Te first was the introduction of the new logo Charles originated, uniting ASPA with the easily-recognizable roll of sod. He encouraged members to incorporate it into their advertising and use it on their letterheads and other promotional materials. Te second was the new ASPA brochure, “Te Dream Lawn is Yours in Hours with Sod.” Charles, as chairman of the committee, collaborated with Pine Island’s advertising company to develop a piece that emphasized the benefits of sodding to the end user and identified the sod producer as the expert to provide those benefits. It was as useful in reaching landscape architects and contractors as homeowners; the basis for presentation and promotion to “anyone with an interest in lawn development.” Initially, 100,000 copies were printed, with later printings to follow.

Charles attended both the Mid-Winter Conferences and the Summer Conventions and Field Days, making the summer trip a family excursion whenever possible. In 1978, the year of his presidency, the summer meeting was in Spokane. He says, “I had worked in the Pacific Northwest, knew the area, and wanted to show it to my family. We rented a motor home and headed to Washington State on a three-week trip with stops at attractions such as Mt. Rushmore and Salt Lake City along the way. Our oldest daughter was 18; Chip was 15,

and our youngest about 9. I think that’s when Chip got hooked on wanting to get into the industry.”

Chip adds, “It was a wonderful family adventure, a highlight among memories of great trips. It also gave me insight on the strength of ASPA and the power of sharing information; half of the learning took place in the hallways and social events during members’ in-depth business conversations.”

Growing the Business As the children got older, Ruth became even more active in the business, serving as office manager and corporate secretary. Chip’s role on the farm increased, too, as he continued to take on more responsibilities. He attended Cook College at Rutgers, but opted to return to the farm full-time and immerse himself in learning through multiple other resources. “My colleagues, the educational sessions and networking opportunities at TPI and other industry associations, and the information from our suppliers all contributed to my on-the-job training,” he says. He and Shari married in 1986. Chip says, “She had been working for her father who was running a Warren Turf Nursery operation, which was our biggest competitor. After the wedding, she came to work for us and, when Warren’s closed that branch location, we ended up

This aerial view gives a snapshot of Pine Island Turf Nursery before the addition of the Malt House.Photo courtesey of the Lain family. TPI Turf News November/December 2016 91