IAN TRUE SURPRISED BY HONORS AT SUMMER FIELD DAY
Compiled by Suz Trusty
In a remarkable feat of secret keeping, Ian True was truly surprised by the presentation of both TPI’s Distinguished Service Award and Honorary Member Award. Te Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual for their “outstanding devotion of time, talent and energy to TPI, its programs and objectives.” Honorary membership “recognizes an individual who has significantly improved the industry or organization.” As TPI President Eric Heuver said during his presentation, “Ian True is indeed worthy of both these awards.”
As a bit of background, the profile article on Ian, “True To His Word,” in the January/February 2015 issue of Turf News, when he was serving on the TPI Board of Trustees, began this way: Ian True is a man who gets things done; committed to delivering what he promises; true to his word. As National Sales Manager for Trebro Manufacturing, Ian is responsible for the company’s sales and marketing and also “looks after” a territory that includes Canada, the northern US and Europe. Connecting with sod farmers across the globe entails lots of travel, currently putting him on the road one or two weeks a month. And he not only thrives on it; he looks for ways to do more. So it’s not surprising when he says, “Te opportunity to serve on the TPI Board of Trustees is one way I can give back to the industry that has been so good to me.”
Ian is equally committed on the personal side. Life with wife Cathy started with a diamond, as the two single parents met when their sons were playing Little League baseball on opposing teams. Each observed the other’s interaction with their sons, other kids, other parents, coaches and umpires and liked what they saw. Ian says, “I asked her out minutes before she asked me out. In 2000, I married that wonderful lady, who is also my best friend.” Teir blended family has thrived, too.
And, from that article, Ian’s connection with turfgrass farms started in the early 70s when he needed a summer job. “I was one of a two-person harvesting team when hand stacking was the only option. One of us would drive the tractor while the other one stacked to fill five pallets. Ten we’d switch spots. It was piece work; we were paid based on what we harvested. I was making $100 a day.”
Tat job financed his education at the University of Guelph, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in geography and mathematics. But he quickly
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TPI President Eric Heuver presents the awards to Ian True. Ian’s wife Cathy is at his side, while Gerry Brouwer (left) and Gregg Tvetene (right) stand behind him, affirming their support of the honors. Photo by Steve Trusty
determined an indoor, desk job was not the right fit for an active, outdoor-loving kind of guy. After a year, he went back to the University to take their Turf Managers short course. Initially, Ian thought he might become a golf course superintendent and did work on a golf course for a year. Ten, in the late 70s, he went back to the sod farm for a summer.
Gerry Brouwer, company founder, reports, “Ian started with us at Brouwer Turf Equipment Ltd about 40 years ago. He’d been working on a local sod farm harvesting sod with a Brouwer Sod Harvester. When he applied for a sales position, he impressed us a great deal; had a good attitude, pleasant personality and willing to learn/ take on new challenges and work. So we gave him a job. He worked with our Sales Manager Jack Bain, who taught him well. Ian excelled in sales, made many new friends, was dedicated to his job and took good care of the customers.”
Gerry adds, “Ian is an outstanding individual with exceptional qualities which many people do not possess. He was a quick learner and someone you could count on. Ian dedicated his life to the turf industry globally and is certainly worthy to receive this well-earned recognition. Too bad they cannot clone people yet.”
Ian’s wife Cathy reports, “After Ian began working for Brouwer in 1979, he took a truck and full trailer of equipment and travelled across Canada and the U.S.” Ian always tells people, in jest, that they told him not to come back until he’d sold it all. Cathy continues, “Tat year he became a member of ASPA (American Sod Producers Association, which
TPI Turf News September/October 2019
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