Teir business ventures were growing on multiple fronts. Ten, in 2004, Turfgrass America was sold to the Collier Group of Naples, Florida. In 2005, Ike Tomas was named an Honorary Member of TPI, apt recognition for his long-time role of significantly improving the organization and the industry. Again, typical of Ike, he was surprised, as well as honored, by it.

Te Tomas Group was keeping “pretty busy” without the sod business. Tey even started a wireless internet service company (which they later sold). Yet, in 2011, when one of their former farm managers, who had been working for the new company, called to report the Nashville farm was up for sale, the Tomas Group bought it. “We missed those sod farming and TPI days.” says Ike. “Ten, a couple years ago, we bought out a competitor in Murfreesboro, TN.

“It’s been good to be back in the turf business. Although, we recently decided to sell—since our long term manager, Jerry Graves, retired and Ryan was spending way too much time away from home to oversee those farms. We have just completed the sale of our Tennessee operations to one of our large customers, ‘Buy Sod.’ We do intend to stay involved in the turf industry in the future, possibly in the leasing of turf-type equipment to other turf farmers.” As the Tomas Group continued to grow, so did the Tomas brothers’ families. Ryan and his wife, Anne, have three boys: Pierce - 9, Henry - 7, and Benjamin - 3. Justin and his wife, Kimberly, have three children: Kate - 7, and twins, Levi and Claire – 4. Ike says, “Everyone’s close by and we love that. Justin and Kimberly live 30 miles away; the rest of us live in Granbury and we all office here and work together.”

And that worksite is another Tomas Group enterprise. Tey own a building on the town square of Granbury. Teir offices are on the second floor, overlooking the area. Ike says, “We have a music venue on the first floor that we lease out to a company that provides the entertainment and manages the operations. It’s a great way to use that space to generate income—and it’s fun!” To see their building and check out the offerings of Big City Music Review, visit www.bigcitymusicreview.com.

Teir sand company site does triple duty. Tey lease the ranch for corporate retreats, family reunions, weddings and other events. Ike says, “We have a ranch manager and an assistant that manage those facilities. We run cattle and sheep on that property, too.”

Operating multiple enterprises is in the DNA of the Tomas family. “Ryan and Justin oversee different segments of the business, which has worked pretty well for us,” says Ike. “So even though there are always a lot of things happening at once, we all like it that way.”

Of course Ike has been active in his community. He has served 12 years on the local school board. He’s an elder in Grace Community Church. He and Trisha started a

88 TPI Turf News November/December 2016

The 1985-1986 ASPA Officers and Board Members (left to right): Bill Campbell, Bob Johnson, Doug Morgan, Al Gardner, President Ike Thomas, Dick McGovern, Randy Tischer, Bob Goodrich, Dave Payne and George Betts. Not pictured: Ed Davis. Photo courtesey of the TPI Archives.

private, classical Christian school, Grace Classical Christian Academy, about four years ago. “A classical Christian model is quite a bit different from most educational models,” says Ike. “It’s been rewarding for sure.”

Looking Ahead Ike sees increasing innovation on the horizon for the turfgrass industry and sod production. He points to the advancements in the automatic stacking sod harvesters and the evolving use of GPS technology in precision farming as examples of ongoing progress. Te new and improved turfgrass varieties that significantly reduce water use and the new additives that enable plants to use less water will continue to address the increasing environmental pressures surrounding water. New software to better manage sod farming and marketing operations is continually evolving. Te marketing through the big box retailers is a positive step, and that impact will spread.

“TPI’s role will be vitally-important,” says Ike. “Te positives of turfgrass need to be continually and repeatedly communicated to the public and decision makers. People forget, or see something new, and there always are new people who haven’t heard the message. Te safety issue, with natural turfgrasses’ huge advantage over artificial turf is, I think, even more significant than we’ve been hearing; but it’s not easily quantified, so it’s hard to get that information out.”

And looking ahead for his family, Ike says, “We have those grandkids coming along that really enjoy farming. Te future looks even more exciting and filled with opportunities than the past.”

Suz Trusty is co-editor of Turf News.