MPSTMA NEWS - SPRING 2020

MPSTMA SPRING WORKSHOP SET FOR MARCH 11, 2020 MINNESOTA PARK & SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION

MPSTMA NEWS

VOLUME 10, NO. 1

SPRING 2020

Volunteers Needed at Legion Field in Buffalo for May 6 MPSTMA Community Service Project Rain or Shine

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MPSTMA SPRING WORKSHOP SET FOR MARCH 11 AT UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN/ST. PAUL

Minnesota Twins Head Groundskeeper Larry DiVito Offering "First 10 Years at Target Field" Presentation at Spring Workshop The MPSTMA Spring Workshop is set for Wed., March 11 at the University of Northwestern in St. Paul. Minnesota Twins head groundskeeper Larry DiVito will give a presentation about the "First 10 Years at Target Field." * * * * Tim VanLoo, CSFM, Grounds & Facilities Manager at Iowa State will be on hand to give a talk about "Mentoring the Next Generation of Turf Managers." * * * * Derek Hollanitsch and Marcus Campbell, City of St. Paul, have put together a presentation and video on winter setup of a hockey rink and slide at CHS Field in St. Paul. The presentation will also share experiences of lessons learned in 30 years of park work. Derek has been with the City of St. Paul since he was 15 years old and 30 years later, he never left.

This will be a great, relevant presentation for those working at municipalities. * * * * Michael Richard, Mississippi State University, will share his thoughts on how to teach coaches and field users about field maintenance. * * * * Dominic Petrella, a postdoctoral researcher at SPRING 2020

the University of Minnesota will speak on “Understanding and managing turfgrasses under shade.”

A Roundtable is planned for the afternoon with a focus on salt brines and pre-treating - what works and what doesn’t. For more information, or to register, go to: www.mpstma.org today!

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MPSTMA NEWS 3

Iowa State’s Tim VanLoo to Speak on Mentoring the Next Generation of Turf Managers at the Spring Workshop (Editor’s Note: This article was reprinted from 2017 with permission from STMA. Tim Van Loo, CSFM, a past president of STMA, currently is Manager of Athletic Turf & Grounds for Iowa State University in Ames.)

Meet Tim VanLoo, CSFM SportsTurf: Where did you grow up and what were your interests then?

Van Loo: I grew up in a small town in Michigan, Gregory, and I graduated from Fowlerville High School in 1997. My interests were mostly basketball and golf. School was simply a way to compete in sports!

SportsTurf: What things did you learn from your parents that still stick with you?

Van Loo: I am blessed with fantastic parents; I am who I am because of them.

My mom is a giver/care taker. She deeply loves people and wants to serve. I learned the value of Tim VanLoo Iowa State University volunteering your Athletic Turf and Grounds Manager time to things that are important to you. She continues to give time to their church and sacrifices many hours to volunteering on committees and leadership roles. My father taught me that hard work is a choice, not an ability. My father has been a farmer his whole life and he worked midnight shifts for 17 years on the weekends to help support our family. He also taught me how to manage people. He was always so patient, understanding, yet demanding when necessary. Those that worked for him always respected him.

My hope is that I have used the lessons from both my parents and will continue to apply it to all that I do in my life.

SportsTurf: How did you decide where to go to college and what your major would be?

Van Loo: When I first graduated high school I started working for a country club golf course. The superintendent was a Michigan State graduate, so that was a huge part of my decision. Also, having grown up in Michigan, Michigan State was the agriculture SPRING 2020

school, so where else would I have gone?

SportsTurf: You’ve been working in turf management for awhile, are there any changes you’d like to see in how the major is taught at the collegiate level?

Van Loo: I think the biggest thing that allows students to be successful is the experiences they have be“It’s a must to work in this industry while in school to make sure you have a passion for it.

Without a passion, one won’t last.”

- Tim VanLoo, CSFM fore they graduate and enter the turf industry.

Sometimes I think the image of this business is more appealing than the actual grind it can be on some days.

It’s a must to work in this industry while in school to make sure you have a passion for it. Without a passion, one won’t last.

After that, I think combining the school knowledge with the real world is the biggest struggle for recent graduates. The weather and schedules on athletic fields doesn’t always allow you to do what is best for the field. You will have to be able to compromise some book knowledge and make it work with what you have learned from being forced to do things on a different schedule or with challenging weather. Sometimes, you have to fake it until you make it!

SportsTurf: What was your first job out of college, and what were the most memorable things you learned from that job?

Van Loo: Northwestern University was my first job out of college. I was finishing up my Master’s degree from Michigan State and thought I was ready to take on the world managing athletic fields. I learned so much at Northwestern, and am still grateful for my three seasons there.

First, it’s where I learned to work with coaches, staff, and co-workers. It allowed me to apply some of the things I had learned from Amy Fouty, CSFM, while working for her at [Michigan State’s] Spartan Stadium. Second, it allowed me to figure out “my style” of growing grass. While in graduate school I did many different research projects while also working at Spartan Stadium. I have tried to marry the two worlds in how I manage the fields that I am responsible for.

SportsTurf: What other jobs did you have before your current position and what did you take away from them?

(Continued on Page 7) MPSTMA NEWS 5

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Tim VanLoo (Continued from Page 5)

Van Loo: In the time after high school and before I left Michigan State I had managed to work on a golf course in some capacity for a total of 10 seasons, Spartan Stadium for three seasons, Hancock Turf Research Center [at MSU] for 7 years, and help install the Olympic soccer pitch for the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. I had an unbelievable experience at Michigan State and tried to be a sponge during the ride. The research allowed me to not fear “killing grass”; if you kill it enough, you know how to bring it back. Establishing turf after you killed it allows you to not fear damaging the turf. It allows you to freely manage knowing you can always get it back!

SportsTurf: Describe relationships you’ve had with mentors.

Van Loo: I will only comment on a few of them, but there have been so many people that have molded me in who I am today. Dr. Trey Rogers was my major professor at Michigan State. I got to know him on a much more personal level than most students; I helped him coach his daughters basketball team, for example.

Through many conversations with Dr. Rogers I learned how to think big picture. Seeing situations from 10,000 feet has helped me to step away from the immediate issue and see the big picture.

Dr. James Crum was another one of my professors at Michigan State. We had a lot of discussions about passions outside of work. The way he approached work, family, and his passions was life changing and impactful. Amy Fouty was always a boss first, but also was always a friend when you needed one. Her approach to dealing with coaches, administrators, and co-workers while still creating world-class playing surfaces is something I have always tried to imitate.

Mike Andresen, CSFM, is not only my current supervisor, but also a man that I go to often for many things. The way he thinks through everything in life has taught me much. Many times what he says is so far from what I was thinking I am surprised and in awe of the wisdom he has to offer.

SportsTurf: What’s your philosophy on hiring and training in your current position?

Van Loo: My current staff is all students. I try and find students that I think have the passion to be field managers someday. I try to also find students that aren’t afraid to work.

The training aspect is something I am still figuring out. The students have such a difference in experience when they get here, I have to almost start at different points with each student. A lot of the time I let the more experienced students train the new students. My goal with all my students is that they are prepared to SPRING 2020

be a turf manager when they leave here. I try and put all of them in a position to lead before they leave. It’s the only way they learn how to lead in their own way, making mistakes while they are here. Allowing mistakes to happen is important in learning how to do it right the next time. I also don’t hide anything; if they have a question I try and answer it. I try and also learn from them, this might be the most difficult thing for me. Accepting new and better ways to do something that we have been doing for years a different way, sometimes the “old dog” doesn’t want to change.

SportsTurf: What are your current job responsibilities and how do you approach both on-the-field issues as well as off-the-field ones?

Van Loo: My current responsibilities are Jack Trice Stadium, three and a half practice grass football fields, softball, practice soccer, track and field throws areas, cross-country course, indoor and outdoor artificial fields, athletic facility landscaping, and grass parking lots. In total it’s about 55 acres. We also assist with indoor and outdoor track set-up and other miscellaneous events. We also seem to be the muscle of the department, so we tend to move offices, equipment, or simply move things that others can’t.

(Continued on Page 10)

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MPSTMA NEWS 7

Tim VanLoo (Continued from Page 9)

On field issues are solely on the crew and me. We have great coaches that are very understanding of what we do. We try and work with all the teams to make sure they have what they “need” with every attempt to get them what they “want”! We are in the service business; the fields aren’t mine, they belong to the teams.

They use the fields whenever they want, it’s their call; I only say something if I am asked. As long as the field is safe it’s a green light to use.

Off-field issues in our business usually are with personnel. Fortunately for me, I don’t have a ton of them.

Usually a face-to-face conversation is all that is needed.

SportsTurf: What qualities do you think a sports turf manager must possess today to be successful?

Van Loo: The ability to communicate clearly. Again, we are in the service business, understanding clients is a necessity, and that takes communication. They also need the ability to adapt on the fly; a plan is good, but if that falls apart you need to be able to adapt and pro-

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ceed. Most importantly, stay positive about the service you provide. When the days get long and the job seems thankless, you have to keep positive and stay the course. Find the pride in a job well done, even when you’re exhausted and stressed.

SportsTurf: How do you think the profession will change in the coming decade?

Van Loo: We continue to raise the bar on athletic field maintenance. Some of the facilities and fields I see are truly unbelievable. I think the move toward artificial will slow as people see the benefits of wellmaintained natural grass. As well-maintained grass is the answer, there will be a greater need for sports turf managers.

SportsTurf: When and why did you join STMA? Van Loo: I was a student member, but really didn’t get involved until I became a sports turf manager. I was fresh out of school, and needed help from my peers. Sports turf managers generally don’t keep secrets, which allows us all to learn from those that have been successful. The STMA is full of people that want all fields to perform at the highest level. Being a part of STMA allows you to learn from the best, and take those practices to make your fields perform at a higher level.

SportsTurf: In your experience, what are the benefits of being an STMA member?

Van Loo: Access to the best sports turf managers and sports turf researchers to better prepare safe sports fields. If it is watching presentations or reading this magazine, learning from the experts is easy to do when you are a member of the STMA. SportsTurf: What are most important issues facing STMA members today? And how do you think the Board can best address those issues?

Van Loo: As our fields increase in quality we are being asked to do more and more on the fields. With outside events and extra play sports turf managers are being asked to do a lot more than in years past. Continuing to train our members in how to “unplug” when they can I think is being addressed with many of the professional development courses held at Conference every year. The increased awareness on safety will ultimately change how our job is viewed. Being ahead of these protocols and training our members on how to use the tools properly is also very important as we continue to make fields safe for the athletes that use them. The Board continues to try and spread awareness and importance of our profession. Jumping into social media is another way to spread our message and this will continue.

SPRING 2020

Spring Workshop Roundtable Will Focus on Salt Brines And Pre-Treating - Member Participation is Encouraged!

The MPSTMA Spring Workshop Committee is in search of facilities to share their experiences with Salt Brines and Pretreating of sidewalks, trails and parking lots. Either send in the information or bring a few pictures/powerpoint slides to present at the Spring Workshop. We have included some questions as a guide.

Which products do people use? (Anyone try beat juice or molasses based products?); Do you make your own or buy pre-mixed products?; What factors do you use to determine when to apply? (i.e. temperature, amount of snow forecasted); When do you apply? (day before, two days...); What equipment do you use?, and How have the results been?

Some roads in South Dakota (and Minnesota) have switched to a vegan diet, of sorts, for the remainder of the winter. The South Dakota DOT will be test-driving a new de-icing material that’s made from beets. It’s part of the ever-changing chemistry of how crews treat roads when the weather turns bad.

“It’s fairly cheap to make and it’s very, very effective,” DOT lead highway maintenance worker Curt Theisen said.

This bubbling sodium chloride cauldron supplies DOT trucks with the salt brine they spray onto icy roads ahead of winter storms.

“You dump rock salt in there and you add water and it dilutes the salt down and it comes out salt brine,” Theisen said.

DOT workers can make more than 3,000 gallons of this salt brine an hour, 24-hours a day. Last winter, they produced nearly a million gallons of it.

“As soon as we’re done with a snowstorm, if we use a bunch of brine, we put a guy back here, day and night making brine until we can get us supplied back up, our outlying shops supplied back up,” Theisen said.

Wet-salt is a proven method for de-icing roads, with a better track record than dry salt, which can bounce off the pavement after its applied.

“Primary, it’s used for pre-wetting the salt that’s coming out of the trucks, and that’s something we didn’t do 10-years ago, but it’s thoroughly researched and talking with other states, there’s a lot of benefit in doing that,” DOT Region Engineer Travis Dressen said.

The water also activates the salt so it’s ready to melt the ice as it hits the ground running.

“So as soon as our salt hits the road, it’s already in the melting process and it just speeds it up faster meltSPRING 2020

ing off the roads,” Theisen said.

DOT engineers are seeking new ways to improve treating highways while offsetting the rising cost of road salt. So a low-sodium diet is beneficial to all.

The DOT has tanks ready to be filled with a product called BEET HEET, which uses the sugar from beets to create a harder and stickier snowmelt.

“And what sugar does is it reduces that freezing point, it lowers that so it doesn’t freeze quite as quick.

It’s a stickier product so it tends to adhere to the salt a little bit better residual effect, so when the winter conditions are done, we still get some benefit from that material being able to stick to the road,” Dressen said.

Dressen says BEET HEET has shown promising results in Minnesota. * * * * (Editor’s Note: Please send any questions, photos or information about the Roundtable to: rweinbrenner@mnsodco.com.)

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MPSTMA NEWS 11

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MPSTMA Community Service Project Set May 6 at Legion Field in Buffalo The MPSTMA will renovate Legion Field in Buffalo on May 6. The field is located at the intersection of County Hwy. 34 & and County Road 134. Volunteers and supplies are needed to complete all the work that is planned by the end of the day. This is a great opportunity to learn how to do various renovations on a baseball field from some of the most experienced ports turf managers around. Contact the MPSTMA office if you’d like to participate. The following projects are planned: Home Plate Circle Renovation; Pitcher Mound Renovation; Arc Restoration/3rd Base Overrun Repair, and Ag-lime Restoration.

Home Plate Circle: + Plate to be raised 2 inches + Clay added and graded + Front of circle: cut out, graded, sodded Pitcher Mound: + Mound returned to 18 ft. diameter + Mound rebuilt to specs with clay Arc Restoration/3rd Base Overrun: + Arc restored to 92”

Paul Griffin, Park and Forestry Manager for the City of Woodbury, has helped at many Community Service Projects throughout the years.

+ Lip from 2nd to 3rd removed and restored + Overrun at 3rd restored to match 1st Base Ag-lime: + Fill Base paths + Grade Infield

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MPSTMA NEWS 13

STILL FRIENDS AFTER ALL THESE YEARS: Three past president’s of Minnesota Sports Turf Managers Assocaition which later merged with the Minnesota Park Supervisors Association in 2010 to form the Minnesota Park and Sports Turf Managers Association. Pictured from the left are: Tom Rudberg CSFM, Minnesota Sodding Company, who was the original and 5-time president of MSTMA, Connie Rudolph CSFM, City of St. Paul,, president of MSTMA in 1999, and Mike McDonald CSFM, TCF Bank Stadium, another 5-time president of MSTMA. On Friday, April 24, a retirement party will be held for Rudberg, McDonald and Kevin Manley at Station 280 in Minneapolis from 3-6pm. All members are invited.

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MPSTMA NEWS 15

MPSTMA Golf Tournament Set for Thursday, July 16 At ‘Annika & Arnie’s’ Royal Golf Club in Lake Elmo

The MPSTMA will play host to this year’s Chapter Clash Golf Tournament at Royal Golf Club in Lake Elmo on Thurs., July 16. Tee times begin at 11 am.

The cost for the event is $59 which includes a cart and lunch. All MPSTMA members are invited to play. The format is a stress-free, 2-person Scramble. Pairings will be made as equitable as possible.

Wisconsin and Iowa Chapters of STMA are invited to send teams to Lake Elmo. In case you haven’t heard of this course, it was formerly 3M Corporation’s Tartan Park until Annika Sorenstam and, the late, great

Arnold Palmer were brought in to redesign the course. Annika designed nine holes as did Arnie. It is a fun course to play. Registration is available on-line. At this time, we have room for 40 golfers. Please register or notify the MPSTMA when you know you are going to play so more tee times can be reserved, if needed.

SPONSORS: Due to a little higher than normal Green Fee than we are used to for this event, the MPSTMA is looking for lunch/tee sponsors. If you would like to sponsor a tee / lunch, contact the MPSTMA office or go to the Events tab at www.mpstma.org.

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Paul Miskimen Elected MPSTMA President At January Annual Meeting in Minneapolis Paul Miskimen, City of Burnsville, is the new President of the Minnesota Park and Sports Turf Managers Association for 2020. Miskimen takes over for Josh Gerth, CSFM, Bethel University, who moves into the Past President position on the Board. Miskimen accepted the role at this year's MPSTMA Annual Meeting on January 16th at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Others elected to the Board: Reid Johnson, CSFM, St. Paul Academy and Summit School, is the new Vice President.

The elected General Membership Representative is Derek Hollanitsch, City of St. Paul; Paul Kubista, Twin City Seed Company is now a Commercial Member Representative; Sam Bauer, BauerTurf LLC, is a MTGF Representative.

Other members staying on the Board are: Mark Kruse, CSFM, City of Lakeville, General Member Representative; Tom Thul, The Tessman Company, Commercial Member Representative, and Paul Griffin, City of Woodbury, MTGF Representative.

Roger Weinbrenner, CSFM, Minnesota Sodding Company (MSC), remains Treasurer.

Out-going Board Members include: Past President Matt Grosjean, CSFM, ISD #179; Commercial Member Representative Larry Gorman, MTI Distributing Inc., and MTGF Representative Joe Churchill, Reinders Inc. Reid Johnson, CSFM, moves from General Member Representative to Vice President.

All members, if interested, are encouraged to seek a position on the Board of Directors. Board Meetings are set for the first Wednesday of each month and any member can attend, just notify the MPSTMA office beforehand.

SPRING 2020

MPSTMA OFFICERS PRESIDENT PAUL MISKIMEN City of Burnsville VICE PRESIDENT REID JOHNSON, CSFM St. Paul Academy & Summit School TREASURER ROGER WEINBRENNER, CSFM Minnesota Sodding Company PAST PRESIDENT JOSH GERTH, CSFM Bethel University EXECUTIVE SECRETARY JEFF TURTINEN Minnesota Park and Sports Turf Managers Association DIRECTORS GENERAL MEMBERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE MARK KRUSE, CSFM City of Lakeville GENERAL MEMBERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE DEREK HOLLANITSCH City of St. Paul COMMERCIAL MEMBERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE TOM THUL The Tessman Company COMMERCIAL MEMBER REPRESENTATIVE PAUL KUBISTA Twin City Seed Company MTGF REPRESENTATIVE PAUL GRIFFIN City of Woodbury MTGF REPRESENTATIVE SAM BAUER Bauer Turf

MPSTMA NEWS 17

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Upcoming Events Wed., March 11 MPSTMA Spring Workshop University of Northwestern St. Paul, MN Hours: 7-2 pm Fri., April 24 Retirement Party For: Kevin Manley, Mike McDonald CSFM and Tom Rudberg CSFM Venue: Station 280/Minneapolis All are welcome to attend Hours: 3-6 pm Wed., May 6 Community Service Project City of Buffalo Baseball Field All are encouraged to participate any hours you can.

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18 MPSTMA NEWS

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Thursday, July 16 MPSTMA GOLF Royal Golf Club Lake Elmo, MN Hours: 11-5 pm Thursday, August 13 MTGF / UM Field Day TROE Center & UFORE Nursery St. Paul, MN Hours: 8-2 pm Wed., November 18 MPSTMA Fall Workshop Brackett's Crossing CC Lakeville, MN Hours: 7-2 pm

SPRING 2020

ELECTED TO THE 2020 MPSTMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS, pictured from the left, Sam Bauer, BauerTurf, MTGF Representative; Derek Hollanitsch, City of St. Paul, General Member Representative; Paul Kubista, Twin City Seed Company, Commercial Representative, and continuing on the Board by being elected Vice President is Reid Johnson, CSFM, St. Paul Academy and Summit School.

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MPSTMA NEWS 19

GPS ATHLETE PERFORMANCE TRACKING DEVICES FOR SPORTS FIELD MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH

By Chase Straw, Ph.D., Francesca Principe, Diane Wiese-Bjornstal, Ph.D., and Brian Horgan, Ph.D. (Editor’s Note: This article was reprinted with permission from Chase Straw, Ph.D., and the Sports Turf Managers Association.)

(Continued on Page 21

20 MPSTMA NEWS

SPRING 2020

SPRING 2020

MPSTMA NEWS 21

Make 2020 Your ‘Field of the Year’ Year!

The Turfco / MPSTMA Field of the Year award is presented annually. Applications can be found at www.mpstma.org. The 2020 deadline is October 15.

The application must include the following: Minimum of five (5) and maximum of fifteen (15) color photos of field and maintenance procedures, a brief description of the field, and an entry form.

General Questions and Criteria + Located in the state of Minnesota. + Resourcefulness of staff + Budget, maintenance practices + Condition and aesthetics of the athletic field. + Number and type of games and/or events. + Age of field (in years) + Type of field (Baseball, Football, etc.) + Natural grass or Synthetic Turf? + Size of field (in acres) + Overall acreage + Annual maintenance budget for the field

22 MPSTMA NEWS

+ Number of staff employed to maintain field + What type of irrigation? + Does your field have sports lighting? + Type of equipment used to maintain your field + Type of maintenance program? + How many days of the year is your field used? + Number of games played on your field? + What type of events are held on your field? + Maintenance challenges have you encountered? + Why do you feel your field is one of the best?

Send completed entries and photos to: MPSTMA P.O. Box 617 Wayzata, MN 55391 (Editor’s Note: Application and photos can be emailed to the MPSTMA office. Applications can be found at www.mpstma.org. Previous winners may reapply with current photos and new)

SPRING 2020