TTA Member Spotlight on Bart Cash

Territory Sales Manager at BuySod, Inc. and TTA Board Member

Bart Cash’s career in turfgrass began like many others — at a young age he knew he wanted a career that allowed him to be outdoors. As he was finishing high school he began exploring options for college majors that would prepare him for such a job. He considered landscape design, forestry, and even wildlife management. Cash played golf growing up at his small town club and found out that a member’s son had just graduated from Mississippi State’s Turfgrass Management program and was working on a golf course in Texas. Upon learning about this career opportunity, he knew he’d found his path.

In 1996, Cash graduated from UT with a degree in Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design. He worked at both Holston Hills Country Club and Cherokee Country Club during his time at UT and completed an internship at Colonial Country Club in Memphis. Upon graduation, he accepted the assistant position at Jackson Country Club. During his second year there, the superintendent took another job, and Cash was promoted to that role, where he stayed for eight years. He became a Certified Golf Course Superintendent during that time.

Cash had been considering a move to the chemical/fertilizer sales side of the business for about a year when he finally made the jump in 2007. Over nine years, he worked with three companies — Regal Chemical, Agrium, and Helena. Working with those companies and building relationships on that side of the industry led him to the sod business. In 2016, he became a Farm Manager with BuySod, Inc. In that role, Cash oversaw the farm, which included production, harvest, sales, trucking, office staff and anything else needed to maintain the farm.

Bart Cash

As the company grew and added more managers, it became apparent that a reorganization would benefit the company and each individual farm. Cash’s assistant stepped up into the role of Farm Manager, and that’s when Cash moved into his current position as Territory Sales Manager, where he focuses on growing revenue through sales and installation.

Cash says he especially enjoys the diversity of his job. “I can be in the board room of a home builder in the morning and meeting with a golf course at lunch about an upcoming project, then walking the fields with the farm managers in the afternoon all on the same day.”

In reflecting on the challenges of the job, he says they mirror industry-wide challenges: labor shortages and trucking regulations. “It seems to be more difficult each passing year to find enough dependable employees to fill the positions needed in our industry.” This can especially be a challenge at BuySod’s Nashville farm, where off-season staffing is around 15, but at peak production that number can double. “It’s a hard job, and many workers are choosing positions that are indoors and less physical.”

Cash says there’s one lesson he learned the hard way. “Early in my career I thought I needed to be at the course or work seven days a week to be successful. I think it is very important to stay balanced and delegate. It empowers the people you are bringing up and sets a better example as they grow in their careers.” Cash himself says he’s had mentors along his path that he keeps in touch with and asks for advice.

It’s this give and take that inspired him to serve on the TTA Board. “Being part of the association fills the gap,” he says. “There’s a lot of new information out there, and I like to say I got my second degree from TTA.” Cash says the educational events offered by TTA have been a tremendous benefit for him, and he hopes that as a board member, he can give back by being part of the growth and direction of the organization.

When he’s not working or contributing to TTA plans, Cash stays plenty busy in his free time as well. “I do love playing golf, but my game is suspect at best,” he says. “I have two boys, so most of our weekends are running them around with sports, which I really enjoy.” Cash and his wife, Angela, have been married for 17 years and their sons are Noah, 14 and Jacob, 11.

In closing, we asked Cash what advice he’d give people entering the turfgrass industry now. He said, “It was a gold rush of golf back in the 90s when I was in school and coming out. Turf programs were pumping out students and it wasn’t IF you would find a job, but WHERE. Assistants’ tenures were much shorter as new courses were being built and superintendents were moving around to build resumes. I would say be patient and stay persistent and take advantage of every network opportunity available.”

Bart with wife Angela and sons Noah and Jacob