EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S TURF
Was The Lawn Institute’s support for the Grass Roots Initiative at the National Arboretum worth it?
When TPI members generously contribute to Te Lawn Institute (TLI) they know their donation is going to support research, scholarships and education. Most everyone can relate to what research funding means, and all of us know the value of a scholarship, but when it’s suggested the TLI supports education, what does that mean? Who is the target audience? What kind of education? How are they being educated?
Te average consumer, homeowner or not, has limited knowledge about turfgrass and lawn care. Over the years TLI has focused a good part of its effort on educating the public. Te topics addressed on the TLI website cover just about everything; from fundamentals, such as how to water your lawn, to more in depth information such as identifying lawn pests or understanding a label on a bag of fertilizer. TLI’s commitment to education covers a broad spectrum of topics and issues that are intended to benefit the reader whether the reader is new to caring for a lawn, has some hands-on experience, or is a Master Gardner who is looking for information. TLI’s website, press releases, infographics and promotional efforts are only part of the challenge to educate and inform.
Tat said, imagine if you could draw as many as 30,000 people to a single location throughout the year that exposed them to a cornucopia of turfgrass information. A location designed for the sole purpose of educating visitors from around the world and inviting them to explore the history, uses, benefits, value and issues of the turfgrass industry, through an outdoor turfgrass exhibit, and give them access to a variety of informative programs, demonstrations, seminars, and other medium that explains and describes turfgrass and the turfgrass industry. Tere is such a place—Te Grass Roots exhibit at the National Arboretum in Washington D.C.
In 2013, when ‘Grass Roots’ was announced as a four- year Initiative that would explore turfgrass and the turfgrass industry TLI made a financial commitment to help sponsor the effort. TLI was but one of over thirty organizations that saw an opportunity for educational outreach on a large scale. Te list of “Grass Roots” initiative sponsors includes such familiar names as the Oregon Seed Council, USGA, Irrigation Association, GCSAA, OPEI, STMA, Landmark Turf & Native Seed and many more.
4 Sandy Reynolds
TPI turfgrass producers in Maryland got involved as well, including Tom and Bill Warpinski of Central Sod Farms, Inc. and Gary Wilber of Oakwood Sod Farm. Tom Warpinski estimated that between 50,000 and 70,000 square feet of turfgrass sod was donated by Maryland turfgrass producers.
Te groundbreaking ceremony for the ‘Grass Roots’ exhibit was held in mid-November 2013 and the exhibit had its grand opening on October 16, 2014. ‘Grass Roots’ currently encompasses 1.3 acres nestled among the 450 acres of the National Arboretum displays and gardens. Te exhibit includes 12 unique displays demonstrating various benefits and uses of turfgrasses.
Last July, Suz Trusty reported in Turf News that the USDA/NTF ‘Grass Roots’ initiative and the Maryland SoccerPlex had partnered to create ten interactive educational displays at the complex in the same format as those featured in the arboretum exhibit. Suz added that the Maryland SoccerPlex is the home of the multiple programs of the Soccer Association of Montgomery (SAM) and of professional-level play with the Washington Spirit of the National Women’ s Soccer League. In addition, it hosts regional and national youth soccer tournaments, drawing over 600,000 visitors per year. What is especially encouraging—the new ‘Grass Roots’ exhibit is strategically located to attract those visitors, on a one acre site in front of the ticket booth on the south lawn adjacent to the SoccerPlex’ s stadium field. Te Grand Opening was held May 3.
Between the National Arboretum and Te Maryland SoccerPlex the number of people exposed to the ‘Grass Roots’ initiative will have exceeded the expectations of everyone who was in attendance when they first broke ground on that cool October day in 2014.
So, in answer to the question, “Was Te Lawn Institute’s support for the Grass Roots Initiative at the National Arboretum worth it?” - YOU BET IT WAS!
Until next time,
TPI Turf News May/June 2017
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