PRESIDENT’S TURF Sod Family and Friends,

2015-2016 TPI Board of Trustees

Linda Pittillo Bradley

“A Time for Everything” is the title of Ecclesiastes 3. Tis scripture is quoted for many different reasons throughout our lives, most recently during the season of graduation. It covers every activity under the heavens. I am blessed to serve at this time as we celebrate 50 fabulous years for TPI! We will have a time to laugh, dance and embrace!

A time to speak: Communicating through words isn’t always easy, especially from a very expressive person like me. Clearness of thought is valued in my heart. My husband laughs and says, ‘If your hands are tied behind your back, can you still talk?’ In school, I always enjoyed math more than English, thus I’ve been a little nervous about writing these articles, letters, and more. It seems that it’s my time, not only to speak, but to listen, gather, mend and build!

A time to plant:Tis issue is dedicated to seed and vegetative stock for turfgrass. Farmers know that without planting, there is no harvest. Without scattering there is no time to gather! Experiencing a growing crop is very satisfying for our toil; this is a gift of God. In this issue you can gain information and knowledge about new seeds/sprigs/stock and some that made the 50 & Fabulous list! At our annual conference this past February, there was a panel session presented by Duane Klundt, Jessica Green, John Rector, Nancy Aerni and Sharon Davidson called “Understanding Seed Test Reports and Interpreting Seed Labels” and can be viewed online at the TEC-Turfgrass Educational Center via our webpage.

A time to search: Direction is needed to make sure we get where we want to go for today and tomorrow. At our spring board meeting not only did we complete Strategic Planning, but we also outlined a process for searching for our Executive Director. We are certain that as a group, our main goal is to educate and promote the value of natural turfgrass! Our contact information is to the right, we are here to serve! It is time to plant for future generations; we will keep you informed of our search.

Many people stop reading before they get to the end of Ecclesiastes 3, the last verse reads: “So I saw there was nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?” (Ecclesiastes 3:22, NIV) I am extremely grateful for the leadership before me who planted a fabulous harvest! So my prayer is that we enjoy this “50 & Fabulous” year because I am fifty-(2) too (Big smile from me for this pun) and very blessed to be the President of a Fabulous group of folk known as Turfgrass Producers International! As one of my mentors, Bob Weerts, would say, “pitter patter let’s get at ‘er,” it’s time!

Blessings, 2

Officers President Linda Pittillo Bradley Turf Mountain Sod, Inc. – U.S.A. +1-828-685-3642 turfmountain@bellsouth.net

Vice President Jimmy Fox Evergreen Turf, Inc. – U.S.A. +1-480-456-1199 jimmy@evergreenturf.com

Secretary-Treasurer Eric Heuver Eagle Lake Professional Landscape Supply – CANADA +1-403-235-8873 eric@eaglelakelandscape.com

Past President Will Nugent Bethel Farms – U.S.A. +1-863-494-3057 willnugent@bethelfarms.com

Interim Executive Director Sandy Reynolds Turfgrass Producers International – U.S.A. +1-847-649-5555 meetings@TurfGrassSod.org

Trustees John Coombs, Sr. Coombs Sod Farms, LLC – U.S.A. +1-856-358-4763 jhc@coombsfarms.com

Hugh Dampney ECO Turf – ENGLAND +44 1202 572 166 hugh.dampney@parleycourt.co.uk

Steve Griffen Saratoga Sod Farm, Inc. – U.S.A. +1-518-664-5038 steve@saratogasod.com

Randy Jasperson Jasperson Sod Farm – U.S.A. +1-262-835-2826 rj@jaspersonsod.com

Hank Kerfoot Modern Turf – U.S.A. +1-803-713-8873 hank@modernturf.com

Mark Tribbett JB Instant Lawn, Inc. - U.S.A. +1-503-581-7823 mark@jbinstantlawn.net

Tim Wollesen Sales Midwest, Inc. – U.S.A. +1-913-254-9560 salesmidwest@sbcglobal.net

Legal Counsel Monte B. Lake CJ Lake 525 Ninth Street, NW- Suite 800 Washington, DC – U.S.A. +1-202-789-8644

Science Advisor Dr. James B Beard International Sports Turf Institute College Station, Texas – U.S.A. +1-979-693-4066 isti@neo.tamu.edu

TPI Turf News July/August 2016