DONATE TO TLI AND REALLY, REALLY ENJOY IT! By Suz Trusty
A dice and dollar game of Left-Right-Center around the Coombs’ kitchen counter. From left to right: John, Jim, Hank, Steve, Laurie, Randy, Hilda, Kathy and Mary. Donna is the photographer.
What happens when five TPI couples get together for the weekend? Fun breaks out!! So, when Donna Coombs placed the winning bid for a Gourmet Dinner for 8 at the TLI “After Hours” Dessert Reception and TLI Fundraising Auction last February, she already knew she and John would really, really enjoy it and that others within the TPI Family would too.
Te Gourmet Dinner, donated by Hank and Mary Kerfoot of Modern Turf in Rembert, South Carolina, would incorporate their own special recipes which that master chef couple have fine-tuned to perfection. And John and Donna Coombs of Coombs Sod Farms in Elmer, New Jersey, made plans to share that experience, hosting some of their good friends from Turfgrass Producers International who attend the TPI Conference every year.
Donna said, “We suggested some dates when sod sales would be slowing a bit and July 21-22 worked for everyone. Joining us for the weekend were Jim and Kathy Keeven from SelecTurf in Jefferson City, Missouri; Randy and Hilda Jasperson from Jasperson Sod Farm in Franksville, Wisconsin; Steve and Laurie Griffin from Saratoga Sod Farm in Stillwater, New York; and of course, Hank and Mary Kerfoot.
John and Donna live nearly 40 minutes from the nearest hotel, and they love sharing their home with guests, so everyone stayed with them. Hank said, “Te accommodations were great. Tey have two guest rooms and had borrowed a couple of very nice campers from
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friends. Donna said they stole the camper idea from the Keeven’s Duck Hunt TLI Fundraising trip last year. John had the campers all hooked up and ready, which worked out very well for extra refrigerator space, too.”
Everyone arrived in time for a Friday evening get-together. Donna said, “Hank and Mary always do so much more than expected. Tey’d volunteered to provide the dinner featuring their wonderful Chicken Cuban. Te weather was perfect for enjoying it all outside.”
Saturday Surprises John and Donna had planned an ocean fishing trip departing from Cape May as the Saturday highlight, but rains and wind moved in overnight and a small craft advisory was issued through Saturday. “So we improvised,” said Donna. “Mary suggested a tour of the Winterthur Estate in Delaware, a former du Pont family home that is now a combination museum, garden and library. John had rented a small ‘turtle top’ bus for the weekend, so everyone piled in for the excursion. We finished exploring Winterthur around two and then continued visiting during a relaxing lunch at Te Rail at Clay Creek Country Club in Wilmington.
Back at the house, the visiting continued as Donna took charge for dinner. She’d decided on a typical family- style summer meal featuring steak, corn-on-the cob, and blueberry muffins. Hank says, “Donna is a really good cook. Her breakfasts each morning and that Saturday
TPI Turf News September/October 2018
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