Texas Sports Turf Managers Association txstma.org

Providing education and training for safer and healthier sports turf facilities

Fall 2017

TXSTMA members are still in prayers and thoughts for the greater Houston and Gulf Coast areas after the devastation of Hurricane Harvey. We spend so much of our days and nights thinking and worrying about our turfgrass facilities. Unfortunately, we have disasters like Hurricane Harvey that force us to take a step back and really put things in perspective.

TXSTMA President Kevin Lebanik Klebanik@harrells.com

So many of our members, and our friends, were personally affected by this deadly storm. I know we have the best turfgrass managers in Texas, better than any other state. I also know we have the best people in Texas. When disasters hit, Texans step up and step in to help each other. It is so amazing to see how people truly love each other in the face of adversity.

I ask that you set a reminder on your phone for 2 months from now to reach out to anyone and everyone you know affected by this devastating storm. Genuinely ask - how can I help? Hope that they aren’t too proud to let you know and that you are humble enough to be willing to help. So many of our peers are proud and won’t ask for help. Look for opportunities to take something off their plates. We have the National STMA show in Ft. Worth this year. Maybe help is as simple as sponsoring a registration for an effected turfgrass manager. We had amazing members offer equipment & time to help others professionally. GLK Turf Solutions has been moving an Air2G2 machine around to help get turfgrass facilities drained and back up to par for free. This is just one example of so many. I hope that we as Texans can continue to come together and support each other. A natural disaster may be the catalyst this time but we need to continue that feeling of helping all year, every year. “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill

2017 Sponsorship Program FIRST, we want to say a great big THANK YOU to our generous and wonderful sponsors who made 2016 terrific and helped have a great first half of 2017. Thanks to their generosity and support, we were able to host Field Days throughout the state and provide first class education, product and equipment demonstrations, yummy meals and refreshments, and outstanding networking opportunities. We couldn't do it without you, and we can not do it without you in 2017! Click the logo to the left to learn more about the 2017 Sponorship Program. You can also contact Chapter Executive Carol Cloud or any board member for more information.

TBD

R1 Fall Field Day

Oct 30

R2 Fall Field Day FC San Antonio

TBD

R3 Fall Field Day

Texas Turfgrass Conference & Show December 5-7, 2017 Arlington Convention Center

Thank you to our 2017 Star Sponsors. Your generous support is greatly appreciated.

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Still plenty of time to have your company right here with our other great sponsors!

Contact the TXSTMA office for details! Barenbrug USA Hunter Industries Covermaster

#DayInTheLife The STMA recently started a great new program where a STMA member “takes over� the @fieldexperts Twitter account for a day and gives an inside look in to a #dayinthelife of the member. It is a really cool feature and our own Nick McKenna CSFM, Assistant Athletic Field Manager at Texas A&M University provided an inside look in to one of his very busy days in September. Nick did a great job of recognizing his staff and Athletic Field Manager Craig Potts CSFM. Great job Nick! We enjoyed seeing all of your tweets and an inside look in to your very busy day.

Howdy sportsturf community! This is Nick McKenna, CSFM & STMA Higher Education Director. Welcome to my #DayInTheLife @TAMU & @12thMan

This is pretty much how I start everyday with my coffee (aka Diet Man Dew) & checking the weather. Both can have an effect on how my day goes

Most days for me begin at Blue Bell Park. We have a lot going on @12thMan, so hope to highlight all of our fields today. #Sportsturf

Yesterday was a busy one for @aggiefieldstaff. Checking on the newly laid Latitude 36 bermudagrass for our new softball stadium.

The leader of @aggiefieldstaff, @ag90turfgrass. Craig & I are in constant communication to keep our crew organized & efficient.

Some minor adjustments happening on the irrigation system & then we'll get to begin fine tuning the new field for @AggieSoftball.

This was another project from yesterday for @aggiefieldstaff. Sprigged our new throwing area for @aggietrk. #Sportsturf

Our newest full time staff member, Amanda Folck painting the SEC logos for the @AggieSoccer match tomorrow night. #Sportsturf

The majority of our crew are student workers like @txaggie19. We couldn't accomplish what we do without them! #TheFuture

Repairing clay areas is back to part of our daily routine, especially since @AggieBaseball has begun official fall practice. #DayInTheLife

Thursday is our normal painting day on game weeks but due to construction projects and staffing issues we got a head start.

Craig Potts (@ag90turfgrass) So the crew decided I should putting a second coat of do more than just tweet towhite paint on the end zone day so I had to get in on the logos. #Sportsturf #Daypainting action. That's me, InTheLife @aggiefieldguy on the gun.

Next up on the painting schedule at Kyle Field is the numbers. #sportsturf #DayInTheLife @aggiefieldstaff @12thMan @AggieFootball

Back at baseball. Time to spend a nice relaxing hour or so on one of my favorite pieces of equipment. #Sportsturf #DayInTheLife

Mowing is completed. Time to get back to work on preparing the infield skin for this afternoon's practice & scrimmage. #DayInTheLife

Time for quick afternoon weather update before starting to water the infield dirt. Weather has such a huge influence on our jobs as SFM's.

Time for one last coat of water on the dirt before the players come out for early work on the field today.#Sportsturf #DayInTheLife

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Due to the construction of our track stadium, we lost the site of our grass nursery. This is our improvised nursery on the sidewalk at Olsen.

1 of the things often overlooked in field maint. is the care of your equip. If you take care of it, it will take care of you! #DayInTheLife

Rain starting to pop up all around us. This is one of the reasons we modified our painting schedule. Could make for an interesting afternoon.

Quick trip back to the new softball field. Irrigation tune up is being finished. New sod has been rolled and is being watered. #DayInTheLife

Worked in one more drag on the infield dirt before @AggieBaseball started their 2nd scrimmage of the fall. #Sportsturf #DayInTheLife

Looks like Mother Nature had other plans for the baseball team today. Built right on top of us & dropped 0.25" in 15 minutes.

We made a valiant attempt to get a head start on fixing this for tomorrow but mother nature is persisting.

My day usually ends where it began. Looking at weather & making a plan for tomorrow. Final Diet Dew count: 5 #OneOfThoseDays

No day is complete until I make it home to these 3! Couldn't do what I do without support from @hkasperbauer #DayInTheLife of @aggiefieldguy

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Are You Connected with TXSTMA? Click

We hope you are enjoying all of the new communication vehicles we are using to reach our members! Please make sure your email address is current so you don’t miss out.

Let us know at txstmainfo@yahoo.com You can also “Like” us on Facebook and “Follow” us on Twitter!

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@TXSTMA

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Balancing Innovation and Sound Agronomics

Call Today to See The Equipment Sports Turf Professionals Trust Jeff Kadlec (210) 413-3045

Rick Kadlec (314) 744-0379

Sales, Contract Service, and Rental Options Available

Click to Register

Texas Turfgrass Conference & Show December 5-7,2017 Information and Registration — Click here The TXSTMA Annual Meeting will be held on December 6 at this conference. Details and RSVP to be available at txstma.org Arlington Convention Center & Sheraton Arlington Hotel

Did you see? Check out this great Papa Johns commercial featuring Chris Hathaway of the Denver Broncos. It is a terrific tribute to the work that Chris and his staff do to make Mile High Stadium awesome!

Click on the photo above to watch!

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Save the Date - October 30 Region 2 Field Day - Toyota Field San Antonio Details and RSVP Coming Soon at TXSTMA.org

The 2018 STMA Conference and Exhibition will be taking place January 16-19 in Fort Worth, Texas. Home to Cowboys & Culture, Fort Worth has seven different entertainment districts to explore. Learn more about the city here. REGISTRATION OPENS OCT. 1, 2017. Click here to the 2018 Digital Conference Brochure What's New: New to STMA's Annual Conference: Topgolf! Replacing the traditional-style Golf Tournament, the SAFE Foundation is happy to welcome attendees to sign up for their Topgolf Event. Sign up with your registration in October!

We had a great turnout and event at the City of Canyon in September. It was the second year for the chapter to conduct a dedicated field day in West Texas and we appreciate the participation and enthusiasm of our new members in that region. Thank you to our host Brian Noel with the City of Canyon and to TXSTMA Board Member Greg Carroll for organizing and promoting the event. Our speakers for the education portion was the dynamic duo of Dr. Joey Young of Texas Tech University and Vikram Biliga who is the Texas AgriLife Extension Agent in Lubbock. Their primary topic was cultivation practices of turfgrass but they covered lots of great information for the managers in attendance. Thanks West Texas! We look forward o returning in 2018!

County Extension Agent Vikram Biliga spoke on cultivation practices on turfgrass.

TXSTMA President Kevin Lebanik welcomed attendees to the 2nd Annual West Texas Field Day.

Dr. Joey Young of Texas Tech University is a regular contributor and great friend of the TXSTMA!

Keynote at the STMA Conference Fort Worth, January 16 - 19, 2018 Mark Johnson coached baseball at the college level for 41 years, 23 of those at Texas A&M University. During that time, he coached two USA baseball teams, was named Coach of the Year by the U.S. Olympic Committee, named to six Halls of Fame, was the “Sporting News” Coach of the Year, and was named an SEC “Conference Legend.” Mark played baseball at the University of New Mexico, where he received his undergraduate and graduate degrees. He then went on to play in the New York Mets minor league system. He also received the “Lefty Gomez Award” and “Ethics in Coaching in Award” from American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), as well as the national Fellowship of Christian Athletes “Character in Coaching.” He has coauthored three books published by the ABCA.

Mark will be presenting “Everyone Counts – They Bring Energy, Enthusiasm, and Energy.” He has spent years speaking throughout the country as well as overseas. He will bring high energy and exhibit 41 years of coaching motivation. He will visit humorous topics concerning the “In’s and Outs of Baseball” and the honored tradition of baseball “signs.” Mark will inspirationally touch on subjects of adversity, pressure, vision, and risking to achieve. In the end, he will ask you to get off the sidelines and “let your light shine.”

STMA & SAFE Partner Again with Project Evergreen & Exmark Project EverGreen, in partnership with Exmark Manufacturing, STMA and SAFE has launched its second annual "Our Winning Green Space" contest. The contest runs from Oct. 1 through Dec. 15. Municipal parks and recreation departments, public works departments and non-profit agencies can enter the contest to have a chance at winning a top-of-the-line Exmark commercial mower package including Lazer Z X-Series zero-turn and Commercial 30 walk -behind mowers – valued at approximately $15,000 – as well as a "Healthy Turf. Healthy Kids."™ renovation project for their city. The online submission process requires an essay and photos explaining why their city deserves the new equipment and renovated playing field, and how it will assist them in maintaining a healthier, safer area for kids to play. Submissions can be made on the Project EverGreen website at http://bit.ly/2wOY4DF from October 1 through December 15, 2017, and the winner will be announced in January 2018. Last year's winner was In Memory of Community Garden and the Warrendale Community Organization in Detroit, Mich. These two non-profit organizations, headed by Joe and Barb Matney, work with the City of Detroit to transform vacant city lots into community gardens and "pocket parks." Launched in 2015, "Healthy Turf. Healthy Kids." has completed renovation projects covering more than 1.6 million sq. ft. of recreational and athletic green space, generating more than $1 million in in-kind donations. For more information and complete contest rules, visit www.ProjectEverGreen.org.

Toro announces 2018 Super Bowl Sports Turf Training Program The Toro Company is pleased to announce the 16th annual Toro Super Bowl* Sports Turf Training Program. In January 2018, one lucky turfgrass science student will travel to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to help the grounds crew prepare the field for the biggest game in football. With an extensive history of supporting student scholarships and educational activities, Toro and the National Football League * are proud to offer this unique learning experience. Toro equipment and representatives have been involved in preparing the stadium and practice fields for the Super Bowl for almost 50 years. Starting with the inaugural World Championship in 1967, the NFL* grounds crew has relied on Toro for its expertise and equipment in preparing the game field and multiple practice facilities. In 2002, the organizations partnered to establish the Toro Super Bowl Sports Turf Training Program. Through the Sports Turf Training Program, Toro and the NFL’s Super Bowl grounds team collaborate to offer a program aimed at enhancing the skills of emerging sports turf professionals. This program provides handson experience in establishing and maintaining one of the highest quality and safest playing surfaces in the world. This year’s recipient will work alongside NFL field director, Ed Mangan, George Toma, and the Super Bowl grounds crew at U.S. Bank Stadium on synthetic turf maintenance, logo painting, field preparation for media day, halftime preparation and field clean-up. Beginning on January 27, 2018, the winner will be on hand at U.S. Bank Stadium preparing the field leading up to the game on February 4, 2018. To be considered for the program, applicants must complete and submit an application form, as well as a 500 -word typed essay, describing the applicant’s professional goals. A reference and résumé are also required. Entries must be received by October 20, 2017. Applicants must be enrolled in at least the second year of a two-year turf program, or in at least the junior year of a four-year turf program. The application must include the contact information of a school advisor or representative, as well. The winner will be notified no later than November 4, 2017. Applications can be completed online here. For additional information, potential applicants can learn more about the program by consulting with their school’s turf program. Any questions or comments can be directed to boyd.montgomery@toro.com.

Executive Directors: President: Kevin Lebanik—Harrell's, Klebanik@harrells.com Past President: Rusty Walker, CSFM—City of Grapevine, rwalker@grapevinetexas.gov President - Elect: Brian Piper - City of Austin, Brian.piper@austintexas.gov 1st Commercial Vice Pres: John Kearns—Professional Turf Products, kearnsj@proturf.com 2nd Commercial Vice Pres: Treasurer:

Mike Estlinbaum - Ewing Irr., mestlinbaum@ewingirrigation.com

Nick McKenna, CSFM— Texas A&M University, nmckenna@athletics.tamu.edu Committee Directors:

Advertising: Will Dutton - Professional Turf Products, duttonw@proturf.com Communication: Dan Bergstrom, CSFM — BBVA Compass, dbergstrom@bbvacompassstadium.com Region I (DFW): Allen Reed, CSFM, FC Dallas, areed@fcdallas.net Region II (Austin/San Antonio): Weston Floyd, wfloyd@athletics.utexas.edu Region III (Houston): Kevin Hansen, Houston Texans, kevinhanden09@gmail.com Membership: Greg Carroll, Amarillo ISD, Gregory.carroll@amaisd.org Scholarship: Chris Pitts, Clear Creek ISD, chpitts@ccisd.net Chapter Executive: Carol Cloud, txstmainfo@yahoo.com, (817) 736-0727

Texas Sports Turf Managers Association Providing education and training for safer and healthier sports turf facilities

Txstma.org txstmainfo@ yahoo.com (817) 736-0727 5552 Plata Lane Benbrook, TX 76126

Fall 2017 Issue