Mission: SFMA advances professionalism in sports field management and safety through education, awareness programs, and industry development.
Mission: SFMA advances professionalism in sports field management and safety through education, awareness programs, and industry development.
Vision: To be the recognized leader in strengthening the sports field industry and enhancing members’ competence and acknowledgement of their professionalism.
Green-industry professionals around the world don’t all look, talk or process things in the same way. As foremen, groundskeepers, facility caretakers or sports field researchers, our work is vital in a wide variety of cities and organizations. SFMA is a community built on inclusion, and we share the passion to make meaningful change. Everyone deserves to be treated equally. We know the events of this past week have been difficult, sad, and a test of our resolve.
We reject any notion of racism and strongly believe we must make this world a more inclusive and welcoming environment. We stand united to create change.
SFMA Board of Directors
The Sports Turf Managers Association was officially formed in 1981 to facilitate the sharing of ideas and information.
The key leaders in the SFMA’s infancy were Harry “Pops” Gill (deceased), Milwaukee County Stadium; Dr. William Daniel (deceased), Professor Emeritus, Purdue University; Dick Ericson (deceased), Minneapolis Metrodome, and George Toma (NFL).
After sharing the office, executive secretary and conference facilities of the National Institute of Parks & Grounds Management in Appleton, Wisconsin for three years, the sixty SFMA members decided to venture into independence in November 1984.
The Board of Directors, led by their newly elected President, David Frey, appointed the Association’s first Executive Director, Dr. Kent W. Kurtz, Professor of Turfgrass & Ornamental Horticulture at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona. In 1985, the Association incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation and began a quarterly newsletter. SFMA established a national office in Upland, California during the spring of 1987. The first national conference in 1986 was held in conjunction with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, as were the annual meetings in 1987 and 1988.
The association has 2700 members and is headquartered in Lawrence, KS.
In 2022 SFMA rebranded to the SFMA (Sports Field Management Association). Click here to watch the reveal!
The SFMA Board of Directors met in 2021 to put together a 10 year strategic plan to market-grow-diversify the organization. This plan can be read in its entirety here.
