countdown to tpi’s 5oth

anniversary in 2017 1980-1989

During the netting demonstration, Clarke Staples, Ryan Equipment Company, is harvesting plots at Novasack Brothers Turf Farm, the 1983 Summer Field Day Host.

ASPA increased its focus on turfgrass sod’s positive environmental benefits, especially as related to concerns about groundwater contamination and global warming. As part of that initiative, Turfgrass Environment, a unique publication developed by the Environmental Benefits Ad Hoc Committee, chaired by Cecil Collings, Green Valley Turf Farms, Inc.; took shape under the direction of sub- committee chairman, Randy Tischer, Green Velvet Sod Farms. It was supplied to ASPA members to provide a broad array of information on the importance of turfgrass to the environment, with an emphasis on turf and water usage. Tischer also headed the delegation that discussed turfgrasses’ beneficial environmental impact with Congressmen, Senators and their staffs in Washington, D.C.

Te Tird International Summer Convention and Field Day headquartered at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Columbus, OH, July 17-19. Te educational sessions were held at Te Ohio State University (OSU). A highlight was the overview of

the sod operations of John Anderson, Anco Seed and Turf, Victoria, Australia; Robert Laycock, Rolawn, York, England; and Minotu Ito, Itograss Agriculta, Brazil. Dr. Harry Niemczyk addressed turfgrass sod as a filtering agent for various pollutants. Randy Tischer was elected ASPA’s 1989- 1990 President. Te tour visited OSU and the O. M. Scott turfgrass research facilities. Field Day events were hosted by Eastside Nursery, Groveport, OH, coordinated by owner and Convention Chair, Woodrow Wilson, and Dick Wilson.

Happenings in the '80s Debuts in the ‘80s included the TV networks CNN, Fox TV, and Te Weather Channel. Te first mobile phone, IBM PC, Microsoft Word and Windows, Swatch, Post-It Notes, Pac-Man and Nintendo were released. Gas was up to $1.19 per gallon in 1980, but back down to 97 cents by 1989. Sandra Day O’Connor became the first female Supreme Court Justice. Te 1982-1983 recession hit. Te Aids virus and Mad Cow Disease were identified. Floppy shirts, padded shoulders, big hair, and white stilettoes were in. Top movies included Raging Bull, E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark and Platoon. Popular music included: Magic, Another One

Bites the Dust, Ghostbusters, Let’s Dance and Footloose. Editor’s Note: The History of Turfgrass Producers International is available to TPI members in digital format. Also available are PDFs of the ASPA Charter Members and all ASPA/TPI Conference and Convention dates and sites, including the Host Farm names. Past Weeds, Trees and Turf magazine articles and other historical resources are available to TPI members through the Turfgrass Information Center (TGIF). To access these materials, visit the “For Members” tab on the TPI website www.TurfGrassSod.org. If you see someone you know that is unidentified in any of the photos or have further information on any of the events, please let your editors know so that we might update the photos for future use. Also, if you have any photos that you’d like us to consider for future issues, please contact your editors.

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Attendees certainly feel welcome with this sign to greet them at the 1989 Field Day at Eastside Nursery, Groveport, Ohio.

54 All photos from TPI Archives. TPI Turf News July/August 2016