THE LAWN INSTITUTE (TLI) HAS EXCITING NEWS!

By Nancy Aerni

Fundraising efforts by Te Lawn Institute are to finance continued research and education which are of paramount importance to us all. Our research goal is to make improvements specifically aimed at helping you make better decisions in the profitable production of sod for our small, but vitally important, industry.

Events that your TLI Fundraising Team diligently put together in conjunction with the TPI 2017 International Education Conference & Field Day celebrating our 50th Anniversary include: an ATV raffle, a live auction, a clay shoot, and the Annual Campaign for Forever Green, Gold Benefactor, Green Partner and the 500 Club. TLI also will continue to honor those who have donated.

The ATV Raffle Several Canadian members have banded together and honored TLI with the gift of an ATV!!! It is a John Deere Gator, RSX high-performance vehicle that is trail-ready and hard-working with a dumping cargo box capable of light duty hauling. Tickets are available from TLI fundraising committee members and board of directors, and through the TLI website. We encourage the sale of tickets outside of our organization to bring new money and awareness to TLI. Individual tickets cost $25.00, or buy a bundle of five for $100.00! Your team is working on other small prizes (must be present to win) to accompany this raffle drawing. All tickets will be put back into the hat for the Grand Prize drawing taking place at Saddlebrook Resort the evening of the TPI 50th Anniversary Celebration Banquet. Te Grand Prize Winner does not need to be present to win, but will be responsible for arranging shipment of their brand new ATV from Tampa.

Our Sponsors Our big-hearted sponsors are:

Advanced Equipment Sales Brouwer Kesmac Gerry Brouwer Greenhorizons Group John Deere Load Lifter Manufacturing Manderley Turf Products Progressive Turf Equipment Zander Sod Co. Limited

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Live Auction Te Live Auction will be held during the TPI 50 & Fabulous: Celebrating Our Past, Inspiring Our Future Banquet on Wednesday, February 22, 2017. Te non-profit foundation has been generously given the following:

• Covered Wagon, All Options – from Philip Poyntz - Poyntz Manufacturing

• Handmade “Gypsy Rose” Quilt in Green and Cream Fabrics – (at least 60” X 78”) by Kim Nugent - Bethel Farms

• Professionally Guided 4 Day Snowmobiling Trip in West Yellowstone for 2 – Gregg Tvetene - Trebro Manufacturing

• Duck Hunting Trip for 2, 2 days of hunting, 3 nights – Eddie Keeven - Emerald View Turf, Tom Keeven - Heartland Turf Farm, Jim Keeven – SelecTurf Inc.

• Monthly Steak & Wine Club – Steven Dover - Bucyrus Equipment

• Case of Oregon Wine – (where legal, includes shipping), John Rector – Barenbrug

• Dinner for 8 anywhere in the North America – prepared in your kitchen, Hank Kerfoot - Modern Turf

• Brouwer Turf Roller, Model #BTR30 – Free delivery in North America, Gerry Brouwer - Brouwer Kesmac

• Green Amethyst Jewelry Settings – (stones) Bob & Jenifer Weerts - Blue Valley Sod, (settings) Randy & Hilda Jasperson - Jasperson Sod Farm

• 2 – 50 Quart Bison Coolers – Ed Lee - Summit Seed

• Registration & 4 Nights Hotel for the TPI 2018 International Education Conference & Field Day and a Steak Dinner for 8 – (registration and hotel) TPI, (steak dinner) Bob & Jenifer Weerts – Blue Valley Sod

We trust that you will f ind at least one of these opportunities intriguing and are prepared to bid generously. It’s not a successful auction if we don’t have bidders!

TPI Turf News November/December 2016