LANDMARK TURF & NATIVE SEED’S LARRY HUMPHREYS
RECOGNIZED FOR 50 YEARS IN THE SOD INDUSTRY! Compiled by Suz Trusty
TPI President Eric Heuver (left) presents Larry Humphreys the award recognizing his 50 years of service to the industry. Photo by Steve Trusty
TPI President Eric Heuver surprised Larry Humphreys at TPI’s 2019 Summer Convention & Field Day in Minneapolis by calling him forward to issue recognition for his long service to the turfgrass industry.
As Landmark Turf & Native Seed’s John Brader reported, “Larry grew up on a farm in Southwest Ohio and earned his BS degree in Soil Science from Te Ohio State University. He began his career in 1969 as a Sod Marketing Specialist with Te Scotts Company where he was on the team that introduced Windsor Kentucky Bluegrass. He continued with Scotts through 2011, with a brief stint in the 90s with Lesco. For the past 50 years, Larry has been building relationships and servicing the professional sod grower market, approving lots for sod use, formulating sod blends and mixtures, introducing new genetics, and selling sod quality seed. Since 2012, Larry has maintained this role with Landmark Turf & Native Seed and continues to generate new sod seed business while retaining partnerships with his customers, some of which span three generations.”
A press release, issued by the company and picked up by several industry publications, reported in early 2012, that five years after selling its turf seed division, Landmark Seed was returning to the professional grass seed industry as Landmark Turf and Native Seed. Te new company, headed by Orlin Reinbold, RJ Schmitt, Ray Brubakken and John Brader, would be focused on the development and sales of seed to the professional turf, native and reclamation markets.
Larry Humphreys stands at the front of the Landmark Turf & Native Seed 2019 Field Day display while his cohort John Brader stands at the back of it. Photo by Suz Trusty
Tey further reported that Landmark Turf and Native Seed had acquired well-known turfgrass varieties, and had licensed new material from industry-leading turfgrass breeding programs. Te company would be focusing on value-added varieties and service to the golf, sports turf, sod and professional lawn and landscape markets. Te native and reclamation division of Landmark maintained operations after the sale of the turfgrass division. Te new organization would continue to lead in the production and marketing of native, reclamation, forage and wildflower seed.
Part of that release announced that Larry Humphreys had joined the company to lead their sod seed efforts. Obviously, Larry’s expertise was already well known, so his addition to the company would make an impact.
And, as many others have reported, Larry continues to make an impact not only in Landmark Turf & Native Seed and with his customers, but also within TPI and the natural grass industry overall. Larry is that friendly face seen at multiple industry events; one quick to greet first timers and make introductions to help them network; one to deliver on what he promises and lend a helping hand along the way.
Included in his expression of thanks for the acknowledgement, was a comment many have heard Larry say frequently, “Life is good. I like what I do, and I like who I work with.”
Congratulations on 50 years of serving the industry, Larry! May you have many more!
32 TPI Turf News September/October 2019
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76
