Turf Terps Take SECOND

Written By: Geoff Rinehart

Continuing a tradition that began almost two decades ago, UMD students participated in January in the first of two annual intercollegiate competitions—the Sports Field Managers Association Student Challenge. The event is conducted annually during the SFMA Conference and Trade Show and allows the student to compete against other turfgrass programs nationally. This year the conference was held from January 16-19 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Because of the studying, academic dedication, and required after-class meeting time needed to prepare for these competitions, students participating in the turf competitions have the opportunity to enroll in a 1-credit independent study class in the Fall semester. This year UMD was able to take two teams, one consisting of returning students and the other consisting of new students. After a 6th place finish in the 2-year program competition in 2022 in Savannah, GA, the returning team, consisting of students Brandon Carbary, Jarrett Maynor, Matthew Miller, and Payton O’Connor, was eager to use their experience to improve.

The SFMA competition includes turfgrass species, weed, insect, and disease identification; turfgrass soil questions; turfgrass-related math problems; and a hands-on practical section in which students were required to read and answer questions about an irrigation blueprint. The returning “Turf Terps” were able to earn 2nd place honors in the 2-year program out of 8 teams and placed 5th out of 25 2- and 4-year teams.

In addition to the competition experience, students had the opportunity to attend the educational seminars, browse the tradeshow floor to speak with vendors, and experience the Salt Lake region, traveling to the mountains one afternoon to visit Utah Olympic Park, where the Winter Olympics were held in 2002. Attending and competing in these national turfgrass competitions raises the national recognition for our IAA turfgrass program and provides students with added academic rigor as they practice for the competitions and experience the industry on a broader, national level. We would like to extend a word of thanks to all of the UMD turf alumni for the ways they have supported the team over the years and everyone who has supported the Shields Memorial Fund, funds from which provide the means to bring student teams to these competitions.