1991

1992

ASPA’s 1992 Midwinter Conference was held at Bally’s Resort, Las Vegas, NV, February 5-7. Te pre-conference seminar addressed, “How to Market Sod in Any Economy,” which tied into other sessions for coping with the down economy in both sales and alternative planning.

A member looks over display materials at the 1991 ASPA Midwinter Conference in San Antonio, TX.

Te Hyatt Regency Hotel in San Antonio, TX, was the site of ASPA’s 1991 Midwinter Conference held January 23-25. Conference chair, Darwin McKay, Turfco, Meridian, ID, would be elected ASPA 1991-1992 President in July. Te program addressed a variety of issues vital to the economic and organizational stability of turfgrass sod farms. Topics included: the future workforce as it impacts sod production; sales and marketing in relation to a company’s public image; agronomics; and the pros and cons of buffalograss. Environmental concerns were an important part of the education sessions and included an update on implementation of ASPA’s nine- point environmental program. Te post-conference farm tour visited Quality Turfgrass Farms in San Marcos, owned by Dick and Steve Brown. An onsite used equipment auction followed the tour.

Te Summer Convention and Field Day was held at the Red Lion Inn, Portland, OR, July 31-August 2. California’s worsening water crisis had made it inadvisable to use the originally-scheduled facility in Santa Barbara, CA. Field Day Host was JB Instant Lawn, Silverton, OR, owned by Paul and Marie Jensen, who also hosted the opening night reception and dinner outdoors, on “a beautiful field of turfgrass.” Tursday was Demo-Day featuring equipment demonstrations as well as static displays. Te Friday tour stops were Oregon Turf & Tree and Turf-Seed/Pure Seed Testing, all of Hubbard, OR.

Dr. James B Beard was named ASPA’s Environmental Science Advisor in 1991. ASPA members received a copy of the comprehensive report, Farmland and Urban Soil Conservation Resulting from Cultivated Turfgrass Sod. A special environmental issue of Turf News was distributed to nearly 2,000 ASLA members. ASPA’s Tird International Study Tour visited Austria, Germany and the Netherlands.

TPI Turf News September/October 2016

ASPA celebrated its 25th anniversary in grand style. Charter members shared in the festivities held in conjunction with ASPA's Summer Convention and Field Days at the Fairmont Hotel, Chicago, IL, July 23-25. Convention Chair, Mike Holmes, Warren’s Turf Nursery, Crystal Lake, IL, was also elected ASPA’s 1992-1993 President. Highlighting the three-day 25th Anniversary Celebration was a special black-tie banquet and the introduction of past presidents, charter members and turf industry dignitaries. A unique and humorous skit written especially for the evening by Janice Betts of Tuckahoe Turf Farms, Tuckahoe, NJ, called on the acting skills of many ASPA members for the re-enactment of ASPA’s history. Mr. Turf, the newly-created public relations image of turfgrass, was introduced.

Field Day Host was Central Sod Farms, Inc, Naperville, IL. An antique sod equipment display was a special field day feature, in addition to the equipment demonstrations and static displays. An ASPA seed test plot area was a Field Day first. ASPA’s 1973-1983 Executive Director Robert Garey; and turfgrass researcher, Dr. Tomas Watschke, Pennsylvania State University; were presented as ASPA’s 12th and 13th Honorary Members. Tour sites included: H & E Sod, Markham and Momence, IL; Huber Ranch Sod Nursery, Schneider, IN; and Evergreen Sod Nursery, Peotone, IL.

ASPA's membership of 915 included representatives from every U.S. state, nine Canadian provinces and 22 other countries. Te 25th anniversary history book, Turfgrass: Natures Constant Benediction, was provided to members.

Te ASPA 25th Anniversary logo includes the 1992 Summer Convention meeting site—Chicago.

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