New Year, New Benefits

Finally, 2020 is over, but its effects are still being felt. I’m sure all of you, like me, are grateful that it’s a new year (even if it’s just a change in the date). I also hope you, your team and family are all doing well.

I want you to know that the VTC Board has been working hard to come up with new and innovative ways to ensure our members receive the needed education and certifications/recertifications to do their jobs under the current restrictions. A big thanks to Dr. Tom Tracy, Dr. Mike Goatley, the VT Turf team and the VA Extension offices for some extremely creative ideas that will have a lasting, beneficial impact for the whole Virginia turf industry in the future.

One of the biggest creative ideas was turning the VT Short Course into the online VT-STEM Course. With the hard work of the VT Turf Team, from first idea to implementation happened in about 4 months. It is a 13-week course with weekly interactions with the professors and industry leaders to answer questions and a chance to interact with fellow students. This course has the potential to go national and even international. The first class has 28 students that represent Golf, Sports Turf, Parks and Rec, Landscape and High School teachers. Although the original VT Short Course was well attended, there were many in the industry who could not attend because they could not take the time off. We know as the word spreads, the course will gain greater attendance and may require it being offered at other times of the year. One of the final, but possibly the greatest, benefits is that it can lead to the student becoming a Virginia Tech Certified Turfgrass Professional.

Your VTC Board always wants to hear from our members with new ideas that will make our association even better. Please contact Tom Tracy or any board member with your idea.

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year,

Michael Skelton

VTC President