The 2025 Call for Presentations is now closed.
The 2025 Call for Presentations is now closed.
Click Here to Access the 2024 Conference Recordings
*Conference recordings are available free of charge to anyone that had a a “Full Conference” registration at the 2024 conference in Daytona Beach, Fl.
Tracks (key): Turfgrass Management (TM), Water (W), Research and Technology (RT), Professional Development/DEI (PD/DEI), Baseball (B), Synthetic (S), Pest Control (PC)
Enjoy a relaxed, reception-style atmosphere where you can interact with academics for a refresher in the basics of turfgrass management.
We have assembled a panel of experts bringing many years of experience and expertise in this area. The panel will discuss how baseball has changed over the years, insight into player perspective, workplace challenges and where it is headed in the future for the sports field manager.
Keith Winter-Head Groundskeeper, Fort Wayne TinCaps
With Major League Baseball (MLB) requiring a field audit of all 120 Professional Development License (PDL) minor league teams, fields that do not meet the established criteria must come into compliance by the 2025 season. Parkview Field, home of the Fort Wayne TinCaps, Class A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, undertook a complete renovation in the fall of 2023 to meet all future requirements.
Learning Outcomes:
Derek Hollanitsch – Maintenance Crew Leader, City of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department
The presentation will highlight situations encountered in facility maintenance. This will include videos and pictures with narration related to challenges hosting a large-scale event. The attendees will see the before, during, and aftereffects of the event.
Attendees will learn about the following:
Alpha Jones, CSFM – Director of Field Operations, Fayetteville Woodpeckers
Maritza Martinez – Associate Director of Grounds, St Louis City SC
Turfgrass management is a critical aspect of maintaining safe, healthy, and aesthetically pleasing sports fields, however, the industry has struggled with diversity and inclusivity, with many positions being filled by individuals from similar backgrounds and experiences. This presentation proposes that diverse hiring in sports turf management, including improved decision-making, creativity and problem-solving, will assist in solving the challenges that exist in the sports turf industry. The presentation will also highlight successful diversity initiatives and best practices that can be implemented by sports turf managers to improve diversity and equity in their workplaces, from first-hand experiences.
Learning Outcomes:
Scott Bills, CSFM – President, Sports Fields Solutions LLC/Project EverGreen
Cindy Code – Executive Director, Project EverGreen
This presentation will introduce the “Clean Air Calculator” to sports field managers and explain how it can be used to quantify how natural grass sequesters carbon. The tool will help the sports field manager advocate for the need to responsibly manage natural grass and green spaces.
Attendees will learn about the following:
Mark Heinlein, MSc, CFB – Director of Technical Projects and Research, Motz
Amy Fouty, CSFM – Field Consultant, Motz
While we can’t control Mother Nature, we can establish an environment where a natural grass rootzone can flourish. By using cutting-edge technology below the surface, focused on consistent, temperature-controlled air and moisture levels through an intricate pipe matrix, you can manage the system underground to produce an optimal playing surface.
Session objectives:
Travis Shaddox, Ph.D. – President, Bluegrass Art and Science, LLC
Soil testing is a common management practice used by sports field managers. However, understanding and applying soil test results continues to be a challenge. In this presentation, we will discuss the various soil testing methods, explain why one test does not fit-all, and explain which test is most appropriate for your course. We will walk through several soil tests and explain step-by-step which variables are useful and which are not. We will walk through an actual soil test interpretation report, and we will explain in detail how these results should or should not be applied to your nutrition program.
Session objectives:
Kyle Foreman – Consultant, FGS Consulting
This presentation will offer information on how to generate practical and actionable data using various testing methods for turfgrass. Attendees will learn valuable procedures to generate site-specific data to improve decision making in management practices.
Attendees will:
Marco Schiavon, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor in the Environmental Horticulture Department, University of Florida
Irrigation is the single most important maintenance practice to keep turfgrass alive. However, with water restrictions being progressively enforced and rising water costs, sufficient irrigation may not be available. Strategies that will be covered include the use of alternative sources to potable water, deficit irrigation, wetting agents and sufficient nitrogen fertilization.
Presentation Objectives:
Gerald Henry, Ph.D. – Athletic Association Endowed Professor of Environmental Turfgrass Science, University of Georgia
Erick Begitschke – Second year Ph.D. student, University of Georgia
Safety and performance are at the forefront of sports field management. Previous performance testing methods have relied on hand-held sensors to describe field characteristics like surface hardness, soil compaction, and traction. New research has aimed at utilizing athletes with wearable sensors to more accurately describe “real-time” interactions between players and field attributes both in the lab and in the field.
Learning Outcomes:
Thayne Munce, Ph.D., FACSM – Assistant Scientist / Manager in the Environmental Influences on Health & Disease Group and Director of the Athletic Health and Performance Lab, Sanford Research
This presentation will introduce the audience to the SmartTeam Project by discussing program objectives and key milestones. The central goal of the SmartTeam Project is to provide key insights through athlete monitoring, analytics and surface testing that optimize total athlete performance and safety, giving our partners a competitive edge.
Presentation Objectives:
Crystal Rose-Fricker – President, Pure Seed, Pure-Seed Testing Inc. and Pure Valley Solutions
This presentation will discuss the pathway of seed to the sports field and how everyone is doing their part to be sustainable: breeders, farmers, distributors, & sports turf managers.
Learning Outcomes:
Marc Moran, CSFM – Agriculture/Horticulture Instructor, Atlee High School
Dave Kannewurf – Retired, former Director of Student Activities, Atlee High School
The dynamics of working with administration can be challenging, especially if your goals do not align. This presentation will discuss this dynamic and how to effectively build a relationship to achieve cohesion and reach the goal.
After attending this presentation, the attendee will be able to:
Brandon Bell, M.Ed. – Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) Lead, Syngenta North America
When people think of sport, we often overlook the unifying, galvanizing and engaging power athletics can have. Coupled with the practice of equity, diversity and inclusion leaders across functions in the industry of sport have an incredible opportunity to leverage ED&I for business success and build stronger communities. Join us for an engaging dialogue where you can dive into ED&I, explore best practices and work force development and begin to explore how you can contribute to a more vibrant community.
By participating in this session attendees will:
Phil Lozano, MCPTM – Director of Parks and Recreation, The City of Highland Village
This session will address challenges with building and funding a sustainable program and the resources needed. Session topics include communicating with stakeholders, how to tell your story, plan and program development, staffing and equipment needs and establishing non-negotiables and expectations with maintenance and construction of a new field.
Participants will learn:
Lisa Goatley, MS, LPC – Licensed Professional Counselor, Private Practice
Jason Bowers, CSFM – Sports Turf Supervisor, Montgomery Parks
Willis Coulson – Teacher, Coach, Field Manager, Georgia Christian School
Mental health issues cost the global economy $1 trillion annually in lost productivity, absenteeism, and staff turnover (HelpGuide). Addressing and improving mental health has become a priority topic in today’s workplace and in society in general. This presentation will address how to identify mental health issues, strategies to improve mental health, outline the benefits of improved mental health in the workplace and in our personal lives, and provide a forum for an open dialogue about the role of mental health in the sports field management industry. You will hear from a Licensed Professional Counselor and two sports field managers as they share their personal experiences in addressing mental health issues. An extended period for questions and answers will be offered.
Presentation objectives:
Cale Bigelow, Ph.D. – Professor specializing in Turf Science and Ecology in the Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Department, Purdue University
Barry Stewart, Ph.D. – Professor of Agronomy, Mississippi State University
This presentation will give an overview of the key physical, chemical and biological properties affecting soils for natural grass athletic fields.
Attendees will:
Trevor Warner – Assistant Supervisor of Sports Fields, City of Woodstock
This presentation will refresh your memory on the “how-to” when edging baseball fields. If you have a renovation project in the future, join Trevor and learn how infield renovations, bullpen renovations, mound and Homeplate renovations can be accomplished in-house.
Learning Outcomes:
Ryan Bearss – Ph.D. Candidate, Michigan State University
Jackie Guevara – Ph.D. Candidate, Michigan State University
This presentation will compare hybrid systems and hybrid pitches and give an overview of the history and progression of each. The current available hybrid options will be discussed in detail.
Presentation objectives:
Brad Jakubowski, MS, CIT – Professor, Penn State University
Matt Neri – Sports Turf Manager, State College Spikes
This interactive seminar will help sports field managers to understand basic meteorological concepts and usefully apply them to their own situations when trying to make the best day-to-day management decisions possible. They will learn how to maximize labor and resources and how to handle the stress of impending weather on game-time decisions.
Learning Outcomes:
Mike Goatley, Ph.D. – Turfgrass Specialist, Virginia Tech School of Plant and Environmental Sciences
Jim Puhalla – Sports Field Consultant, Natural Grass Sports Fields
We will detail the situations in sports field design and construction that simply MUST be done properly, and if they are currently limiting at your facility, how to fix them. We will present plenty of pictures and designs of the mistakes, the preferred methods of design and installation, and the steps and strategies to rectify previous mistakes.
Presentation Objectives:
Travis Gannon, Ph.D. – Professor, North Carolina State University
Fred Yelverton, Ph.D. – Professor, North Carolina State University
Athletic field renovations are very labor-intensive and require significant resource allocation to ensure they are successful. Adequately controlling the existing turf species is the first and arguably the most critical step in a renovation requiring nonselective herbicides and/or fumigants. Basamid is a granular soil fumigant that reacts with water to produce a gas that controls various fungi, insects, nematodes, and weeds.
Attendees will learn:
Michael Boekholder – President, Boekholder & Associates
Chris McGill – Director of Operations SE Region, SCG Fields, LLC
Jamie Mehringer – Senior Executive Advisor, Advanced Turf Solutions
This presentation will cover identifying and avoiding common pitfalls when planning and executing a construction project to achieve successful outcomes. Learn the most common issues projects tend to have, how to avoid them, and how to best work with a project team. Learn to become part of the construction team, not an outsider!
Learning Outcomes:
Kyley Dickson, Ph.D. – Associate Director for the Center for Athletic Field Safety, University of Tennessee
Jody Gill, CSFM – Facilities Superintendent, PBR Tournaments Midwest
Kennie Holmes – Facilities Superintendent, PBR Tournaments Midwest
The presentation will cover the basis of research of synthetic turf and how it impacts the performance of the surface. Attendees will learn how high-level baseball play on synthetic baseball surfaces can impact the safety and longevity of the surface and the importance of quality and consistent maintenance. Actual game data and impacts of high-level baseball played over multiple days in a high-end tournament baseball complex will be discussed and illustrated. In addition, a college baseball umpire will provide a unique perspective of how the maintenance level of synthetic baseball infields impacts the game.
Attendees will learn:
Cale Bigelow, Ph.D. – Professor, Turf Science and Ecology in the Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Department, Purdue University
Jada Powlen, Ph.D. – Turfgrass Research Associate, Purdue University
This presentation will provide a rapid overview of trends, tips and tricks for bermudagrass winter overseeding.
Learning Outcomes:
Brad Jakubowski, MS, CIT – Professor, Penn State University
Matt Neri – Sports Turf Manager, State College Spikes
How many of you have been stuck in a muddy hole trying to put things together when you realize the part doesn’t fit or is just the wrong part? Or a portion of your system simply won’t operate? In this hands-on and interactive workshop, attendees will learn the fundamentals of troubleshooting an irrigation system before and after we start digging! You are also encouraged to bring your own scenarios we can discuss in an open forum!
Learning Outcomes:
Aaron Hathaway – Technical Services Manager, NuFarm
Regulating excess vertical turf growth with plant growth regulators (PGRs) can reduce inputs like mowing while increasing overall plant health and quality. However, some growth is necessary. Available PGRs will be explained, and different use patterns presented so managers can be more prepared to achieve just enough growth.
Learning Outcomes:
Eric Harshman, CGM – Turfgrass Manager
Josh Koss, CSFM – Sales Agronomist, Wilbur-Ellis Agribusiness
New to a role where you are responsible for a culture change, or feel like a culture change is needed with your team? Hear from two seasoned managers on their successes and failures in changing cultures with large grounds maintenance teams. Even if you are a role player on a team, you can impact culture change.
Attendees will take home:
Paul Cushing – Agronomist/Owner, Paul Cushing Sports Turf Agronomic Consulting Services
The presentation on “Rejuvenating Your Baseball Field for a New Season” will provide Sports Field Managers and attendees with a comprehensive blueprint from A-Z on how to how to make improvements and prepare a baseball field for a new season. Topics to be discussed will be turfgrass selection and management, soil testing, understanding & balancing soil chemistry, aerification & cultural practices, proper mowing height of cut, mound preparation, irrigation strategies, preparing infield dirt as well as many other helpful “tools of the trade” to manage a baseball field for a season.
Attendees will learn:
AJ Lindsey, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Horticulture, University of Florida
Sustainable and environmentally friendly management practices have garnered much interest within the turfgrass industry and the general public. Additionally, fertilizer and irrigation restrictions also have the potential to change and dictate management practices. This presentation covers some of the recent research trials conducted with soil amendments and alternative fertilizers. It will also explore how these can be incorporated into management practices to reduce overall fertilizer and irrigation use, and potential nutrient losses on athletic fields.
Learning Outcomes:
Meg Kruger – Content Marketing Lead, Pioneer Athletics
Dive into how authenticity, consistency and Turf Twitter can elevate your career while simultaneously making a positive impact on your crew and the industry. Discover how branding and social media can help you recruit new employees, justify costs, and labor and build a portfolio of your skills.
Attendees will learn:
Zach Simons – Director of Grounds and Sports Turf, Northwestern University
This presentation will explain the issues faced with cool season football fields, go through the options they had to repair the field, then explain why they chose to use bermudagrass. Zach will go through sprigging process and how the field performed in season compared to our cool season field. He will also show weather data used to convince using sprigging bermudagrass that would work at his location.
Learning Outcomes:
Rob Sikma – Groundskeeper, LA Memorial Coliseum
Learn about the process and the impact/outcome of having a NASCAR racetrack built on top of the playing surface at the LA Memorial Coliseum. Also, learn about the management practices we have employed for maintaining our field through a wide array of events, both in and out of USC football season.
Attendees will learn:
Kevin Mercer, CSFM, CGM, LICM – Landscape and Grounds Manager, Denison University
All sorts of tasks become easier — and faster — through teamwork. Working together enables us to be consistent and build trust while working with your team towards goals. But what is teamwork, and how you can encourage a collaborative atmosphere in the workplace? A book written by Patrick M. Lencioni “The Ideal Team Player” has three principles that will work for any team if applied correctly. I am excited to show you with great success using three key words which are being smart, humble and being driven. These three things have helped me establish myself by having the best grounds team in the business. I look forward to sharing my success story with you all.
Participants attending this presentation, will learn:
Greg Brown – Parks and Athletic Services Manager, Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation
Hear the story of what it takes to transition Florida’s largest sports field system from 50 years of league control and field care to all County care. In the last 4 years, Hillsborough County has sodded over 180 of its 291 fields to raise the standard of care on all fields to Celebration Bermuda while converting ten fields to synthetic turf, along with a host of other systematic improvements.
Presentation objectives:
Megan Provost – President of RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment)
As a professional managing green spaces for the recreational use of the public, or for collegiate or professional sports teams, you know why you use the products that you use. But how do you talk about pesticides with people that might not know? Join RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment) to learn about the public’s perception of pesticides, and how to talk about specialty pesticides! We’ll cover how to begin the conversation and frame your message to tell your story in a way that resonates.
Three main things attendees will take away from this class:
Chrissie Segars, Ph.D. – Research Scientist, PBI/Gordon Corporation
Dale Sanson, Ph.D. – Research Scientist, PBI/Gordon Corporation
Presenters will provide an un-biased, in-depth discussion on the timeline of pesticide commercialization. The presentation will include insights into the process of acquiring or sourcing new active ingredients, the formulation process, lab and field research, and the final registration process. This will be an interactive presentation where the audience will be polled with pesticide timeline questions and asked about their experiences with formulations, regulations, etc.
Presentation objectives:
Wes Ganobcik – Field Source
This presentation will provide an honest assessment of using a robot mower on a high level professional athletic Field. Benefits, as well as struggles will be discussed.
Learning Outcomes:
Mike Goatley, Ph.D. – Turfgrass Specialist, Virginia Tech School of Plant and Environmental Sciences
Chad Price, CSFM, CFB – President, Carolina Green Corp.
Abby McNeal, CSFM, CPRP – Parks Superintendent, City of Louisville
Leah Withrow – Head Groundskeeper, Reno Aces
Travis Hogan – Head Groundskeeper, Kansas City Chiefs
This presentation includes an expert panel with diverse experiences to highlight the importance of understanding how historical aspects, new technology and mentorship can shape the landscape of sports field management, taking it above and beyond.
Learning Outcomes:
(PD/DEI) Panel Discussion: Why Schools Should Invest in Athletic Fields: A CFO’s Perspective
Barry Gardner – Director of School Services, Policy Analytics LLC
Jamie Mehringer – Senior Executive Advisor, Advanced Turf Solutions
This presentation will walk though diagrams to discuss how Wayne Township School District was in a position for athletic field improvements. Barry Gardner, CFO, will illustrate how the district formed a plan for renovations, maintenance improvements, staffing improvements, and future plans for facility and equipment maintenance and replacement. Lastly, a discussion on how forms of school funding was used to finance this project.
Learning Outcomes:
Travis Shaddox, Ph.D. – President, Bluegrass Art and Science, LLC
Ryan DeMay, CSFM – Founder, Field Source
The prices of everything seems to be skyrocketing these days, yet our fields still need to be maintained at levels that make them look good and are also safe for athletes. This presentation will focus on the practices that are critical for healthy turfgrass and discuss other practices that may be reduced based on labor and budget. We will cover PGRs and biostimulants and debate if they have a role in a limited budget sports field. We will dig into soils and talk about how the importance of soil testing may be changing and what this means to you in terms of your fertility budget. We will also break down fertilizer blending to help sports field managers create a nutrient program that can save them considerable money. Finally, we will discuss newer products and practices that may help to reduce the need for traditional applications.
Attendees will:
(TM) Panel Discussion: Hybrid Turf and What the Data Tells Us
Kieran O’Donnell – Director, Sports Labs North America
John Sorochan, Ph.D. – Distinguished Professor of Turfgrass Science and Management in the Plant Sciences Department, University of Tennessee
Kyley Dickson, Ph.D. – Associate Director for the Center for Athletic Field Safety, University of Tennessee
Ian Craig – UEFA Pitch Expert, Champions League Final
A panel discussion on hybrid turf and what the research/testing data is telling us. The panel will discuss research, testing results, trends, carpet hybrid vs stitched hybrid and feedback from international events. This deeper insight into hybrid turf will give the audience a better understanding of Hybrid turf and the way the turf system differs from a normal turf field. When is hybrid turf a good option for a venue and what events may require hybrid turf.
Learning Outcomes:
Jason DeMink, CSFM – Sports Turf Specialist, University of Michigan Athletic Department
Cody Gustafson – Field Service Specialist, FieldTurf
Ryan Hillert – Project Manager for Synthetic Turf Care, NYC Parks
Wade Radde – Grounds Foreman, Wayzata Public Schools
Panel discussion on fixing, maintaining, and repairing synthetic turf at different levels and different budgets. Presenters will include specialists at the K-12, community, collegiate, and professional levels.
Attendees will gain a better knowledge of:
Drew Miller – Program Director, Brentsville Turfgrass Management Program
Leah Withrow – Head Groundskeeper, Reno Aces
Ryan Bjorn – Field Superintendent, Gillette Stadium
This Panel will be discussing how to recruit, retain, and grow the next generation of Sports Field Managers. Each panelist has a unique viewpoint from high school student to tenured NFL Groundskeeper. There are many different tools and strategies taught to bring back to improve your crew.
Presentation objectives:
Derek Hollanitsch – Maintenance Crew Leader, City of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department
The presentation will highlight situations encountered in facility maintenance. This will include videos and pictures with narration related to challenges hosting a large-scale event. The attendees will see the before, during, and aftereffects of the event.
Learning Outcomes:
Megan Provost – President of RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment)
As a professional managing green spaces for the recreational use of the public, or for collegiate or professional sports teams, you know why you use the products that you use. But how do you talk about pesticides with people that might not know? Join RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment) to learn about the public’s perception of pesticides, and how to talk about specialty pesticides! We’ll cover how to begin the conversation and frame your message to tell your story in a way that resonates.
Three main things attendees will take away from this class:
Lisa Goatley, MS, LPC – Licensed Professional Counselor, Private Practice
Jason Bowers, CSFM – Sports Turf Supervisor, Montgomery Parks
Willis Coulson – Teacher, Coach, Field Manager, Georgia Christian School
Mental health issues cost the global economy $1 trillion annually in lost productivity, absenteeism, and staff turnover (HelpGuide). Addressing and improving mental health has become a priority topic in today’s workplace and in society in general. This presentation will address how to identify mental health issues, strategies to improve mental health, outline the benefits of improved mental health in the workplace and in our personal lives, and provide a forum for an open dialogue about the role of mental health in the sports field management industry. You will hear from a Licensed Professional Counselor and two sports field managers as they share their personal experiences in addressing mental health issues. An extended period for questions and answers will be offered.
Presentation objectives:
Jason Bowers, CSFM – Sports Turf Manager, Montgomery Parks
All SFMA chapter board members and executive leaders are invited to attend this panel discussion chapter leadership / management models, including the challenges they face, and how they have overcome obstacles.
Geoffrey Rinehart – Lecturer, University of Maryland
This presentation will include an overview of how improved turfgrass varieties are critical to a sound management program and will include an overview of the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program, the process for evaluating turfgrass cultivars, and steps on how to use NTEP’s website and database to select improved turfgrass varieties for athletic fields.
Learning Outcomes:
Greg Munshaw, Ph.D. – Director of Agronomy for PARC Research and Consulting
What is photosynthesis and why should I care about it? What happens to plants when I fertilize? Why am I getting so much thatch on my field? Sport field managers have a lot going on but sometimes don’t always understand why certain practices are necessary or what happens in the plant or soil when we do certain things. This presentation will break down how plants function, why various maintenance practices are necessary, and how season can affect everything. Understanding how plants function is critical to knowing how to manage them. From germination through plant maturity, I’ll discuss what is going on in the plant. I will break down seasonal variation in growth habits to identify optimum timing of various maintenance practices. The impact that specific practices such as fertilizing, watering, and mowing have on turfgrass will be discussed. I will also explain how maintenance practices affect plant health and how this in turn influences pest pressure.
Attendees will:
Brad Jakubowski, MS, CIT – Professor, Penn State University
Water efficiency is important no matter the source or method of use! This seminar challenges turf managers to conserve one million gallons or more throughout the course of a season by improving irrigation efficiency and by implementing various outdoor and indoor water saving practices throughout the entire facility. In addition to reducing costs, saving one million gallons promotes environmental stewardship and enhances public relations with a water conscious public. Be a standout Sports Turf Manager; take on the Million Gallon Challenge today!
Learning Outcomes:
Raymond McCauley, Ph.D.
Fraise mowing is an aggressive cultural practice that is not for the faint of heart. This presentation will prime field managers for fraise mowing and will cover fraise mowing’s uses, effects, and recovery.
Learning objectives:
Tyler Carr, Ph.D. – Professor at The Ohio State University
Dan Sandor, Ph.D. – Professor at Virgina Tech University
Sports field managers (SFMs) are required to produce playing surfaces that maximize field quality, playability, and safety, in an environmentally-sustainable and economically-sound manner. To determine which products and practices are right for managing their field, SFMs must first understand the importance of the scientific method and be able to correctly interpret scientific data and research findings.
Learning Outcomes:
Barry Stewart, Ph.D. -Professor, Mississippi State University
The basis of regenerative agriculture is a land management philosophy that improves soil health while building nutrient density and crop resilience. This talk will focus on how soil health parameters tests can be evaluated to give insights into the health of our turfgrass soils and turfgrass stands.
Learning Outcomes:
Geoffrey Rinehart – Lecturer, University of Maryland
This presentation will cover the common insect pests of cool-season sports fields in the transition zone and northern zones, including the white grub complex, chinch bugs, billbugs, cutworms, and sod webworm. I will briefly discuss the life cycles of these insects, the plant and “stand” symptoms associated with them, and basic IPM concepts.
After this presentation, attendees will:
SFMA’s 2023 Conference and Exhibition
Click Here to Access the 2023 Conference Recordings
*Conference recordings are available free of charge to anyone that had a a “Full Conference” registration at the 2023 conference in Salt Lake City.
Tracks (key): Turfgrass Management (TM); Water (W); Research and Technology (RT); Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI); Professional Development (PD); Baseball (B); Synthetic (S)
Enjoy a relaxed, reception-style atmosphere where you can interact with academics for a refresher in the basics of turfgrass management.
This year’s General Session will focus on the hosting and delivery of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and transitioning to the 2026 World Cup. In 2022, Qatar is the single host city. In 2026, various cities throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico will serve as hosting sites. The presentation will discuss the challenges of working in parallel on different events in different stages of the event lifecycle as well as preparing and planning for consistency and uniformity of fields across different climate zones and stadium types. The integration of science and the latest technology for the development of a quality surface that meets FIFA standards will also be discussed.
We have assembled a panel of diverse experts that represent a combination of international expertise and local knowledge:
Gregg Munshaw, Ph.D. – Pinnacle Agricultural Research Center
This presentation will break down how plants function, why various maintenance practices are necessary, and how season can affect everything. Understanding how plants function is critical to knowing how to manage them. The impact that specific practices such as fertilizing, watering, and mowing have on turfgrass will be discussed.
Attendees will:
Troy Carson – The Toro Company
Autonomy is an inevitable addition to most maintenance programs. We will explore how understanding and defining problems informs good innovation. We will look at the challenges that exist with transitioning to electric equipment and data driven maintenance. Finally, we will examine how autonomy can be a solution to some maintenance challenges.
After attending this session, participants will have gained a better understanding of WHY seeking to properly understand customer problems is key to good innovation; WHAT challenges exist with the acceptance of new product categories such as electrification and data driven maintenance; and HOW autonomous equipment and data driven management may/will fit into their maintenance activities.
Gerald Henry, Ph.D. – University of Georgia
The application of biological substances, microorganisms, and plant growth enhancers has increased throughout the turfgrass industry over the past decade. Many of these products are applied to increase nutrient absorption, boost tolerance to environmental stress, and improve overall growth and aesthetic appearance. However, not all of these products are created equal and manufacturer claims often go unverified. This presentation will examine the impact of these products alone and in combination with cultural practices for the increase of turfgrass rooting and field performance.
After attending this session, attendees will:
AJ Lindsey, Ph.D. – University of Florida
The presentation covers environmental concerns with traditional fertilizers and some of the recent research trials conducted with humic and alternative fertilizers. It will also explore how humic and alternative fertilizers can be incorporated into a fertilizer program to reduce overall nitrogen use and potential nutrient losses on athletic fields.
Attendees will learn about the following:
Marc Douglas – World Rugby, Kieran O’Donnell – Sports Labs LLC
World Rugby’s approach to quality synthetic turf focuses heavily on player welfare and global best practice. The approach of the American market could change to provide better quality and more player-oriented surfaces. This presentation will help attendees understand some of the science behind synthetic turf and how to potentially help reduce injuries and protect the athlete
The session will cover:
Drew Miller – Brentsville Turfgrass Management Program, Leah Withrow – Reno Aces
Sports Field Managers across the country spend endless time preparing fields at all levels for athletes, from Little League to the Professionals. Many of these people are unaware of who we are. During this presentation, we will be discussing new and innovative ways to show the world what a Sports Field Manager is!
Session objectives:
Pamela Sherratt – The Ohio State University
This session will focus on establishing playing surfaces in a time crunch. Topics will include species selection, pest control, and water and nutrient management.
Attendees will:
Nick Christians, Ph.D. – Iowa State University
The presentation will cover the history and current research concerning the use of natural products for weed control in turfgrass.
Presentation Objectives:
Geoffrey Rinehart – University of Maryland
Preview this education session
This presentation will review important steps and principles for integrated pest management as it relates to insect control and discuss common insect pests of cool-season sports fields including their identification, life cycle, damage symptoms, and control approaches emphasizing cultural and less-toxic approaches.
The learning outcomes for attendees of this presentation:
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Bryan Hopkins, Ph.D. – Brigham Young University
This presentation will discuss saving water with Hybrid Bermudagrass replacing Kentucky bluegrass in cool-season climates.
Attendees will learn:
Scott Campbell – Pinnacle Turf Services
As more sports fields become multi-use facilities, synthetic turf is increasing in popularity. As managers and caretakers of these fields, how do we examine and adapt to the number and variation of events taking place on these surfaces? This presentation looks at the direction of sports field construction, increased event traffic and associated revenue, and the things to look out for to maintain the highest quality playing surface for the teams involved.
Three key points to be learned:
Lisa Goatley, M.S., L.P.C. – Counseling Solutions, LLC
Personal well-being is an important factor in the total person. A happy person is a productive person—individually, with family, and at work. This presentation addresses the science behind happiness, factors contributing to happiness, and strategies to cultivate this state of mind. A happy and healthy individual is better able to contribute in all aspects of life (at work, with family, and in the community).
The attendee will:
Now in its 16th year, women in the industry will participate in a facilitated discussion and enjoy lunch.
Growing New Grass: How Women in Turfgrass can Leverage Originality for Success – Devon Carroll, Ph.D.
Jason Kruse, Ph.D. – University of Florida
With many new bermudagrass cultivars available, questions remain regarding differences in performance for use on athletic fields. This seminar will cover results of research conducted at the University of Florida that compared seven bermudagrass cultivars to evaluate wear and divot recovery, shear strength, as well as fall color and spring green-up.
Session objectives:
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Response of Tall Fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass Mixtures to Wear
Brad Park – Rutgers University
This presentation will provide insight on sports field and grounds scenarios where tall fescue may be an establishment option, maximizing tall fescue competitiveness, and examining National Turfgrass Evaluation program (NTEP)-derived research information related to tall fescue variety selection.
Presentation objectives:
Cale Bigelow, Ph.D. – Purdue Turf Science, Jada Powlen – Purdue University
This presentation will cover the ways that turfgrass managers can reduce synthetic fungicide products for disease suppression. An emphasis will be placed on factors like selecting a disease resistant cultivar, summer nitrogen inputs and dew mitigation methods.
Attendees will learn:
Philip Braselton – St Andrews School, Alfie Gardiner – Target-Specialty Products, Matthew Kerns – The Episcopal Academy
Sports field managers are always looking for new ideas to improve turfgrass recovery. Field paint or dye is not a new concept in aiding in plant health. With advances in these two products over the years, have we as managers overlooked the potential they have in turfgrass recovery, especially during our slowest growing months. In an exciting new study we will present our findings from two organizations by using turfgrass paint on cool season and warm season grass.
Attendees will learn:
Kyley Dickson, Ph.D. – The University of Tennessee
The presentation will cover the minimum maintenance needs of a synthetic turf field and highlight the key factors that influence the need for maintenance. Practical tips for improving field playability and performance for any budget synthetic field will also be covered.
Presentation objectives:
Kaylin Dillon, CFP – Kaylin Dillon Financial, Amy Fouty, CSFM – The Motz Group, Eddie Jones – Hunter Industries, Abby McNeal, CSFM, CPRP – City of Louisville, Christine Sionne – Hunter Industries, Leah Withrow – Reno Aces
This panel will focus on effective strategies for a successful career. Individuals on the panel will share their experiences and provide advice about entering and pursuing a career in the industry, various life and career stages, and retirement preparation.
Nick Christians, Ph.D. – Iowa State University, Adam Thoms, Ph.D. – Iowa State University
Topdressing is one of the most common practices, but one of the most misunderstood practices. This presentation presents what happens when the topdressing rate is too fast or too slow. We will also present what to do if your field has layers. Finally, we will discuss what to topdress with.
Presentation objectives:
Erick Begitschke, M.S. – University of Georgia, Gerald Henry, Ph.D. – University of Georgia
Developing an effective weed control program is a skill that is becoming increasingly important for sports field managers. Similar to what is implemented with disease management, an effective weed control program allows turfgrass managers to maintain weed-free turfgrass (or as closely as possible) of optimal quality from January to December. Successful programs not only make use of different herbicide technologies varying in mode of action, but also implement effective cultural management practices such as fertilization, aerification, irrigation, and mowing. This session will teach attendees how to build effective weed control programs for the southern United States.
Attendees will:
Weston Floyd, CSFM – Texas A&M University, Chase Straw, Ph.D. – Texas A&M University
This presentation will provide an overview of currently available technologies, which includes, but is not limited to, soil moisture sensors, GPS sprayers, autonomous mowers and painters, and drones. On-going research from Texas A&M University and others involving these technologies will be discussed, as will the future direction of technology in the industry.
Presentation objectives:
Michael Boekholder – Boekholder & Associates
Executing a field renovation project properly takes a multi-step approach to ensure the best project outcomes. Analyzing current field conditions, preparing accurate specifications and plans, selecting quality contractors, conducting a robust quality control program and ensuring a proper close out of the project are all critical steps needed to complete any construction project. Special attention will also be given on how to make sure your MiLB field is PDL compliant after a renovation project.
Attendees will:
John Clintsman – Ensworth School, Mike Goatley, Ph.D. – Virginia Tech
Mentors and mentees both have responsibilities in forming a successful relationship, and while we typically think that the primary beneficiary of a mentoring relationship is for the mentee, both parties have plenty to gain (or lose) in the association. This presentation details the qualities of a successful mentoring relationship.
Attendees will learn:
John Mascaro – Turf-Tec International
This is a live version of the Photo Quiz article that has appeared each month in Golf Course Management Magazine since September 2002 and SportsField Management Magazine since 2006. The live Photo Quiz is an interactive presentation with questions on what caused a particular turfgrass problem and an answer on how it was solved.
Presentation objectives:
Paul Cushing – Paul Cushing Agronomic Sports Turf Consulting Services
Reinvigorate Your High School Sports Fields is designed to help Sports Field Managers at the high school level, as well as coaches and administrators, in assisting them in the process of rejuvenating their athletic fields. This presentation touches upon weed control, animal abatement, soil testing, soil fertility programs, renovation programs (aerification and verticutting), proper height of cut (HOC), topdressing and seasonal scheduling for school district employees. This session will also include many case studies with school district sports fields over the past few years with before, during and after pictures to illustrate points and give Sports Field Managers practical knowledge to inspire change to their own high school athletic fields.
Attendees will take home:
Bryan Hopkins, Ph.D. – Brigham Young University
Surveys show that most managers waste water, often resulting in oxygen deficiencies in the root zone. Using water for grass during a mega-drought is bringing us under severe scrutiny. It is possible (and even better for the grass) to grow healthy/functional grass with significantly less water.
Attendees will learn:
David McCall, Ph.D. – Virginia Tech
Natural playing surfaces are not uniform but are typically managed as if they are. Most pests are distributed in localized clusters, yet entire surfaces are treated equally with pesticides. However, there are both simple and complex strategies that allow turfgrass professionals to target applications. This presentation will provide tools available to help sports field managers apply products to the right place, while reducing total inputs.
Attendees will learn:
Keith Fisher – Central Regional School District
What we do as Major League groundskeepers is no different from Little League, High School, Minor Leagues, except our attention to detail. I believe if we manage our time and our resources we can get that Major League quality no matter what products you have. I will cover how to achieve this at the high school level. Form how to start the process in the off-season or the time between games or tournaments and how to maintain that level throughout the season. I will cover how to use maintenance practices specific to your site.
Attendees will learn:
Lisa Goatley, M.S., L.P.C. – Counseling Solutions, LLC
Improving and protecting our mental health has benefits for us individually, for our families, for our employers, and for our communities. We can learn the basics of mental health, simple strategies to improve our mental health, and learn to recognize when we need to respond and take action. Becoming a mentally healthier person has benefits on many levels and, like any health behavior, is achievable.
Attendees will learn:
Mike Goatley, Ph.D. – Virginia Tech, Gregg Munshaw, Ph.D. – Pinnacle Agricultural Research Center
Problems in sports field management arise in a variety of situations and are not always agronomic in nature. Real-world sports field problems will be presented and the audience will be tasked with asking the right questions to begin the problem-solving effort, followed by the development of possible solutions to the problem.
Attendees will learn:
Cale Bigelow, Ph.D. – Purdue Turf Science, Barry Stewart, Ph.D. – Mississippi State University
Many athletic field managers are unsure of their math skills or might need a refresher. This workshop will cover common calculations that athletic field managers need to know how to do in the course of their jobs. Attendees will learn the practical aspects of calculating turfgrass management inputs like seed, fertilizer, chemicals, sand topdressing, etc. An emphasis will also be placed on calibrating various fertilizer and liquid application equipment.
After attending this presentation, the participant will be able to:
Ben Hartman – Wichita Wind Surge
Little do groundskeepers know, we are asked to be weathermen and make the call. This presentation is geared towards giving you the tools and resources you need to help better your call in the future!
Presentation objectives:
Preview this education session
Lorenzo Lopez, CSFM – SouthWest Sports Fields – Autmow
New technology shouldn’t be considered scary. We saw fear and pushback when central-controlled irrigation systems arrived, now we can’t live without those systems. I will share how simple robots can remove mundane tasks from our daily checklist. And show you how groundskeepers have successfully utilized robots into their current operations.
Three of the main things you will take away from this class will be:
Keith Winter – Fort Wayne Tincaps
The science of engineered soils has changed the way baseball fields are managed and maintained. For over three decades, calcined clay conditioners have been the industry standard. For the 2022 season, The Fort Wayne TinCaps transitioned to the use of expanded shale as its conditioner on all clay surfaces, including the infield, game mound, plate, and bullpens. What were the results and feedback, successes and failures? You don’t know until you are willing to “try something new.”
Presentation objectives:
Bryce King, CPRP, AFO – Centerville City
Finding the right people for your organization can be challenging and time-consuming. Learn new ways to create powerful interviews, produce an out of the ordinary training program, birthday like first day experiences and reachable retention programs. This presentation will give specific examples of hiring from entry level to full time employees.
Presentation objectives:
DeMaurice Fitzgerald Smith is the Executive Director of the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), the Labor Union for Players of the National Football League (NFL). He was reappointed to his fifth term as Executive Director in fall 2021.
In March 2020, he successfully negotiated his second long-term Collective Bargaining Agreement with the National Football League. The eleven-year deal will introduce an additional game into the regular season but also provide players with their guaranteed highest share of NFL revenue in history.
Almost immediately following ratification of the new collective bargaining agreement, he led the negotiations with the NFL to create comprehensive Covid-19 protections and protocols for his membership, obtained comprehensive testing and opt out provisions for players and designed the return to play agreements that secured NFL Players being paid their full salary for the season despite a projected $3 billion revenue shortfall for the NFL in 2020. The NFL was able to play an entire season, playoffs, and Super Bowl LV in Tampa Bay, Florida during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
On August 4, 2011, Smith signed an historic 10-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with NFL management, leading the Players through the owners’ 132-day lockout. The two Collective Bargaining Agreements remain the longest standing agreements between labor and management in any sports league.
Prior to his post at the NFLPA, Smith was an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Columbia and was Counsel to then-Deputy Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. Smith served as a Partner in the international law firms of Latham & Watkins, LLP and Squire Patton Boggs, LLP, in Washington, D.C. where he represented corporations, boards of directors and senior executives in civil and criminal matters.
Mr. Smith is a sought-after motivational speaker for corporations, labor unions, and charities, and a guest lecturer and distinguished speaker on college campuses around the country on the topics of leadership, ethics, sports law, and high-stakes negotiation. Smith, a native Washingtonian, resides in the Washington DC metropolitan area with his family.
DeMaurice Smith and the NFL Players Association have been at the forefront of issues surrounding NFL Player health and safety since the groundbreaking achievements negotiated into Smith’s first collective bargaining agreement with the National Football League.
Larry DiVito, CSFM – Minnesota Twins Baseball Club, John Turnour, CSFM – Washington Nationals, Keith Winter – Fort Wayne Tincaps, Luke Yoder – DuraEdge Products
Sports field managers from across the country will share the various management strategies they utilize to maintain baseball fields. After a brief introduction from each panelist, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss challenges and solutions related to baseball fields and facilities.
Casey Scheidel, CSFM – Iowa Sports Turf Management, Mark Baginski, LEED AP, RLA – Verde Design, Inc., Casey Carrick, CSFM – The University of North Carolina, Sam Titchener – Colony Landscape
As designers and builders, we often hear from facility owners and grounds managers after a facility has been in operation for a period of time about “things they wish had been done differently.” Wouldn’t it be nice if you considered those things BEFORE a new facility was designed and built?
Attendees will:
Representatives from Anuvia Plant Nutrients, Beacon Athletics, Hunter Industries, Pure Seed, Sipcam Agro USA Inc., Smithco, Inc., Sunbelt Rentals, Inc.
Chris Ball, CSFM – Ewing Irrigation and Landscape, Amy Fouty, CSFM – The Motz Group, Sarah Martin, CSFM – City of Phoenix, Parks and Recreation Department, Maritza Martinez St. Louis CITY SC, Sun Roesslein, CSFM – Jeffco Schools Athletics
This panel will discuss the experience of volunteering for the Little League Softball World Series, the importance of such an event, and how that experience has made us better at our jobs.
Attendees will learn:
Wes Ganobcik – Columbus Clippers, Gerald Henry, Ph.D. – University of Georgia, Allen Johnson, CSFM – Green Bay Packers, Nick McKenna, CSFM – Texas A&M Athletics, John Sorochan, Ph.D. – University of Tennessee
The panel will focus on professionalism, interviewing, negotiating, choosing an internship, grad school options, and other topics. Attendees will gain insight into skills and areas of focus that will benefit and help prepare them for their future careers.
Presentation objectives:
Troy Carson – The Toro Company
Autonomy is an inevitable addition to most maintenance programs. We will explore how understanding and defining problems informs good innovation. We will look at the challenges that exist with transitioning to electric equipment and data driven maintenance. Finally, we will examine how autonomy can be a solution to some maintenance challenges.
After attending this session, participants will have gained a better understanding of WHY seeking to properly understand customer problems is key to good innovation; WHAT challenges exist with the acceptance of new product categories such as electrification and data driven maintenance; and HOW autonomous equipment and data driven management may/will fit into their maintenance activities.
Pamela Sherratt – The Ohio State University
This session will focus on establishing playing surfaces in a time crunch. Topics will include species selection, pest control, and water and nutrient management.
Attendees will:
Kyley Dickson, Ph.D. – The University of Tennessee
The presentation will cover the minimum maintenance needs of a synthetic turf field and highlight the key factors that influence the need for maintenance. Practical tips for improving field playability and performance for any budget synthetic field will also be covered.
Presentation objectives:
Wes Ganobcik – Columbus Clippers
Wes will discuss everything a student needs to consider when choosing the internship that will provide the best experience. He will also discuss the factors that a young turfgrass manager needs to consider when choosing a job and negotiating a starting salary.
Attendees will learn the following:
Tom Gould – Iowa State University, Adam Thoms, Ph.D. – Iowa State University, Josh Tvrdik – Iowa State Athletics Department
This presentation will cover how Iowa State University grew their own sand-based football field on a cornfield near the college. We will discuss how the ISU Athletic Department supported student education by funding students and giving them turfgrass management experience during this project. We will also discuss all of the steps to go from a cornfield to a sand-based sod to installing and maintaining the new playing surface on MidAmerican Field at Jack Trice Stadium. This presentation will cover sand selection, cultivar decisions, fertility and herbicides used as well as steps to care for the field such as mowing height and frequency. Finally, we will present how the field played during its first season in action.
Attendees will learn:
Bryan Hopkins, Ph.D. – Brigham Young University
Managing salts and pH are critical, especially when using irrigation water that is marginal. Impacts on plant health, nutrition, toxicities, soil microbiology, specific ion toxicities, and water infiltration will be discussed.
Attendees will learn:
Daniel Sandor, Ph.D. – Virginia Tech, Tyler Carr – University of Tennessee
Sports field managers (SFMs) are required to produce playing surfaces that maximize field quality, playability, and safety, in an environmentally-sound and economically-sustainable manner. To determine which products and practices are right for managing their field, SFMs must first understand the importance of the scientific method and be able to correctly interpret scientific data and research findings.
Attendees will learn:
Kyley Dickson, Ph.D. – The University of Tennessee, Gregg Munshaw, Ph.D. – Pinnacle Agricultural Research Center
This talk will cover how sustainable turfgrass varieties can reduce inputs. We will discuss where to find information on sustainable turfgrass varieties in addition to their pros and cons. Also, discuss how sustainable grass varieties perform in player to surface interaction and ball to surface interactions for athletic fields.
Presentation objectives:
Watch the full presentation here.
Marc Moran, CSFM – Atlee High School
This presentation focuses on building, maintaining or repairing a healthy relationship between the sports field manager and athletic administration. The relationship is critical for the long-term success of the strong sports field system, no matter if you are at the K-12, Collegiate or professional level. Understanding the challenges of each allows the other to effectively make decisions and tackle issues or set effective goals for the athletic facility.
Attendees will learn:
Watch the full presentation here.
Kurt Thompson – IrriTech Training
This advanced discussion takes the irrigation system manager, contractor, or designer through the cause and effect of the velocity of the water in the pipe and size of valves on the damaging cyclical forces that affect the operational costs and sprinkler performance, and then practical methods to minimize those surge pressures.
At the conclusion of the workshop, the learner should be able to:
