M E M B E R S P OT L I G H T O N
ATA Board Member
MARK BROWN We
sat down with Mark Brown, who serves as a Board Member, to talk about his contribution to ATA, his career, and turfgrass in the time of COVID-19. Arkansas Turfgrass: How long have you served on the board, and what have been your priorities in that position? Mark Brown: I am going into my third year now. One of the big things that we’ve focused on over the last few years is trying to grow the association here in the state. Arkansas has quite a few turfgrass professionals — golf course, lawn care, sod producers and sports fields. We’re just trying to get more of them to come to our shows and get actively involved. So we’ve gotta let everybody know that the turfgrass association is a benefit to them, there’s a lot of things we can get out of it. AT: That involvement support seems important now more than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic. What do you think is the general attitude among turfgrass professionals in the state right now while they’re having to work so differently, especially in the spring? MB: It’s definitely a change for them from what they’re accustomed to. I’ve talked to some of them and they’re really itching to get back out there and get everything back to somewhat normal, but they understand some things are
8 • A R K A N S A S T U R F G R A S S • Summer 2020
