Traci Tomas, the daughter of Emory Tomas and Emily Tischer, the daughter of Randy Tischer, in 1987.
1987-1988 President. Field Day Host, Pete Barron, Barron Turf Farms, Enumclaw, WA, welcomed the 535 registrants Ray Weekly, Chantilly Turf Farms, Inc., and Louis Brooking, Brookmeade Sod Farm, Inc.,
served as field day announcers. ASPA’s 11th Honorary Membership was presented to Dr. Funk. Te tour visited the research plots of Washington State University Farm 5, near Puyallup, WA; Barron Turf Farms; and the Rhododendron Species Foundation Gardens.
1988
ASPA’s Midwinter Conference, headquartered at the Sheraton Hotel, New Orleans, LA, February 10-12, broke previous records with 445 registrants. A capacity crowd of 100 attended the pre-Conference “Motivational Leadership Seminar” led by Eric McCarty, president of Management Concepts, Inc. General education sessions were featured on Tursday and Friday mornings, with concurrent technical sessions both afternoons. Tour visits included the University of Louisiana Research Center and Simpson Sod Company, Covington, LA.
ASPA’s Second International Study Tour, October 19-November 3, drew 54 participants for visits to turfgrass farms in England and Scotland, the Sports Turf Institute, Wimbledon All England Tennis Club, and St. Andrews Golf Course. Terry Berkowitz was named ASPA secretary/ administrative assistant, succeeding Kathleen Colbert. ASPA’s incorporation was moved from Ohio to Illinois. EPA banned Diazinon use on sod farms and golf courses.
ASPA issued a “Member Profile Survey” to all Class A (sod producing) members to update and expand on the informational base of industry “norms” established following tabulation of the 1984 survey. Te 35 percent response rate and favorable distribution by size and geography matched that of the first survey, providing valid and valuable data to document industry growth. One of the most significant changes was in company computer usage, rising to 61.3 percent compared to less than a third in 1984.
Te Sheraton Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD, headquartered ASPA’s Summer Convention and Field Days, July 27- 29, which broke previous attendance records with 953 registrants. Te Maryland Turfgrass Association assisted
TPI Turf News July/August 2016
Lunch is served at the 1988 Field Day at Green Manor Turf Farm, Sykesville, Maryland.
1989
Crowds gather for the demonstrations at the 1989 Field Day at Eastside Nursery, Groveport, Ohio.
ASPA’s Midwinter Conference was headquartered at the Marriott Hotel, San Diego, CA, January 25-27. Te pre-Conference seminar, “Succession,” was led by Mike Henning, Henning Family Business Center. Te exhibit and luncheon areas were combined, pleasing both attendees and exhibitors. Sessions addressed business issues, such as housing market statistics and analysis of indicators for tracking economic trends that impact the sod market. ASPA President Ed Davis addressed the problems of water shortages and controls and the related growing interest in “Xeriscape.” Te tour visited Floyd Wirthlin’s Am-Sod Farm, located in the Tijuana River Valley.
ASPA continued interest and support of the Immigration Reform and Control Act. Sharon Till, Australian Turfgrass Research Institute, reported on the use of electrophoresis for positive varietal identification. Turf News introduced ASPA’s first sod equipment “Buyers Guide.” Members received two new ASPA publications: Lawn and Sports Turf Benefits and Turfgrass Sod Farm Employee Handbook Models.
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with coordination and professors from the University of Maryland provided technical agronomic sessions. Te exhibit floor was a key attraction. Edward H. Davis, R&D Sod Farms Inc., Okeechobee, FL, was elected ASPA’s 1988-1989 President. Members approved a new Class E “Affiliated” membership category. Te Field Day host was Millard Stedding, Green Manor Turf Farm, Sykesville, MD. Te tour included the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Seed Testing Labs, the USDA turfgrass test plots, and Fairwood Sod Farms, Glen Dale, MD.
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