prompt those ambitious young people to become your competitors rather than your buyers. “So address the transition process when they raise it,” says Randy. “It can be as fast or slow as you jointly negotiate it to be.”
Amy was at a point in her life where she wanted to explore other opportunities but remain in the turf industry. She left the farm and is now the general manager for GreenOne Industries in Parker, Colorado. Te company specializes in renovation, maintenance and drainage on sports turf fields and golf courses. Because of Amy’s changed direction she is able to collaborate and cultivate opportunity with James and Marty.
Betsy retired in 2005, a couple years before Randy. Te transition gave Randy and Betsy a bit more time for travel. One of their favorite memories was the 2007 TPI Study Tour to Australia and New Zealand, led by Doug and Sharon Fender. “One of our biggest regrets is we didn’t do more of those,” says Betsy. “But we were still in our mom and pop days during many of them and Amy and James were involved in so many school activities, we just couldn’t make it work. Still, we’re blessed to have so many overseas connections formed over the 30-year TPI span.”
Now and into the Future
Randy is currently serving as President of the Morgan County Rural Electric Association (MCREA) and is a director for the Colorado Rural Electric Association (CREA) as well. He and Betsy travel quite extensively to conferences nationwide. Betsy is a newly elected secretary for the CREA Women’s Task Force. She also reports the grandkids, James and Letty’s four children, keep them busy with volleyball, soccer, basketball, musicals, spelling bees, recitals and concerts. Hannah is 16, Simon is 15 and the tallest at 6 foot 2 inches, Jacob is 13 and Rachel is 11.
Randy and Betsy are active in their church. Tis last year, Randy spearheaded the landscaping of their new church. Betsy is the interior decorator for the church. She also sings in the Worship Team band led by Letty (keyboard and lead vocal) and James (lead vocal) and including Simon (bass guitar), Jacob (drums) and Rachel (vocal) along with other church/team members.
Randy and Betsy always look forward to attending the TPI International Conference & Field Day and were especially excited about the 50th Anniversary Celebration in Tampa. Tey agree the TPI conference educational sessions are great; the trade shows and field days are great. With the industry changing so much, so quickly, it’s even
Youngsters are gathered on the turf in front of the old Graff’s Turf Farm sign. Photo from TPI archives
more important to check out the trade show for products and technology and the field day to see all the new equipment—big boy toys—as Betsy says, but she ran the harvesters and mowers, too.
“Te money you spend belonging to TPI and attending the conferences is repaid multiple times in what you take back. It’s wonderful to see the new faces and meet the new people. Best of all, it feels like a giant family; you have friends for life—and those relationships are priceless,” says Betsy, strongly seconded by Randy.
“We are so blessed that we got to get up every day and do what we loved to do together. It doesn’t get any better than that. We’re so proud of Amy, James and Marty and what they have accomplished. Tey continue the legacy; following that same path and building on our dream—and doing it their way.”
Randy and Betsy post for this photo during the Field Day at Orlando in 2014. Photo from the TPI Archives
Suz Trusty is co-editor of Turf News 21
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