ASSOCIATION UPDATES JASPERSON SOD FARM HOSTS WSPA FIELD DAY
Tis equipment lineup made for easy viewing at the WSPA Field Day. Photo by Ryan Menken
By Karen Cooper A nice breeze, a little sun, and 75 degrees created a perfect setting for the Wisconsin Sod Producers Association (WSPA) Field Day, held on Tursday, July 19, at Jasperson Sod Farm in Franksville, Wisconsin. More than 135 individuals came from Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Ohio to see a great selection of products from twenty companies. Te long-distance award for the day (winners of a Jasperson Sod Farm cooler!) were James and Michele Gibson from DG Turf Farm of Notus, Idaho. Te Gibson family flew out to Wisconsin to see their brand-new harvester be demonstrated and for James to get an early start on training to operate it. (It would be loaded on a trailer for the trip to their farm immediately after the field day.)
Te event started out as the WSPA summer picnic, but a couple of equipment representatives contacted WSPA vice-president Randy Jasperson about possibly demonstrating some equipment and soon Randy’s son Mark and son-in-law Ryan Menken decided that it would be a great time for a full-blown field day.
Te exhibitors quickly signed up and WSPA Executive Secretary Gina Halter worked with TPI to reach out to producers in the region. According to Ryan, “Te way this event came together just shows how much of a family sod growers really are. We had so many people willing to help
make this happen and many of our neighboring farms offered the use of their equipment for demonstrations. It was a great day because a lot of people came together to make it happen.”
Te WSPA generously donated net proceeds from the day to Te Lawn Institute in support of TLI’s new public relations campaign to promote natural turfgrass. Tis event generated $4,400 for TLI through vendor sponsorships and attendee donations.
Is your state or regional association planning an upcoming field day? Contact TPI Associate Executive Director Karen Cooper at
kcooper@TurfGrassSod.org to find out how TPI can help.
In-the-field demonstrations take center stage at the Wisconsin Sod Producers Association Field Day at Jasperson Sod Farm. Photo by Ryan Menken
VIEWING THEIR HARVESTER IN ACTION
James and Michele Gibson are third-generation owners of DG Turf Farm in Notus, Idaho. James’ grandparents started the farm in 1972 and they have been TPI members since 1978. Tis new machine was their first brand-new automated harvester and they simply couldn’t wait to see it! As with most sod growers, time is precious in the summer and this field day was their first trip away from the farm together in the summer since they were married eight years ago.
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James and Michele Gibson and their children enjoy the WSPA field day. Photo courtesy of Michele Gibson
Te Gibson children watch as their Dad, James, and the trainer run the new harvester. Photo courtesy of Michele Gibson
TPI Turf News September/October 2018
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