwater resource and save energy in the process. The energy conservation combined with the benefits of the natural filtration help provide the green spaces you see throughout the campus. Over 1.5 million gallons of water every year has been saved after the installation of the cisterns. Water is now being naturally cycled by the plants and soil as it is collected, filtered, and then used for irrigation. This award was accepted by Curtis Pique.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 32
PUBLIC COURSE of the Year
EGWANI FARMS Rockford TN
Egwani Farms was built in 1991 as a family project and remains today as a family owned and operated business. Prior to the course being built in 1991, Egwani was used as farming land. The name Egwani derives from Native American culture which means “little river”. This name was chosen due to the fact that the river runs alongside the golf course and can be seen from at least seven holes from the golf course. The links style course provides a beautiful natural setting with seven holes that run along the Little River and more than 40 acres of natural fescue areas. The course received major renovations in 2017 and has continued to improve with each passing year. It is always in phenomenal shape and hosts countless events. It has become a hub for growing the game hosting numerous Junior Events including the Egwani Junior Invitational, Sneds Tour, Hurricane Tour, Champions Jr. Tour, as well as multiple TSSAA District and Regional Tournaments. Egwani is also home course for a number of schools including Maryville College, Webb School of Knoxville and Alcoa High School. Egwani Farms is regarded as one of the most enjoyable golf courses to play in the greater Knoxville area as you can always count on a first-class golf experience. This award was accepted by Gary Southerland.
PRIVATE COURSE of the Year
TROUBADOUR GOLF AND FIELD CLUB
College Grove TN
Troubadour was opened in the fall of 2019. It is a Tom Fazio designed course that features Zeon Zoysia fairways and 007 Bentgrass greens. The club is part of the Discovery Land Company portfolio of properties. Discovery has 26 courses all over the world with new ones being built in Portugal, Hawaii, and New York. The club is positioned as a place for the entire family with many amenities for kids and adults alike. Troubadour was awarded Golf Digest’s best new private course in 2020. In 2022 they will be building a new short game practice facility with 6 greens and 3 acres of hitting area. This award was accepted by Jason Sanderson.
COLLEGIATE FIELD of the Year
OLYMPIC FIELD AT LEE UNIVERSITY
Cleveland TN
Olympic Field was built in the summer of 1996 and named in honor of Lee University being an Olympic Village hosting the white-water events on the Ocoee River for the 1996 Summer Olympics. The field is built on a sand base, covered with Tifway 419 Bermuda that is annually overseeded with perennial rye in mid-October. The coaching staff handles all daily maintenance of the facility with assistance on larger projects such as aeration, fertilization, and seeding from the University physical plant staff directed by Larry Berry. The facility hosts all Lee University collegiate baseball team practices and home games, and also hosts Ocoee Middle School 6th, 7th, and 8th grade teams’ home games, along with some practices. In addition, the facility hosts several prominent summer and fall tournaments and has hosted the TSSAA State Baseball Championships when the spring fling was in the Chattanooga area, before being relocated to Murfreesboro. In the Spring of 2019, a major renovation was completed on the stadium with the addition of 400 chair back seats and a complete rebuild of the facility. The facility was renamed the Larry Carpenter Stadium at Olympic Field. This award was accepted by Mark Brew.
HIGH SCHOOL FIELD of the Year
ENSWORTH BASEBALL FIELD
Nashville TN
Ensworth is a private school in Nashville with a campus that sits on close to 100 acres. With a student body of around 1000 students, Ensworth has multiple natural turf fields for various sports. The Ensworth high baseball field is primarily used for the high school baseball season daily beginning in February through the Spring. The field will also host games for the 7th and 8th grades teams along with practice. Once baseball season ends the field is even converted to a practice football field. This award was accepted by John Clintsman.
Camp Jordan was pasture and farmland until 1975 when the city of East Ridge purchased the property recognizing a need for a larger recreational facility. Development began in the form of two ball fields in 1978 and has grown into what we know as Camp Jordan Park today. The park has grown to 275 acres hosting multiple outdoor activities. Currently the park has 13 baseball / softball fields along with 14 soccer fields. These fields host numerous events all throughout the year for all levels of players. This award was accepted by Andrew Jacks.
They were the host site last year for the South Atlantic Conference Championship. This was a five-day event with four games a day to crown a Champion. Throughout the season the field played host to over 200 baseball games and will even host a concert on occasion. This year the field was host to a concert two days before opening in which the crew had five hours to flip the field and have it ready for team practice that afternoon. Through it all with a game day crew of six, Duncan Long and his staff faced many challenges and still provided an exceptional field for play time and time again. This award was accepted by Duncan Long.
Nick Bisanz of TPC Southwind shares some things he’s learned
Kraig Kann wants to know if you can get our attention
Dr. Samples and Brad Jakubowski lead a hands-on fertilizer class
The always popular equipment managers workshop was led by Ryan Erickson, Chris Pinkston,
IT WAS GREAT TO BE TOGETHER AGAIN
The halls were busy as we greeted fellow members after a two-year gap
Andy Gasparini and Tom Alexander
The UT Turf team participated in the Awards Luncheon and honored Dr. Samples ahead of his retirement.
Left to Right: Dr. Sorochan, Dr. Horvath, Extension Agent Booker T. Leigh, Dr. Samples, Dr. Brosnan
2022 TTA President Chris Sykes welcomed attendees back
The Top Golf Championship was a hit! Casey Flenniken took home the title
RECENT EVENT CONFERENCE SPONSORS
Legacy Scholarship
The Legacy Scholarship offers financial aid to children or grandchildren of active TTA members in good standing. Scholarship applicants are not required to be pursuing education in a Turfgrass related field to be eligible for the Scholarship.
This year’s Legacy scholarship is awarded to Hannah Carter, daughter of Paul Carter, Superintendent The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay and Director of Agronomy Tennessee Golf Trail. Hannah is a freshman at Florida State University currently majoring in Political Science. Hannah graduated high school as an Honors Diploma Recipient and is a member of the National Honor Society, National Beta Club, and Mu Alpha Theta. While in school she was involved in several activities and held many leadership roles such as Senior Class officer, Girls State representative, Varsity Soccer and Theater to name just a few.
Ernest Hardison Memorial Scholarship
The Ernest Hardison Memorial Scholarship offers financial aid to students pursuing a career in turfgrass management.
This year’s Ernest Hardison Memorial Scholarship is awarded to Luke Bennett. Luke recently changed his concentration of studies at the University of Tennessee to Turfgrass Science and Management. In March of 2020 during the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, Luke took his first position as member of a maintenance crew at Franklin Bridge Golf Course in Franklin, TN. It was during this time that he really found his passion for the golf industry, and he decided to change his college path and work toward a turf degree and his ultimate goal of becoming a Class A Superintendent. Luke is currently a Chancellor’s Honor student which requires a 3.5+ GPA and 25 hours of Volunteer Service, and he has served as a leader in his Fraternity Kappa Sigma.
MAKING THE MOST OF TEAM MEMBER CHECK-INS
By Neal Glatt, CSP, ASM
The very best managers and team leaders are those who checkin with their team members on a regular basis. Yet even experienced leaders can miss opportunities for employee engagement and success without a great game plan for these conversations. Here’s how I help managers make the most of team member check-ins.
CONSISTENT
Team member check-ins are often launched with a formal announcement as a “new way of doing things” which rarely sticks longterm. For both managers and employees, this experience will feel awkward for a while. Unfortunately, many quit check-ins before they become consistent.
In order to have successful team member check-ins, consistency needs to happen first. By developing a habit of formally sitting down for a conversation, the clumsiness of a new conversation will give way to trust and excitement that is required for growth and improvement. Leaders starting (or restarting) check-ins should worry less about what results are we getting from this exercise and more about how often we are completing this exercise. Just like physical exercise, results come from consistent effort over sustained periods of time rather than extreme effort on occasion.
FREQUENT
Team member check-ins also need to happen on a regular basis to help job performance. Unfortunately, 76% of employees report that their performance is formally reviewed by their manager once a year or less according to Gallup. And deep down, we all know that a one-hour conversation couldn’t possibly increase performance for an entire year.
I like to have weekly check-ins with those I’m coaching. With one-hour weekly conversations, there is ample time and space to discuss all the things we need to cover (more on that in a minute) and frequent enough to responsively adjust to changes as they arise. Instead of boss reviewing last year’s performance, I’m a coach helping performance for the next play of the game.
FUTURE-FOCUSED
Nobody is perfect. So, when we check-in with the people we lead, the goal shouldn’t be to dissect what mistakes have been made in the past because there is nothing that can be done to solve them. In the same way, reviewing what was accomplished since the last check-in isn’t helpful either. That’s because the goal is to increase future performance. To do so requires focusing on the future rather than the past.
I prefer to discuss what will be accomplished in the coming weeks, months, and years. On a weekly basis, asking about when and how work will be completed is key to realizing performance. By anticipating obstacles, team leaders can identify opportunities to provide materials, equipment, information, or support to prevent issues from occurring. And by forecasting months and years into the future, employees can feel that they’re working toward a significant goal and growing their career in a direction that will bring them fulfillment. This is where professional and personal development can be explored and encouraged.
HOLISTIC
For too long, team member check-ins have focused solely on work. Employees today want to be valued for more than just their contribution, and team leaders can build successful teams by caring for people holistically. We all know that big issues in our personal life can hinder our performance at work, so creating a place to discuss them in our check-ins is how we can help people as people.
I love Gallup’s model of well-being which identifies five areas in our lives that are interconnected and inseparable: Career, Financial, Social, Community, and Physical. All five areas of well-being should be discussed with team members to ensure they can be their best selves both at work and in life. When team leaders help people find success in all five areas, they become trusted mentors who care and receive the best possible performance from their people. Starting team check-ins the right way will be difficult, timeconsuming, and awkward, but it is the only way to provide the support and encouragement that people need to be their best. If I can ever help you or your organization, please feel free to reach out.
Neal Glatt is the Managing Partner of
Planning for weather conditions
