MANY EVENTS, MUCH TO EXPERIENCE, IN MINNEAPOLIS!
By Karen Cooper
TPI is heading to Minneapolis, Minnesota, for the 2019 Summer Convention & Field Day, July 23-25! Te week will bring sod producers and industry suppliers from around the world together for two days of industry tours, networking and learning opportunities, exhibit hall time with suppliers, and a field day hosted by TPI member Wagner Sod, Landscaping & Irrigation Company. (See page 48 for an introduction to this family-owned business).
Te convention will kick off on Tuesday afternoon as attendees travel to the Twin City Orthopedics Performance Center, the brand new cutting-edge, natural grass practice facility for the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings. Te visit will be hosted by Vikings’ Field Manager Grant Davisson who will talk about how grass is maintained on this high- traffic playing surface and how the facility is used in the community. Te grass in this facility is provided by TPI member Graff’s Turf Farm, Inc, of Fort Morgan, Colorado.
Tuesday afternoon will wrap up with a visit to the University of Minnesota Turfgrass Research and Outreach Center (TROE) where attendees can enjoy tours of the University’s natural grass research plots, challenge their friends to some lawn games, and enjoy some Famous Dave’s BBQ. University researchers from two USDA natural grass research projects will join our group for dinner and networking.
Wednesday will be a full day of learning and networking! Te day will kick off with breakfast and an opportunity to hear from TPI’s own Dr. Casey Reynolds as he talks about how TPI is working to promote natural grass. His presentation, Communicating the Value of Natural Grass, will provide an update on TPI’s Public Relations initiative, recent market research on public opinions of turfgrass, and what TPI is doing to promote the industry.
After breakfast, attendees will take part in one of two options for industry tours. As of our publication deadline, attendees could choose between a visit to Te Toro Company where they can hear about Toro’s research priorities, learn about their history, and watch as they demonstrate some of their equipment in their outdoor testing area, with a second stop at Bailey’s Nursery, a Minneapolis-based, fifth generation, family-owned company, to learn about their production of shrubs, roses, and perennials. Or attendees could choose a visit to Turfco, a family-owned company that has been making equipment for the lawn care, golf, and sports turf industry
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for 50 years, with a second stop at another site, not yet named. Each tour is limited to a set number of attendees based on the capabilities of the host companies. Please check
http://www.turfgrasssod.org/pages/summer-program/ for updated information! Wednesday evening will culminate with a return to the hotel to visit with suppliers in the exhibit hall. Dinner will be served in the hall.
Te Convention will conclude on Tursday, July 25, with the Field Day at Wagner Sod’s first family-owned field, the hub of their sod production operations. Come enjoy this beautiful farm and see the latest pieces of turf equipment in action! Te Lawn Institute Auction will be held during lunch at the Field Day.
All tours and activities will originate from TPI’s host hotel, the Hyatt Regency Bloomington-Minneapolis. (See hotel details and reservation information on page 6.)
Progressive Turf Equipment is celebrating their 30th anniversary and they have invited TPI members to join their celebration by supporting The Lawn Institute!
Luke Janmaat, President, says, “Since 1989, Progressive Turf Equipment has been a proud supporter of TPI and their activities to promote the use of natural grass and the betterment of its members. Trough our association, we have made many friends in the turf industry who have helped to improve our products and in turn their own operations. Our association with TPI has helped us become the company we are today!
“In recognition of this, we are pleased to offer a brand- new TD92G for auction with the proceeds benefiting Te Lawn Institute’s initiatives. Te Progressive TD92G tri-deck finishing mower, with a cutting swath of 22 feet and bolt-on galvanized deck shells, has long been regarded as the ‘industry standard’ turf mower. Te TD92G comes complete with a set of blades and ‘no-flat’ solid deck tires. It has an MSRP of $30,250.00 USD (MSRP does not include freight or set-up).” To learn more about the TD92G see
http://www.progressiveturfequip.com/td92_ps_
details.php.
Karen Cooper is associate executive director of Turfgrass Producers International.
TPI Turf News May/June 2019
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