RAY WEEKLEY
Unanimously Selected as TPI Honorary Member By Linda Bradley and Jim Novak
An Honorary Membership is bestowed to a surprised Ray Weekley. Photo by Steve Trusty
Te Honorary Member award recognizes select individuals who have significantly improved the industry or the organization. Honorary Members are provided a lifetime complimentary TPI membership and may participate in all TPI events, also
complimentary. TPI President Linda Bradley stated, “It is my extreme pleasure to announce that all of the Past Presidents along with your Board of Trustees award this extreme honor to Mr. Ray Weekley.
Bradley reported that Ray Weekley became an institution in the Turf Industry quite by accident. “When a tragic incident involving a small plane forced the shut down of all Virginia pilots flying skydivers, Ray ended his part-time, weekend business. Mounting bills led to selling his planes and investing as a partner in a new sod farm operation with John Ramey, whom he’d met through flying. Ray took college classes at night to learn the sod farming business. Within a year, John Ramey died, leaving Ray the sole operator. In 1967, 50 years ago, Chantilly Farms was registered with the state of Virginia.
Ryan Handcutters were the technology then. In 1978, when Ray invested in a new Brouwer Harvester, his crew members resisted the change. Te new harvester sat idle for a year. So Ray came to work early one day and hid all the handcutters in the barn before the workers arrived— forcing them to embrace the new technology.
Ray has been an active, contributing part of the TPI community for 50 years. In 1998, Chantilly Turf Farms hosted the TPI Field Days. In 2007, they hosted the Virginia Sod Growers State Field Days. In 2015, Ray’s farm began the Virginia Tech Turf Opportunity Days to introduce new talent to the opportunities associated with this outstanding industry.
An innovator, entrepreneur and visionary, Ray has attended TPI events around the world. Te father of four and grandfather of six, Ray’s Chantilly Turf Farms is truly a family business. His daughter Audrey ran office operations before starting Somerset Seed and Sod in Orange, VA, with her husband. Ray continues as owner/
TPI Turf News May/June 2017
manager of Chantilly Turf Farms and is presently assisted by his son Mark who runs the field operations. Mark is a past president of the Virginia Sod Growers Association and actively pursues legislation to promote research in the turf industry.”
Bradley added, “Many longtime friends truly say congratulations to Ray, including Fred Pittillo, Wally Hugget and Gail Jackelyn. Past TPI Executive Director Doug Fender (now deceased) would have added his congratulations after the great travels the two shared overseas and around the US and especially to Washington DC to talk with congress members.”
Comments from others follow (edited due to space limitations). Professor and Turfgrass Extension Specialist with Virginia Tech Mike Goatley, said, “Ray is one of the Virginia Tech Turf Team's biggest supporters AND I’m very proud to call him a friend. His passion for the sod business and commitment to learning new things never ceases. In 2004, during my first visit to Chantilly Turf Farms to introduce myself to Ray and Mark as Virginia’s new Extension Turfgrass Specialist, Ray handed me an envelope as a ‘little extra support’ for the turf research program. It was a check to the VT Turf Team for $10,000—just one example of the MANY ways Ray promotes this industry.”
Lou and Ginger Brooking said, “In all our travels with Ray, he has never met a stranger, only potential friends. Once, we decided to go to a Tapas bar (which serves appetizers and drinks). Ray was concerned. He didn't think a ‘Topless Bar’ was appropriate for our ladies.”
Bob Weerts, Blue Valley Sod, has traveled the world with Ray through TPI Study Tours. He shared, “Ray is a great representative and a great ambassador for all sod growers. He is extremely cordial, polite and always willing to help anyone in need. He is a good spirited young man and we’ve always had lots of fun together.”
Gerry Brouwer agreed and added, “Ray Weekly always makes first time attendees feel at home.”
Ray expressed his appreciation for the honor stating he had been blessed with incredible friends and cherished memories through his affiliation with TPI and its wonderful members. Ray, like so many of us, has found that sod farming is more than a job—it’s a very good way of life!
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