to a tractor and drives with the PTO. Two years ago, Kevin made a duplicate of it in their shop. “Tese customized models help us get more done without increasing our labor costs," Kevin reports.
Today’s Big Picture Today, the Coombs Sod Farms fields are in three main areas. Most of the sod is grown at the shop location. Te bentgrass is grown within the cluster of fields five miles away. Most of the field crops are grown on another cluster of fields, about ten miles away. Nearly all of their 1,500 acres are irrigated from onsite wells using 18 center pivots and eight hard hose guns.
Precision fertility management coupled with crop rotation improves soil quality and increases their productivity. And, as John Sr. says, “Crop rotation confuses the weeds and the bugs.” John Jr. says, “Te field crop rotation hinges on our fall turfgrass seeding, which is based on anticipated sod needs. Ten we work out the spring planting schedule for the potatoes, corn and soybeans for the best rotation lineup. We fit the seasonal planting cycles for spinach around that.”
Besides the four family members, Coombs Sod Farms has 16 employees: Cheryl English, who began working with Donna in the office five years ago; Owen Regan in sales; four truck drivers; and eight full-time and two part-time staff members that fill multiple responsibilities on the farm. John Jr. says, “Many of our team members concentrate in specific areas most of the time. It’s about half and half between field crops and sod. Two focus on harvesting sod. Eleven are cross-trained to step into other roles when necessary. Harvesting potatoes takes everyone.”
Looking Ahead John Jr. and his wife, Mary, were high school sweethearts. Tey celebrated their tenth anniversary on May 19 this year. Tey have two sons, 8-year- old Lee and 5-year-old Sam, and are expecting their third child in March. John Jr. says, “Shortly after Lee was
88
Te Coombs family makes time for play as well as work. Here Nana holds Sam while PopPop holds Lee upside-down.
born, we converted our garage to A Garden Party, the floral business Mary and her sister operate with two to three other full-time employees. Tey do weddings and special events, many in the Philly area. Tey did 130 weddings last year. She is very talented and creative and loves what she does.”
Kevin met his wife, Cristina, when both were students at Penn State. Tey have two sons, 4-year-old Ryan and Jacob, who will be one in February of 2018. Kevin says, “Cristina majored in broadcast journalism and had an internship in Washington, DC. She’s currently a stay-at-home Mom, with aspirations of a career in the legal world when the boys are older.”
Te three oldest grandsons love spending time on the farm, “helping” wherever they can, and just being part of the family business. A tenth generation seems to be in the works.
All three Coombs families have their homes on the farm’s land. Donna says, “John Jr. and Mary are a quarter mile away; Kevin and Cristina are about 2.5 miles away. It’s wonderful to have them and all four of our grandsons so close. We love being PopPop and Nana. We are both so thankful for our sons and their interest in continuing the farm and for their wives’ support of that. I truly believe in God’s blessings and we are so blessed.”
Fun Facts John Sr.’s great grandfather was an inventor. He had an engine manufacturing company. He made an airplane and flew it, not because he was interested in aviation, but because he wanted to make a better engine for airplanes.
John Coombs Sr.’s first organizational presidency came when he missed a meeting of the Salem County Board of Agriculture. “Tey called me the next morning and told me I was president.”
John Jr.’s eight-year-old son, Lee, asked his PopPop, “What’s your favorite thing to do on the farm?” John Sr. says the question was quite a surprise, but planting is his favorite. When Lee asked the same question of his Dad, John Jr., the answer was building things. For Uncle Kevin, it was the variety, always doing something different.
Te tenth generation of the Coombs family on the sod fields in September of 2017. From left to right: Ryan (4), holding his brother Jacob (7 months), and brothers Sam (5) and Lee (8).
All photos courtesy of the Coombs family. Suz Trusty is co-editor of Turf News. TPI Turf News November/December 20 2017
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116
