Duane and Don Baune, one of the GO partners, prepare to plant the company logo with different species of turfgrasses to highlight the plots at the GO headquarters and research facility.

multiple roles over the years, includ- ing terms on the Board of Trustees, the Fundraising Committee and the Scholarship Committee. He’s currently serving on the Meeting and Events Committee as well as chairing the Research Committee.

He’s a past chairman of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) lawn seed division, past president of the Oregon Seed Association (OSA), past chairman of the NTEP Policy Commit- tee, past president and a current board member of the Pacific Seed Association (PSA), past chairman of the Oregon State University (OSU) Grass and Le- gume Committee. He recently joined the Board of the Atlantic Seed Association (ASA) as the member at large.

Duane, Dana and Devon pose above Crooked River Canyon in Redmond, Oregon, during a 2002 family trip to visit friends living there.

Duane says, “Our service is all focused on improving things today and provid- ing direction for the future.”

LOOKING FORWARD “I have seen the transition of our industry, with turfgrasses going from common type products to the high definition varieties we see today, not to mention the added traits like salt tolerance, drought tolerance, and even resistance to many diseases,” says Duane. “I see more and more changing as sod producers explore different areas to develop and even better ways to serve their customers. Sustainability is much more than a buzzword. It’s the path we must fol- low to remain viable as an industry.

trials are an incredible resource. Researchers will have analyzed their potential trial grasses before they are entered into the trials, so only the best of the best will be evaluated and compared. But the NTEP trials can be limited by the timing factor. For ex- ample, there won’t be another turf-type tall fescue trial for three years.

So GO is working with the regional research farm concept. Their first was started near Fairfield, Iowa, three

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years ago. Duane says, “The goal is to stress our potential introductions in the turfgrass, cover crop and the forage markets under ‘real world’ conditions. In this case, that includes no irrigation.”

INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT Giving back through service is just part of Duane’s DNA, and the same holds true for the rest of the GO team. Duane has served TPI and TLI in

“We’ve established strong roots. I see continued advancement growing from that firm foundation. I con- sider it a privilege to be a part of this very special industry filled with very special people.”

Suz Trusty is co-editor of Turf News. Photos courtesy of Duane Klundt.

TPI TURF NEWS • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015