MPSFMA NEWS - Vendor Issue 2024

NEWS Volume 13, No. 4

Winter 2023-24

2023 TURFCO/MPSFMA

FIELD OF THE YEAR

SAND CREEK ATHLETIC COMPLEX CITY OF COON RAPIDS

YOUR GO-TO SUPPLIER & PARTNER ON THE FIELD

Visit one of our 3 nearby locations: Plymouth Store

2722 Fernbrook Ln North Plymouth, MN 55447 763-503-0200

Hudson Store

Rochester Store

4165 HWY 14 West Suite 100 Rochester, MN 55901 507-292-0677

588 B Schommer Dr Hudson, WI 54016 715-690-2343

Shop These Products and More!

• Grass Seed

• Ball Field Amendments

• Fertilizer

• Winter Products

• Chemicals

• Irrigation

Please reach out with any questions Joe Churchill

Reinders Field & Grounds Specialist 612-790-7333 jchurchill@reinders.com

Check out our website with over 20,000 products from the industry's top brands.

Reinders.com

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

By Derek Hollanitsch MPSFMA President City of Saint Paul

Greetings to all Minnesota Parks Sports Field Management Association members. As we embark on 2024 and my presidency comes to a close, I’d like to acknowledge all past and current board members. Without their commitment to this association we wouldn’t be where we are today. As membership continues to grow in numbers so do our friendships. The continued support of our vendors is paramount to the continued success within MPSFMA. They bring many products and services for all of us to consider. * * * * As Board Members transition into their roles for this year, I know they’ll continue to bring worthwhile education components to our workshops. Our chapter president for 2024 is Trenton Waters. He comes to us from our hometown Minnesota Twins Baseball Club. Prior to the Twins he worked for the City of Roseville. Trenton is married with one daughter.

JANUARY 22

PESTICIDE RECERTIFICATION @ RiverCenter | St. Paul - www.northerngreen.org

JANUARY 23-25

NORTHERN GREEN

@ RiverCenter | St. Paul - www.northerngreen.org

THURSDAY, MARCH 7

MPSFMA SPRING WORKSHOP 7:00 am @ University of Northwestern | St. Paul

THURSDAY, MARCH 7 - After Workshop

GREEN INDUSTRY BOWLING 3:00 pm @ Flaherty Bowl, Roseville (Just 2 minutes from the Spring Workshop)

* * * * The past four years with this association has brought many opportunities. I spent my first 2 years as a general member and then became the vice president. The vice presidency role allowed me to transition into being president. I’ve created new friends and professional opportunities that I could’ve never imagined. My employer has invested in me and allowed me to attend many national SFMA conferences. It was at these conferences I was able to network with others’ in our profession and with representatives of the SFMA. I’ll be attending this year’s conference in Daytona Beach, Florida and was chosen to be a speaker. If any members will be attending this conference I extend a personal invitation to catch my presentation.

Fargo, ND

St. Paul, MN

Tea, SD

Thank you,

Derek Hollanitsch

Derek Hollanitsch President Minnesota Park and Sports Field Management Association

WINTER 2023-24

St. Paul

Fargo, ND

Tea, SD

(651) 487-3850

(701) 232-7238

(605) 368-2586

Landscape • Greenhouse • Lawn Care • Turf • Winter Equipment MPSFMA NEWS 3

VENDOR LISTINGS THIS EDITION OF MPSFMA NEWS IS DEDICATED TO MPSFMA MEMBER VENDORS WHO SUPPORT OUR SPRING AND FALL WORKSHOPS WHILE SUPPLING PRODUCT, EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES TO PARK STAFFS AND SPORTS FIELD MANAGERS BEACON ATHLETICS For the last 75 years, Beacon Athletics has been providing groundskeepers with the market’s best tools, supplies and educational materials to provide safe playing fields. Did you know Beacon also sells backstops, netting, wall padding, foul poles, dugouts, windscreen, batting cages, infield screens, batters eyes, bleachers and much more? Beacon provides solutions to your problems with a team of experts that are passionate about what they do!

Nick Balistrieri 612-868-3879 Direct Sales 800-747-5985 www.beaconathletics.com

nickb@beaconathletics.com

distributor of 4X4 tractors manufactured by Ventrac, Steiner and Holder companies. We sell Cushman, Columbia, Vantage and Westward brand vehicles along with Ryan, Billy Goat and Fleet grounds care products.

Mike Benson 612-333-3487 mike.benson@cushmanmotorco.com Steve Scanlan 612-333-3487 steve.scanlan@cushmanmotorco.com www.cushmanmotorco.com

BERG TURF Berg Turf is owned and operated by an SFMA Certified Sports Field Manager with a focus on infield renovation/laser grading, aeration, topdressing and seeding services. With a depth of knowledge and experience on many aspects of infield construction, Berg Turf offers services from edging to amending infield skin profiles to laser grading. Aeration services include subsurface air injection with an Air2G2 aerator or linear decompaction with an Imants Shockwave, both of which cause minimal surface disruption for immediate return to play. For interseeding and new seeding projects the Vredo line of seeder is used. It’s ground driven slicing design allows for extremely accurate seeding rates at a quick pace while consistently resulting in some of the best germination rates in the industry.

Steve Berg 612-208-3037 twitter: @BergTurf

steve@bergturf.com

BOLTON & MENK INC. Community infrastructure solutions. We believe all people should live in safe, sustainable, and beautiful communities. We take pride in our ability to provide technical planning, urban design, and engineering solutions to make that happen.

Jay Pomeroy www.ajainc.net

763-544-7129

jpomeroy@bolton-menk.com

CUSHMAN MOTOR COMPANY, INC. Cushman Motor Company is an independent family owed business. We’ve been supplying our customers with vehicles, tractors and other types of equipment. We’ve evolved into a multi-faceted supplier of industrial grade equipment to customers throughout the Midwest. Cushman Motor Company is an authorized

WINTER 2023-24

MPSFMA NEWS 5

CUSTOM BUILDERS, INC. CBI is a General Contractor and Construction Manager who focuses on Specialty Park Construction. We promise a first-class service building, splash pads, skate parks, amphitheaters, plazas, pedestrian bridges, pavilions, shade structures, play grounds, walking paths and much more. We specialize in building park shelters, concession and restroom buildings complete.

Jeff Reiter 320-250-0108 jeffrey.reiter@custombuildersmn.com www.custombuildersmn.com D. ERVASTI SALES CO. Find all the turf and grounds products for natural grass and artificial turf playing surfaces. Serving the local and surrounding areas for more than 40 years, we provide direct sales to schools, governments, businesses, minor and major leagues in need of supplies for their sports fields, buildings, equipment, and industrial plants. Whether you need mound and home plate clay for your ball fields, or you need special striping paints, we provide a variety of high-quality products at competitive prices, and we always offer impeccable service and customer satisfaction. Order sport field products, industrial, municipal, and equipment maintenance-type products.

Mary Jo Ervasti 320-654-9693 dervasti@charter.netwww.ervastisales.com

DH ATHLETICS LLC We are commited to offer top quality products including but are not limited to the following: Porta Flex portable fencing, sports nets & custom netting from Carron Nets and Douglas, Bolco, Hollywood, Magnetic Safety bases, maintenance supplies, Diamond Dry, Dugout Covers, benches, and portable pitching mounds from Portolite and True Pitch. We want to be your source for all Athletic Field and Court Supplies.

Dave Haack 507-327-8173 www.dhathletics.com

dave@dhathletics.com

EC GROW Serving the Midwest with plant nutrients to maintain healthy turfgrass & ice melt for a safe and manageable winter season.We strive to ensure the products we produce meet or exceed established standards by clearly defining expectations and holding each other accountable. We believe customer relationships are critical to our success and that maintaining the highest ethical and moral standards is paramount in cultivating those relationships.

Nate Mezera 608-306-0052 www.ecgrowproturf.com

nmezera@ecgrow.com

ECO WORKS SUPPLY Eco Works Supply (EWS) is a regional distribution company that operates in Minnesota, Arizona and Florida. We supply the turf industry with liquid and granular fertilizers, mostly organic based. We also have a line of traditional granular fertilizer and are capable of custom blending granular fertilizer to specific requirements. Also providing soil testing services, and crew and event clothing. We believe in giving back to the industry we serve and are sponsors and active members of the MTGF, MPSFMA, MGCSA, GCSAA, MPGCMA, and Cactus and Pine GCSA. Doug Daniel 612-868-9615 Jim O’Neill 612-710-1718 Geoff Jordan 218-213-2390 Darin Van Helden 612-201-0661 www.ecoworkssupply.com

doug@ecoworkssupply.com jim@ecoworkssupply.com geoff@ecoworkssupply.com darin@ecoworkssupply.com

ENVIRONMENTAL AGRONOMICS I work as a sales agent for Twin City Seed Company, Par Aide and ECS Total Water Solutions and a distributor for TerraMax bacterial products. Experience in sod production, sports field, golf course and stormwater construction, and my knowledge of Turf Science to assist my customers and the public.

Mike Kelly

612-919-2039

mgkelly@yahoo.com

FARMERS MILL & ELEVATOR Located in Castle Rock, MN Mike Zeidlhack

651-775-0880

mike@farmersmill.com

FENCEGUARD Providing labor & cost savings on fenceline maintenance since 2008. FenceGuard provides a permanent clean-cut appearance along fence lines and generates yearly savings on labor and costs by eliminating the need to use string trimmers or chemicals.

Luke and Laura MacLean 763-242-5805 laura@fenceguardmowstrip.com www.fenceguardmowstrip.com

6 MPSFMA NEWS

WINTER 2023-24

The Magic’s in the Details!

We pride ourselves on our work, and let the results speak for themselves!

Athletic Field Maintenance • • • • • •

Turfgrass Maintenance

Field reconstruction Lip removal Infield grading/detailing Infield weed control Pitching mound construction Consulting

• • • • • •

Turfgrass stripping Grading & soil preperation Seeding & sodding Aerating Top dressing Fertilizing & spraying

(612) 900-5295 Jerrod Brunelle Jerrod@magicturf.com

www.magicturf.com

FIELD TURF With over 20,000 installations worldwide, FieldTurf has been the surface of choice for over 20 years. We’re trusted at every level. From professional franchises (NFL, MLS, CFL, MLB, and more); NCAA Division I, II and III programs; to schools & municipalities. FieldTurf is more than just a turf company. We are the pioneers of today’s generation of artificial turf and the innovators for tomorrow’s cutting-edge sports surfaces. Our fields have paved the way for little league dreamers, local school heroes, college rising stars and professional sports icons. FieldTurf is the most trusted name in artificial turf. Not only do we install the cutting-edge sports surfaces, but we also offer proper maintenance that will not only keep your field looking and playing at its best, but first and foremost it will provide your athletes with a playing surface that will assist them to perform at the peak of their abilities.

Matthew Cole 216-339-5393 Cody Gustafson 847-340-8113

Matthew.Cole@fieldturf.com Cody.Gustafson@fieldturf.com

FRED KOLKMANN TENNIS & SPORTS SURFACES Fred Kolkmann Tennis and Sports Surfaces, LLC provides unique Tennis Court Evaluation and Maintenance Program services (TCEMP) to help you increase the service life of your court and get the best value from your tennis court investment.

Fred Kolkmann 262-685-7507 www.kolkmanncourtbuilder.com

courtbuilder@ameritech.com

FROST INC. Frost Inc provides advanced spray technology products and services for the golf and turf care industry. Frost leads the market in GPS spray control systems and variable rate mapping services.

Popular products include full package application equipment, chemical handling/mixing systems, and a variety of other unique products. Frost’s goal is to make spraying more accurate, more efficient, and a safer experience for the applicator and everyone else involved!

Ken Rost 612-508-8660 Cassie Roos 800-621-7910 www.frostserv.com

ken@frostserv.com cassie@frostserv.com

GERTENS WHOLESALE & PROFESSIONAL TURF SUPPLY Gertens Wholesale offers turf products and landscape supplies including annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, evergreens, custom mulches, natural stone, wall stone and pavers. Custom blending of turf grass seed mixes, fertilizers, chemicals, infield conditioners, mound clay and erosion control products. We offer ArborJet injection equipment and related solutions.

Matt Krey 651-361-8500 www.gertens.com/wholesale

mkrey@gertens.com

HARTMAN COMPANIES, INC. Hartman Companies specializes in sports field slit drainage; irrigation and grading with 40+ years of experience. Our methods of drainage installation keep disruption to a minimum. Drain today, play tomorrow.

Tom West 952-443-2990 Josh Eykyn www.hartmancompanies.com

tom@hartmancompanies.com josh@hartmancompanies.com

HERITAGE PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS GROUP Heritage PPG is a nationwide distributor of professional turf products. Heritage PPG is an industry leader with a wide variety of sports turf products tailor made to fit your needs, such as granular fertilizer, high performance grass seed, Foliar fertilizer, a large selection of Heritage PPG proprietary products, herbicide, insecticide and fungicide from major brands. With years of sports field experience, your local sports turf expert can help you find the right products to help your fields stand up to the riggers of a season and look great in the process. You can count on us to take care of you and your turf.

Nick Wilz 612-719-7680 www.heritageppg.com

HIRSHFIELD'S DESIGN RESOURCE Hirshfield’s Design Resource services architects, interior designers, contractors and building professionals with a variety of quality wall finishes for hospitality, health care, corporate interiors, tenant finishes and commercial spaces.

Tim Rollwagen 612-590-4047 TRollwagen@hirshfields.com www.hirshfields.com HLS OUTDOOR Professional contractors and municipalities experience access to an unmatched on-hand inventory of the highest quality Irrigation, Landscape, & Outdoor Lighting products in the Minnesota market.

Mike Friederichs 612-599-6101michael.friedrichs@hlsoutdoor.com Jeff Laterell 612-791-4643 jeff.lastterell@hlsoutdoor.com Chad Redman 952-529-8903 chad.redmann@hlsoutdoor.com www.hlsoutdoor.com HUNTER INDUSTRIES Hunter sales managers are trusted field partners dedicated to supporting the professional irrigation market. Hunter is dedicated to connecting our customers with trusted irrigation professionals who are knowledgeable of our products and their proper usage.

We create innovative, high-quality solutions for the irrigation, outdoor lighting and custom molding industries.

Steve Pallas 651-216-8652 steve.pallas@hunterindustries.com Eric Simmons 612-374-0244 eric.simmons@hunterindustries.com www.hunterindustries.com IEA The Institute for Environmental Assessment, Inc. (IEA) is an environmental, health and safety consulting firm based in Minnesota serving private and public clients nationwide. Providing trusted health and safety services by focusing on new opportunities, greater efficiencies, and advanced technology to serve our clients.

Doug Brown 612-865-4743 www.ieasafety.com

doug.brown@ieasafety.com

KROMER COMPANY Kromer Company is a highly specialized US manufacturer of athletic fiield maintenance equipment with 40+ years of experience in the field. Our innovative and adaptive line of durable equipment is designed to prepare your natural / synthetic fields efficiently and cost effective. We understand that time is money. Lining fields, painting logos, grooming, spraying, disinfecting, removing the paint from synthetic fields is what we help you do. Discover why so many stadium operators, colleges and universities, pro sports teams, high schools, municipalities and the U. S. Government trust our equipment to get the job done.

Al Hentges 763-743-0431 www.kromerco.com

8 MPSFMA NEWS

nick.wilz@heritageppg.com

al@kromerco.com

WINTER 2023-24

L AW N C A R E + S P O RT S T U R F

PROFESSIONAL QUALITY. FOR PROFESSIONAL RESULTS. COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT APPLICATION Does Your Baseball/Softball/Soccer/Football Field or Playground Need to be Renovated?

The Minnesota Park and Sports Turf Managers Association has the answers! We will select a field from entries submitted and provide the labor for the renovation project. Some materials will be donated or provided at a reduced cost. Volunteers from your organization will be needed to perform the renovation project as well as to care for the field after the renovations are complete.

POSSIBLE RENOVATION IDEAS + Seeding + Sodding + Topdressing + Aerifying + Mounds + Homeplate + Skinned Areas + Irrigation Repair + Grass Areas + Field Layout ENTER YOUR FIELD BY COMPLETING THE FORM BELOW

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS APRIL 15, 2023

Organization: _______________________________________________________________________ Name of Field: ______________________________________________________________________ Address of Field: ____________________________________________________________________ User groups (numbers, ages, sports) _____________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ What do you want done to your field? ____________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ Why is the project needed? Safety issues? Field issues? _____________________________________ Whether a rough-and-tumble pro football field or high-use municipal fields, we know __________________________________________________________________________________ you need it green, pristine and resilient. Our experienced sales team can help you achieve green space youafter need with our extensive product availability, exceptional Who will do the the regular maintenance completion? _______________________________________ service, research-based solutions and data-driven insights. __________________________________________________________________________________ What is the window of time for renovation? ________________________________________________ What is the field's history? (age, maintenance, irrigation, uniqueness, etc.) _______________________ Contact info of person doing current maintenance: Field Maintenance Contact: ____________________________________________________________ CONTACT YOUR HERITAGE PPG REP TO AMVAC • Aquatrols • Bayer • BASF • BioSafe SEE HOW WE CAN DELIVER FOR YOU. CellPhone: ______________________________Email: _____________________________________ BioWorks • Civitas • Control Solutions • Corteva Nick Wilz Envu • FMC • Grigg • MGK • Nufarm • PBI Gordon MPSTMA Member Sponsor (not mandatory for submission) _________________________________ 612.719.7680 ProPeat • Redox • Sepro • Syngenta nick.wilz@heritageppg.com E-MAIL photos to: jeff.turtinen@mpsfma.org or mail to: Minnesota Park and Sports Field Management Association P. O. Box 617, Wayzata, MN 55391 ©

Call Mike McDonald CSFM at (612) 328-5812 with questions about this project.

THE MIDWEST'S PREMIER SUPPLIER OF EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR YOUR SPORTS FIELDS.

CONTACT YOUR BRANCH

REACH OUT TO A TEAM MEMBER TODAY! MICHAEL FRIEDERICHS

9300 75th Ave N Ste 200 Brooklyn Park, MN 55428 763.284.5020

JEFF LATTERELL CALEB LETOmichael.friederichs@hlsoutdoor.com jeff.latterell@hlsoutdoor.com caleb.leto@hlsoutdoor.com 612.791.4643 612.599.7397 JEFF LATERELL

2015 Silver Bell Rd Ste 110 Eagan, MN 55122 651.333.4425

NICK BALISTRIERI nick.balistrieri@hlsoutdoor.com CHAD REDMAN 651.279.5874 chad.redman@hlsoutdoor.com

jeff.laterell@hlsoutdoor.com

Become an HLS OUTDOOR customer! hlsoutdoor.com

MAGIC TURF, INC. Magic Turf is a professional, MN based sports field and natural turfgrass contractor. We install, strip, grade, refurbish, and maintain ballfield infields and all types of athletic field and high-use turfgrass for Cities, Schools, Colleges, Athletic Associations, and other professional and high-level Organizations. We partner with our valued clients to come up with the appropriate projects and programs for each situation individually. Our goal is to assist our clients in providing safe, functional, and professionally maintained fields and spaces for their athletes and all others utilizing these areas. Our experience and specialized equipment allow us to perform fine-grading, infield edging & detailing, 3D GPS grading, precise infield layouts and base installation, pitching mound construction & maintenance, unsafe infield lip removal, seeding, over-seeding, sodding, aeration, top dressing, fertilizing, spraying (turf health & infield weed control), soil corrections, customized turf health programs, and much more!

Jerrod Brunelle 612-900-5295 Jessi Brunelle 763-464-0880 Herb Koch Jr. 612-360-1880 Will DuCharme 612-600-0112 www.magicturf.com

jerrod@magicturf.com jessi@magicturf.com

MIDWEST MACHINERY CO. Midwest Machinery Co. strives to equip and support the agricultural, consumer, and commercial markets of Minnesota and Wisconsin. They are a dealership with a passion for assisting their customer base with products, knowledge, and support. Midwest Machinery progressively trains its employees and their customers on the leading technologies in our industry to deliver the highest value with integrity at the highest ability.

Doug Erickson 507-645-4886 www.mmcjd.com

derickson@mmcjd.com

MIDWEST GROUNDCOVER EXPRESS BLOWER SERVICE We use only the highest quality mulches, which are all natural virgin wood fibers. Our variety of mulches is ideal for playground surfacing, providing excellent shock absorption that offers a beautiful appearance, cost efficiency and easy installation.

Justin Crandall 763-274-9829 midwestgroundcover@gmail.com www.midwestgroundcover.com MINNESOTA EQUIPMENT Scharber & Sons distributes the following equipment brands: • John Deere • Echo • Dingo • Echo • Full Line of Worksite Professional Attachments • John Deere • Long • Stihl • Stihl Chain Saws • Toro • Toro Dingos • Woodman Chippers Eric Brunelle 612-590-0443 ericbrunelle@mnequip.com www.mnequipmentsolutions.com MTD PRODUCTS MTD Products is a leader in outdoor power equipment with award-winning products and powerful brands. MTD Products leads in the design and manufacture of outdoor power equipment.

Tim Stockhead 763-412-0886 tim.stockhead@mtdproducts.com www.mtdproducts.com

WINTER 2023-24

MSC (Minnesota Sodding Company) Established in 1993, MSC is a commercial sod and seed contractor, with an added focus on essential maintenance services. From large commercial installations, complete field replacements, repair and restoration work, MSC has extensive experience in all aspects of sports turf, including synthetic turf maintenance. Let our STMA Certified Sports Turf Managers on staff help you maximize your maintenance budget and make your facility safe, resilient and beautiful. The long list of both natural and synthetic turf services we provide, makes us a valued partner on premier professional, collegiate, K thru 12 and municipal facilities throughout the Midwest. Our state-of-the-art robotic field layout service is a “must see.” Machine controlled 3D grading is capable of bringing your ballfields to the next level. Visit us at www.mnsodco.com or give us a call and let’s see how we can improve your venue!

Ben Boeding, CSFM 612-272-9958 bboeding@mnsodco.com Roger Weinbrenner, CSFM 651-301-9004 rweinbrenner@mnsodco.com www.mnsodco.com MTI DISTRIBUTING, INC. MTI is the leading supplier of products and services to the green industries through a combination of exceptional products and superior service. We are in the business of providing landscape beautification solutions to golf courses, schools, municipalities, landscape contractors and independent dealers.

Bill Brookhart 763-592-5600 brookhart@mtidistributing.com Bob Frank 763-592-5727 bob.frank@mtidistributing.com Larry Gorman 763-592-5720 larry.gorman@mtidistributing.com www.mtidistributing.com OLSON POWER AND EQUIPMENT, INC. Olson Power & Equipment was established in 1948 by two brothers from North Branch and continues to grow as an independent, 4th generation family owned business. We sell only the highest quality products and provide our customers with the best service possible. We carry industry leading brands which include Kubota, Land Pride, Can-Am®, ECHO, Ferris®, Simplicity, Mercury, SkiDoo, Sea-Doo, Manitou Pontoons and more. We have an array of tractors, backhoes, excavators, tillers, grapples, track and wheel loaders, trailers, lawn mowers and more. Our selection of power sport vehicles includes ATV's, side by sides, snowmobiles, utility vehicles, personal water craft and pontoons. Stop in or call us the Olson Power & Equipment family can't wait to help you today!

Tyler Olson tolson@olsonpower.com www.olsonpower.com PETERSON COMPANIES, INC. Over the years, we have built a solid reputation as one of the Upper Midwest's premier park and turf contractors. We have this reputation because of our willingness to accept any challenge, our commitment to excellence in every aspect of our work and our foresight to seek out the latest technology to incorporate into our practices. From massive excavation projects to sophisticated, commercial irrigation systems, we have experts and resources to get the job done right.

Dan Slepica 651-368-0217 slepica@petersoncompanies.net www.petersoncompanies.net

MPSFMA NEWS 11

PIONEER ATHLETICS Pioneer Athletics is a developer and manufacturer of synthetic and natural grass field marking paint and striping equipment. Pioneer supplies high schools, universities and professional athletic organizations.

Tom O’Hern 612-518-1107 tohern@pioneerathletics.com www.pioneerathletics.com PLAISTED COMPANIES, INC. / PEAT INC. Plaisted Companies mining reserve is located in Elk River and offers the most complete line of sand and gravel products available in the Upper Midwest. We offer more than 200 unique and innovative products. And because we have our own fleet of tandems, triaxels, Super 7s, trucks and pups, and semi-end dumps we continue to strive to be the standard for responsive delivery options in the five-state area. From Mulch, Black Dirt, Boulders, Landscape Rock, Allan Block Retaining Wall Block, Keystone Retaining Wall Block and Borgert pavers, Plaisted Companies has everything from start to finish for your landscaping needs.

Steve Young 612-840-3087 www.plaistedcompanies.com

steve@plaistedcompanies.com

PRIME SOURCE Albaugh is the global leader in the production and sale of postpatent crop protection products and is uniquely positioned to service farmers, distributors and partners in all our markets with a broad portfolio of high quality, competitively priced products.

Cody Freeman 641-451-0098 www.albaughllc.com

PROFESSIONAL TURF AND RENOVATION Professional Turf & Renovation was the first company in Minnesota specializing in Athletic field turf maintenance, renovation, design consideration, and construction techniques for athletic fields. Over the years we have been members and supporters of the MPSFMA, MGCSA, MASMS and the MTGF, We strive to take a sincere and honest approach to your turf situations by considering your maintenance budget and intended use.

Andy Hopko

763-263-2152

jjhopko@izoom.net

PROFIELDS LLC Specializing in field renovation and restoring. We are dedicated to making fields athlete-friendly and safe.

Brian Deyak 320-247-8577 bdeyak2015@icloud.com RAINBIRD CORPORATION Rain Bird Corporation is a privately held company founded in 1933 during the agricultural boom in California. Since the beginning, Rain Bird has produced and offered the industry’s broadest range of irrigation products for farms, golf courses, sports arenas, commercial developments around the world.

Andy Gangl 651-356-5689 agangl@rainbird.com www.rainbird.com

cody.freeman@albaughllc.com

ECO WORKS SUPPLY Supp ppli lier er of Org rganic and Natural Pro rodu ducts to the Turf Indu dustry Also Supplying: w Ice Melt w Robotic Painters w Corona Virus Disinfectants & Cleaners

Member of the MTGF, MGCSA and MPSFMA

www.ecoworkssupply.com

w Granular Fertilizer w Liquid Fertilizer w Soil Amendments w Crew Clothing w Compost & Mulch w Grass Seed wTerraMax (Tazo B) Products w Turf Marking Paints w Synthetic Turf w Athletic Field Covers w Netting w Pitching Mounds w Batting Mats w Pitching Machines w Sports Accessories

Jim O’Neill (612) 710-1718

Doug Daniel (612) 868-9615

Geoff Jordan (218) 213-2390

Daron VanHelden (612) 201-0661

jim@ecoworkssupply.com

doug@ecoworkssupply.com

geoff@ecoworkssupply.com

daron@ecoworkssupply.com

12 MPSFMA NEWS

WINTER 2023-24

RAMY TURF PRODUCTS Ramy Turf specializes in turf, native grass/forbs, wildlife and forage seed. Ramy also mixes/blends to the specifications of MnDOT, BWSR, DNR, NRCS and other agencies as well as custom blending for specific site requirements or per customer guidelines. Additionally, Ramy offers high quality fertilizers, erosion control options, geotextiles, and more.

ROCK HARD LANDSCAPE SUPPLY Rock Hard Landscape Supply is your first choice for landscape supplies in the Twin Cities area. Conveniently located in Burnsville on Highway 13, we are easily accessed by either 35W or Hwy 169. Our ideal location and extensive delivery options serve the entire south metro and beyond. Providing superb customer service and deliver quality landscape products at reasonable prices.

Sam Bauer 612-205-4428 Joel Chambers 507-382-2225 www.ramyturf.com

Kim Gaida 952-895-7408 kgaida@rockhardmn.com www.rockhardlandscapesupply.com

sam@ramyturf.com joel@ramyturf.com

REINDERS, INC. Reinders is a 5th generation family-owned distributor of turf care products featuring competition-grade grass seed from DLF & Landmark, DuraEdge soils and amendments, EC Grow, The Andersons & NatureSafe fertilizers, and many chemical brands from manufacturers like PBI Gordon, Nufarm, Syngenta, Corteva, QualiPro, BASF, Envu and Albaugh. The Company also sells a complete line of winter products, spreaders, sprayers, landscape tools and irrigation products. Reinders leads with quality products designed for sports turf and general grounds use and supports their use with unwavering support, tailor-fit management programs and site visits via a network of 28 technical sales reps located at 12 locations in 11 states. Online ordering, account management, product info/labels and access to companywide inventory are available 24/7 at www.reinders.com.

Joe Churchill 612-790-7333 www.reinders.com

jchurchill@reinders.com

SAINT CROIX RECREATION COMPANY St. Croix represents BCI Burke Play Equipment, Pilot Rock, Coverworx Shelters, Most Dependable Fountains & Wabash Valley which are all on the state contract and are manufactured in the Midwest saving time in the purchasing process and money in freight. Best part of St. Croix Recreation is our customer service!

Chris Johnsen 651-430-1247 www.funplaygrounds.com

cj@stcroixrec.com

SavATree, LLC The green choice for tree and lawn care provides environmentally sensible services to municipal, residential, commercial, historic, and government properties throughout the metro area. We employ the most up-to-date technology, equipment, and training to ensure that our clients always receive the best possible service.

Our certified arborists and trained field specialists provide tree pruning, tree fertilization, disease and insect control, lawn care services, consulting/inventory services, holiday décor, and more.

Chris Muehleck Brock Eastlund Scott Anderson www.savatree.com

651-770-3744 612-916-5010 612-716-6596

Natural | Red | Dark Brown | Black | Gold Western Red Cedar | Playground Mulch

WINTER 2023-24

MPSFMA NEWS 13

SMSC Organics Recycling Facility/Dakota Prairie Composting Owned and operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) -the SMSC Organics Recycling Facility recycles organic waste into high-quality compost, compost blends, mulch, top dressing, and more. In operation since the fall of 2011, the facility is part of the SMSC’s Dakota tradition of caring for the earth.

Their new composting facility, Dakota Prairie Composting, will open in the fall of 2024.

Dustin Montey 952-233-9192 Dustin.Montey@shakopeedakota.org

Jenny Appenzeller 952-233-9189 Jenny.Appenzeller@shakopeedakota.org SiteOne LANDSCAPE SUPPLY SiteOne® Landscape Supply has all the seed, fertility, control and field maintenance products to take care of your playing fields all season long. Game-changing agronomic solutions maintain optimal performance and keep players safe. With expert advice, consultation and training, SiteOne can help improve your crew’s productivity and manage turf stress to prevent issues long-term.

Chet Vansloun 612-263-2279 CVansloun@siteone.com Mark Nelson 763-274-9956 MNelson2@siteone.com Jon Lloyd 612-581-7838 JLloyd@siteone.com Brandon Young 612-749-3172 byoung@siteone.com Ryan Popp 612-384-9889 rpopp2@siteone.com www.siteone.com/sportsturf SUPERIOR TECH PRODUCTS STP is an independent distributer providing state of the art Maintenance products to Natural & Synthetic turf professionals since 1995. We supply liquid & granular fertilizers, Pesticides, Aerification tines & bedknifes, natural and synthetic turf grooming equipment. Soil, Water, Tissue and Disease testing.

612-804-8247

rickg@stproots.com

THE TESSMAN COMPANY The Tessman Company is a wholesale distributor that has been serving the green Industry since 1950. We provide products for lawn care professionals, sports turf professionals, landscapers, golf courses, greenhouses and nurseries. We specialize in turf and greenhouse fertilizers and chemicals, grass seed, landscape supplies, grower soils and plastics and many other products. We also are a supplier of ice melting products.

Tom Thul 651-755-8394 Mike Zwisler 651-717-4484 www.tessmanseed.com

tthul@tessmanseed.com mzwisler@tessmanseed.com

THE TORO COMPANY The Toro Company is a leading worldwide provider of innovative solutions for the outdoor environment including turf, snow and ground engaging equipment, and irrigation and outdoor lighting solutions. Through constant innovation and caring relationships built on trust and integrity, Toro and its family of brands have built a legacy of excellence by helping customers care for golf courses, landscapes, sports fields, public green spaces, commercial and residential properties and agricultural fields.

Troy Carson 952-948-4223 Paula Sliefert 952-887-7107 Matt Anderson 520-279-2916 Boyd Montomery 952-412-2220 www.toro.com

14 MPSFMA NEWS

Perry Harrison 952-894-0894 www.tristatebobcat.com

perryh@tristatebobcat.com

TURFCO MANUFACTURING CO. As maintenance practices have changed and grown, so has our product line. Your topdressing program is likely tailored to your specific needs and conditions. Our expansive product line ensures that we have the right topdresser and material handler for your specific program.

Erin Skelly 952-233-9194 Erin.Skelly@shakopeedakota.org

Rick Gabler www.stproots.com

TRI-STATE BOBCAT In addition to Bobcat we feature the Toro, Stihl, Bandit , Avant, Fecon, Wacker Neuson, Kage, Green Climber, Apex, Virnig, BOMAG and RedMax lines of equipment. We also do construction, landscaping, grounds and property maintenance, agriculture, tree care, land clearing and erosion control.

troy.carson@toro.com paula.sliefert@toro.com matt.anderson@toro.com boyd.montgomery@toro.com

Greg Brodd 763-785-1000 www.turfco.com

gbrodd@turfco.com

TOWN & COUNTRY FENCE Our selection of high-quality fencing materials is unmatched in the Minneapolis St. Paul area. Our experienced Installation crews get the job done right and on time every time.

Mark Wassink ww.tcfence.com

612-968-4945

markw@tcfence.com

TURF TANK Turf Tank is the inventor of the world's first line marking robot for sports fields. From small sports clubs and high schools to major colleges and professional teams, the robot helps sports facilities all over the world save time and money painting their fields. Now we're revolutionizing line marking again with our latest robot, Turf Tank Two! Ethan Stratman 402-278-2048 Diana Durdeu 877-396-4094 www.turftank.com

ethan.stratman@turftank.com info@turftank.com

TURFWERKS Turfwerks is the place our clients turn to for all their golf course and turf care needs. From selling new and used equipment, as well as financing entire course fleets, we are able to fully service all of your needs as a one-stop shop. Sales, parts & service from one great company.

Nick Sherer 612-308-0102 www.turfwerks.com

nsherer@turfwerks.com

TWIN CITY SEED COMPANY Twin City Seed offers: House Mixtures; Nursery & Garden Center Mixtures; Turf Grasses; MN DOT ; Mixtures; WI DOT Mixtures; Golf Course and Sports Turf Mixtures; Forage Mixtures, and Native & Specialty Mixtures. Also offering: Organic Fertilizer; General Fertilizer; Water Soluble Fertilizer, and Seed Treatment.

Paul Kubista Andy Keating

952-944-7105 612-790-0561

pkubista@twincittyseed.com akeating@twincityseed.com

WATCH DOG GOOSE PATROL Watch Dog Goose Patrol is a company located in Roseville. We take pride in our products and stand behind their quality and effectiveness with a 30-day money back guarantee. Our dog decoys have been moving in the wind all over the United States and Canada keeping geese away.

Sarah Mueller 651-340-7512 contactus@watchdoggoosepatrol.com

WINTER 2023-24

If you’re looking to elevate the image and quality of a facility by offering the most efficient ball field maintenance program, then the Ventrac is the right tool for the job. Achieve unmatched field leveling, weed control and a perfect finish on the ballfield with Ventrac’s Ballpark Renovator and Groomer.

Call us today to learn how Ventrac's Ballpark Renovator and Groomer can help you achieve that perfect finish!

4830 Azelia Ave N Suite #100 Brooklyn Center, MN 55429 1-800-362-3665 www.mtidistributing.com

Community Service Project Offers Hands-On Learning Experience Renovating a Field MPSFMA views its Community Service Project as a great way for those newer to the industry can spend a morning doing hands-on work on a field with certified sports field managers along side to answer any questions. Make plans to attend this “hands-on” workshop in 2024!

The 2023 MPSFMA Community Service Project took place on October 4 at a Waconia Little League field (Playfield 1). The Community Service Project is a great way to learn best maintenance practices of a baseball field from local certified sports field managers!

Special thanks to Nick Balistrieri, Beacon Athletics and Luke Wittrock, University of Minnesota for organizing the event with help from Mike Friederichs, HLS Outdoor; Nick Wilz, Heritage; Joshua Gerth, CSFM, Bethel University, and Derek Hollanitsch, City of Saint Paul. Also thanks to Jim O’Neill and EcoWorks for bringing product.

Jerrod Brunelle, MagicTurf, also was very instrumental for this project as he and his crew arrived a day early to level the playing field and other cosmetic improvements. MSC arrived a day later to finalize the project. Make a point to volunteer in 2024!

Your Twin Cities Professional Turf Supply Destination

Grass Seed Fertilizers & Herbicides Fungicides

Insecticides Arborjet Erosion Control

Soil Amendments Ball Field Products Landscape Lighting

WHOLESALE & PROFESSIONAL TURF SUPPLY

gertenswholesale.com | P: 651-450-0277 | F: 651-450-9380 | E: wholesale@gertens.com Eagan Location 1980 Seneca Road Eagan, MN 55122

Loretto Location 6265 County Rd 19 Loretto, MN 55357

16 MPSFMA NEWS

Elk River Location 906 Hwy 10 Elk River, MN 55330

Inver Grove Heights Location 5500 Blaine Avenue Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076

Forest Lake Location 55 2nd St. Southwest Forest Lake, MN 55025

Stillwater Location 10010 60th St. North Stillwater, MN 55082

Maple Plain Location 5135 Oak St. Maple Plain, MN 55359

WINTER 2023-24

Northern Green Moves to St. Paul | Jan. 23-25, 2024 The challenges of the past few years have given everyone reason to pause, examine, and reassess. During the past several months, a collection of MNLA and MTGF board members and committee members have been meeting to discuss how to make our feature event, Northern Green, even more relevant to today’s green industry needs. After gathering feedback from members, exhibitors, and volunteers – we’re so excited to share that Northern Green will be transforming starting in January of 2024. Trade shows and events are evolving, and we are continuously striving to bring you the next best thing. The future is BRIGHT, and we’re excited for you to join us on this evolving adventure.

We heard loud and clear from members and exhibitors that there was a desire to move the show out of Minneapolis following the tragic events of recent years. While we have enjoyed nearly 20 years at the Minneapolis Convention Center, evolution and growth often demand change...and so we're pleased to launch a new chapter of the Northern Green story in St. Paul, and in addition, showcase a new and interactive Northern Green October event that will be held at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. We’ll be able to celebrate the season kick off and start to wrap up the year with a Northern Green experience on both ends!

Northern Green becomes a year-round hub for all commu-

nities of the green industry, with the education, networking, and tools you need to grow your business and career.

The indoor portion of the Northern Green will still take place January 23-25, 2024 with events at RiverCentre, Roy Wilkins Auditorium, as well as a variety of other event and restaurant locations close by in St. Paul. Finding your colleagues and making connections is at the center of the event’s design. So, we invite you to join us in the all-new Northern Green Villages – each community within the larger event will have education, product and service showcases, social events, and peer sharing designed specifically for the community’s needs. For example, are you a golf course superintendent who wants to connect with other superintendents? Are you a grounds manager who wants to meet with other grounds professionals? The goal is to provide an experience with tools and connections you can take back to your workplace to be even more effective.

A new flexible subscription registration model will make it easy to register. We hope you’ll plan to join us for the next chapter of the Northern Green story in St. Paul in January and October 2024!

Register today at www.northerngreen.org!

21!)(#$1%2'5,33+55555555-*440. 40 //4&4" 4

/,412+-KKKKK@7*(2>7KKKKK4>>,*4>0IFBEK+BI8=I?GGK@JJEK@B66AHJI F8K9HCCJGFD?

<JJK1?5CK@JJEK9H.DBIJKKKK @FEK/B?AHD3K 3JAAF5KD?=!K'JCDB;$3K<ABJ=I?GGK<AJCE )?DH"JK%I?GGK K&HAE8AF5JIK@JJEKKKK 7IFGHFCK>FCDIFAK0IFEB;DGKKK :JIDHAH JI >IJJ6HC=K<JCD=I?GGK@JJEKKKK :HCJK:JG;BJK@JJEKKKK >BGDF#K@JJEK9H.HC= 823=1.7'=29

%%%"5%41045+/22-"0') >C;D>AAD?<@C.6.B@@DCACDBB?: 18 MPSFMA NEWS

Paul Kubista: pkubista@twincityseed.com 3,!.$,&4/53 1-+.$23541( Andy Keating: akeating@twincityseed.com *,&4/53#5%41045+/22-"0') 3*23541(#5%41045+/22-"0') James Wolfin: jwolfin@twincityseed.com WINTER 2023-24

MANAGED TURF SOLUTIONS

ramyturf.com • 800-658-RAMY

It starts with the seed!

Since 1932, the Ramy family has provided the upper Midwest with some of the highest quality seed materials available anywhere and we always will. We are here as a partner, not just a supplier, because we know it’s your success that will allow our success.

Seed – Fertility – Chemistry – Erosion

MPSFMA Continues to Get Great Support From Vendors/Membership at Its Events MLB, NFL and College Speakers Bring in Record Numbers at Fall Workshop!

The MPSFMA Fall Workshop had a record 251 pre-register for the November 15 event at Brackett's Crossing Country Club in Lakeville. This workshop featured Minnesota Twins Turf Manager Larry DiVito; St. Paul Saints Turf Manager Marcus Campbell, and Minnesota State University's Turf Manager Bruce Leivermann. The presentation from the trio focused on the conversion of a baseball field to an ice rink from preparation to tear-down. Also speaking at the workshop was Jim Ruzicka, Main Line Consulting, who has worked in all phases of the irrigation industry: Construction, service, design and sales; Ruzicka talked about irrigation pitfalls with a sports field focus, the ups and downs of design and application, along with common failures. National Football League Hall of Famer and Minnesota Vikings walk-on John Randle keynoted the event. After lunch, a roundtable took place as success and shortcomings of current projects were shared by members.

City of Robbinsdale Group Wins MPSFMA Golf Tournament The 4th Annual MPSFMA Scramble took place on July 26 at Royal Golf Club in Lake Elmo. The shotgun start began at 9:00 am. with a cost is $80 per person, which included green fee, cart, range balls, lunch and a sleeve of MPSFMA logo golf balls.

The City of Robbinsdale, composed of Joe Ulrich, Andy Nauer, Matt Leonard and Ryan Parks who are pictured on the right. The foursome scrambled their way to an impressive 13-under par to win by three shots over a trio of other teams.

Robotic Painting Captures Interest at Demo Day Robotic painting demos from four companies captured the interest of many attendees at the 2023 MPSFMA Demo Day at Two Rivers High School (formerly Henry Sibley High School) in Mendota Heights held in mid-summer.

More than 120 MPSFMA members and co-workers attended this free, 4-hour event hosted by Two Rivers H.S. certified sports field manager Matt Grosjean, CSFM, former president of MPSFMA. Current MPSFMA president Derek Hollanitsch was on hand to say a few words on behalf of the association to attendees and participating sponsors.

The weather was cool and much better than the pouring rain just south of the Twin Cities. An outdoor lunch setting and barbecue was enjoyed by all.

Thank you to MTI Distributing Inc. and Pioneer Athletics for helping MPSFMA sponsor the great lunch.

Thanks to theses participating companies: Heritage PPG, MTI Distributing Inc., SiteOne Landscaping Supply, MSC, HLS Outdoor, Turf Tank, Minnesota Equipment, Eco Works Supply, Traqnology, Autmow, Tiny Mobile Robots and Pioneer Athletics.

20 MPSFMA NEWS

Voice of Madden, NFL & NHL To Keynote 2024 MPSFMA Spring Workshop on March 7 Kelly James Burnham known professionally as Alan Roach, is an American sports announcer and radio personality. He currently is the public address announcer for the Minnesota Vikings, Colorado Avalanche, and Colorado Rapids.

Roach is also the voice of NFL events worldwide, and a public address announcer at 5 Olympic Games.

He is one of the current voices of the underground train system in Denver International Airport. His announcing credits include 13 Super Bowls, 5 Olympic gold medal hockey games, and multiple All-Star games for the National Football League, National Hockey League, and Major League Baseball. He also serves as the announcer in EA Sports' since Madden NFL 21 (Super Bowl only since Madden NFL 23), as well as the FIFA series.

Roach began his radio career as a high school student in Slayton, Minnesota in 1982.

His early radio career included numerous radio stops including Fort Dodge, IA and Des Moines, IA, Garden City, KS, and Colorado Springs, CO. In 1991, he landed in Denver, CO as afternoon host on KRFX radio. In 2000, Roach began as morning sports anchor on 850 KOA radio in Denver. In addition to daily sports reports on the station, Roach also served as pre-game host, sideline reporter, and postgame interviewer for the Denver Broncos Radio Network, where KOA was the network's flagship station. He was dismissed from KOA in June 2015.

Roach's first sports announcing job was as the public address announcer for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox in 1990. He was asked to fill in for the regular PA announcer during a vacation; the former announcer never got his job back.

Since then, Roach has become one of the most heard sports event public address announcers in the world!

WINTER 2023-24

Midwest Groundcover express blower service now offering blown in natures plus tamarack engineered wood fiber.

blown in playground surfacing experts new playground installation • We offer removal of existing playground equipment, boarders and surfacing • installation of drainage sand & pea gravel • installation of drain tile & fabric barrier • blower truck installation of ipema certified engineered wood fiber, rubber mulch, sand & pea gravel playground surfacing

$250 OFF

top dressing services

only applies to new customers new playgrounds. $250 off full price. save up to 50% off playground company pricing.

engineered wood fiber, rubber mulch, sand & pea gravel.

We also offer top dressing

new playground wood fiber installation services. Including ipema certified discount for new installation playgrounds only. discount

contact us today for your free estimate

we provide free onsite safety surfacing consulting & assessments in the metro area.

Contact Justin - 763-274-9829 midwestgroundcover@gmail.com www.midwestgroundcover.net

Get to Know 2024 MPSFMA President TRENTON WATERS At the beginning, how did you come to understand all aspects of the industry? When I started the job, I felt like I had a great understanding of all aspects of the industry, because I have worked/interned in professional sports, Parks and Recreation and the golf course industry.

They all relate to each other in one way or another and my experience in all of them has been beneficial in where I am today.

What experiences in your career prepared you to take over leadership of the MPSFMA? I believe the experiences that have prepared me to take over leadership of the MPSFMA have been serving some time on the WSFMA board while I was working for the Brewers and the number of years, I have been around Minnesota working and getting to know many of the board members through my prior work experiences. It helps when you are familiar with the group and people I will be working with.

What are your current responsibilities at Target Field and/or with the Minnesota Twins? My current role with the Twins is Grounds Manager. I help manage seasonal staff throughout the year and make sure we are maintaining Target Field to professional standards. We are also responsible for all the events that take place between homestands, whether it be concerts, batting practices, golf, football, hockey...ect. In the Winter, we are in charge of plowing and melting snow.

How did you first become involved in sports turf management and how did you first become involved with MPSFMA? I first became involved in sports turf management with the Minnesota Vikings in 2010 when I interned at Winter Park. It was a wonderful experience and really started to open my eyes to the sports turf side of things being I had only worked in golf prior. When I was an intern for the Vikings, Grant Davisson brought me a long to a few MPSFMA functions and that is where I got to meet a handful of people involved in MPSFMA. In January of 2022 I was elected to the VP role for the MPSFMA. How has your career benefitted from being a member of MPSFMA? Being I have only been on the Board here for one year, it has already benefited my career through the people I have met. The more connections and peers you can attain will only pay off in the future.

22 MPSFMA NEWS

sports field management? I think some of the most important changes is all the different technology we have now to get the information we need or want. In just a short period of time, we have robots that mow and paint fields now.

If you watch old footage from NFL Films what memories are stirred up when you see some of the field situations from back in the day? Some memories of mine that come to light are highlights of the ice bowl and how hard that field must have been, any of the games that were played in large amounts of rain and players sliding all over the place and also some of the old original astro turf some of these stadiums had.

TRENTON WATERS Manager, Grounds / Target Field Minnesota Twins Baseball Club 2024 MPSFMA President What specific challenges do turf managers at the professional level face that differ from their peers in other management categories? Everyone has unique challenges wherever they are at any level, but some of the specific challenges we have here at Target Field are all the extra events on top of all the baseball games. Weather issues during games/events present a unique challenge as well.

What are your passions and interests outside of work? Some of my passions and interests outside of work are playing golf, spending as much time with family and friends as I can and just trying to relax and turn my brain off for a while. I like road trips when I can take them and now that I am a father making memories with my kids.

What are the biggest issues facing the MPSFMA today? I think some of the biggest issues facing MPSFMA today are finding young and passionate people who want to be involved in the turf management industry. So many young professionals I feel like are so motivated and excited to start a new role, but then start to get burned out because they are not aware of how much it takes to get the job done. Part of this is all the events that are being booked at certain venues with lack of staffing, budget and work life balance.

What are the most important changes you’ve seen in sports turf management over your time with

You know a lot of sports field managers. What are they saying are the biggest obstacles to overcome for them to be successful today?

I think the biggest obstacles to overcome are time management, work life balance and flexibility. With all the events and hours being consumed at bigger stadiums and even smaller venues we must figure out ways to manage our time effectively.

We must hire the right staff and be able to manage them effectively without burning them out. We must make it a fun environment to work in as well.

How has social media impacted your work? I have some social media accounts, but I don’t post much. I think it is a valuable tool if used correctly. I like to follow other field managers and see all the different approaches others use on their fields.

What’s your favorite on-field maintenance task that you still enjoy performing? My favorite on field task is seeding our wear areas with pre-germinated seed. I like to see the results after going through the process. I also enjoy off days where we can pound out some projects and it’s just us groundskeepers on the field.

How do you think the profession and industry will change in the next 10 years? It will be interesting to see how the use of technology and lack of staffing will impact the industry more in the next decade.

Who would be included at the table if you could dine with anyone, living or dead? If I could dine with anyone, it would probably be with: Prince, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Randy Moss.

WINTER 2023-24

Play is the Beginning Of something wonderful, vibrant and unique. It teaches us and challenges us to be better. It connects us – to ourselves, each other and to our communities. With play as the beginning, anything is possible.

Join Our Movement at funplaygrounds.com

Proud Representative of

© BCI Burke Company 2023

P. O. Box 617 Wayzata, MN 55391

Covers That Make the Difference MAS T R BRANDE ING

From our supreme lightweight raincovers right to the classic vinyl ones, there are cover models and accessories to meet your specific needs.

EVERGREEN™ turf covers outsmart mother nature. Exclusive color lace coatings provide proven results.

FOOTBALL FIELD COVERS are made of superior strength material, providing protection from rain or snow.

TARPMATE™ AIR roller is a revolutionary An INFLATABLE FIELD COVER allows storage and handling system for field for ongoing field maintenance during covers. 2-3 people can roll out or roll up a inclement and extreme cold weather.

100’ wide cover.

100 Westmore Dr., 11D, Rexdale, ON M9V 5C3 3909 Witmer Rd., Niagara Falls, NY 14305

1-800-387-5808 Tel: +1-416-745-1811 • Fax: +1-416-742-6837 www.covermaster.com • info@covermaster.com