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ATA Member Spotlight on
Michael Hybart
Al ab ama Tu rf Tim e s > >> Su mmer 201 4
Village Landscape Services
12
The
Alabama Turfgrass Association is fortunate to have every member, but Michael “Mike” Hybart stands out from the crowd. First, he is a long-term member… 34 years to be exact! We don’t have many members who have been with ATA for that long! Second, Mike never meets a stranger. He loves to talk about turfgrass, politics, medical insights, real estate and his years working in the green industry. And third, he is always willing to help. Matter of fact, he shows up early every year at the Montgomery RoadShow Seminar to help me carry in all the doughnuts, paperwork and computers, and he helps me make the coffee. In case you don’t personally know Mike, let me tell you a little bit about him. Mike is from Hybart, Alabama, which is a small community in north Monroe County where his family settled in the early 1800s. He has three sisters and one brother (two sisters are deceased; the third one runs a business in Birmingham; and his brother is a doctor in Pensacola). Mike went to Wilcox County High School and then to Auburn University, where he earned two degrees: Textile Engineering (1967) and Horticulture (1973). After graduating with his Textile Engineering degree, Mike worked as a quality control manager for five textile mills. He came back to Auburn in 1971 and started a business, Village Landscape Services, and pursued his second degree in horticulture. While earning his horticulture degree, Mike was awarded a scholarship from the Alabama Crop Improvement Association, the L.M. Ware Outstanding Senior Horticulture Award and the H.S. Fisher Award. Upon receiving his horticulture degree, Mike worked as the superintendent of grounds at Livingston University. That eventually brought him back to the Auburn area, where he went to work for a lawn and leisure company and then Beck’s Sod Farm, managing 2 farms and 13 employees. Since his time at Beck’s, Mike stayed in the green industry, working with friends, and became a licensed real estate agent. Mike is a member at Covenant Presbyterian Church, and he enjoys photography, hunting and fishing. His mentor was his mother, who was a wonderful Christian example and who always encouraged Mike to reach for his dreams. The best advice he was given was “to work hard, and give it your best because you really don’t work for people; you work for God.” What great advice! We owe Vandy and Judy Copeland and Martin and Carolyn Beck for introducing Mike to our association. He is a true blessing to our organization! Be sure to say hello to Mike at the ATA Conference and/or Montgomery RoadShow Seminar. He has attended every one that I can remember, and I know everyone enjoys seeing and visiting with him each year at these events. Thank you, Mike, for your contributions to the Alabama Turfgrass Association! v