Course conditions | Winter 2015/16
Turf School, Conference, and Field Day BY KEVIN FRANK
D
ecember and January were busy months Thomas Green teaching the turfgrasss ID lab full of turfgrass education programming. The Turf School short-course was held the Schweihofer, and Jesse Shaver. Thanks to all for presenting week of December 14th at the Kellogg Center. Turf and if you’re interested in presenting in the Innovative School is a four-day course designed to teach the basics Superintendents session next year please let me know. of turfgrass science as well as the practical techniques of There are many people that make the conference a managing turfgrass. The school was instructed by MSU success. The conference committee: Amy Fouty, Brian turfgrass faculty and staff. The curriculum is designed Schweihofer, Dan Mausolf, Marc Stine, and Becky Schoch to deliver a wide range of turfgrass management topics all deserve a huge thank you for their efforts. I’d also like including soils, turfgrass species identification, selection and to thank all the moderators for taking the time out of their physiology, turf establishment and renovation, fertilization, conference schedule to direct sessions: Rob Pylar, Dr. weeds, diseases, and insects. We had a record 90 Ron Calhoun, Kim McKenzie, Mark Frever, Al Bathum, attendees almost equally split among golf, lawn care, and Dan Mausolf, Bob Reed, Seth Stern, Carey Mitchelson, grounds managers. Due to demand Turf School has been and Jim Bogart. Special thanks also to Dave Ertl and scheduled again for Dec. 12-16, 2016. Steve Hammon from Traverse City CC for coordinating The Michigan Turfgrass Conference was held Jan. 5-7, the Equipment Technicians sessions and Troy Evans 2016 and had an outstanding turnout again this year as the for coordinating the Assistant Superintendents session. conference continues to grow in now it’s 4th year at the The silent auction to benefit the MTF Rieke/Professors Kellogg Center. We had many great speakers from out of Endowment was a huge success thanks to the efforts of state including; Chris Tritabaugh, Steve Keating, Dr. Beth Doug Johanningsmeier. Mark your calendars for the 2017 Guertal, Tim VanLoo, Gary Grigg, Dr. Lee Berndt, Pat conference, Jan. 3-5. Jones, Bruce Jump, Bob Vavrek and Dr. Leah Brilman. The Although August seems like a distant dream in January, Innovative Superintendents session was held on Thursday afternoon and the room was packed to hear presentations mark your calendars for the Turfgrass Field Day Aug. 10, 2016. from Dan Dingman, Dennis Ross, Aaron McMaster, Brian Dr. Jim Crum teaching soils at Turf School
11