CHECK OUT THE NEWTPI EXCHANGE PROGRAM By Sarah Nolte
Te Leadership, Innovation, and Technology (LIT) Committee invites you to check out the new TPI Exchange Program. Te purpose of the TPI Exchange Program is to provide a two-way exchange of information and experience between program participants and host farms. In this program, host farms will provide an opportunity for fast-paced, immersive training for employees of current TPI member farms outside their region. Host farms will showcase their innovative practices, high-performing employees, and anything else they’d like to share with a visiting member from another farm. In turn, the host farm gets an opportunity for someone to view their operation from an outside perspective and learn from them.
One of the many benefits of TPI that members often share with us is the ability to come to a TPI event and learn from other farmers outside of their sphere of influence or competition. At its core, that is what the TPI Exchange Program is all about. It’s about providing another opportunity for our members to build relationships, improve their operations, and learn from others to continue to advance our industry.
Why Did We Create Tis Program? Because we believe a thriving industry is one participating in an open exchange of ideas and innovative practices that ultimately drive us all forward to do what we do better. Because not all learning happens in a classroom. Because we believe in these wise words of Albert Einstein, “Learning is experience. Everything else is just information.”
How Does the Program Work? TPI, along with members of the Leadership, Innovation, and Technology (LIT) Committee, will provide TPI members with a slate of Host Farms who have agreed to showcase skills you wish your employee participant to shadow such as harvest, tillage, seeding, sprigging, feeding, spraying, field maintenance, equipment maintenance, sales, accounting, marketing, order management, website design, and customer service, and order logistics.
How Long Can I Send My Participant to a Host Farm? Te TPI Exchange Program is designed to last between two and seven days, however, ultimately, the Sending and Host Farms will determine the duration of the visit. Timing will be based on the availability of the Host Farms and the desired skills the Sending Farm is hoping to achieve.
20
How Do I Sign Up to Send an Employee? Go to the following link on the TPI website to view additional details about the program and a list of the currently available host farms, and to complete a brief application.
https://turfgrasssod.org/tpi-exchange-program/
How much does the program cost? Tere is an Application Fee of $100.00 for TPI’s administration of the Program. Te Sending Farm will be responsible for all travel costs and reservations, including flights, hotels, visas, meals, etc. required. Please note your employee will remain on your payroll and insurance during their participation in the program.
Who Would Be an Ideal Participant? Select a coworker who will represent your farm with integrity and adhere to the expected behaviors and safety protocols of the Host Farms. Participants should have a valid ID and insurance coverage. Please be very clear with your Participant that they will not be operating any equipment while on the program. Tey are onsite to shadow, to be curious, and to brainstorm ideas with the Host Farm employees.
Current Host Farms Available • SelecTurf, Inc - Jim Keeven & Kelsey Sandbothe, Jefferson City, MO (USA)
• Debuck’s Sod Farm, Inc - Diane & Greg Mischel, Davison, MI (USA)
• Blue Grass Enterprises, Inc - Sarah Nolte, Alburnett, IA (USA)
• Central Sod, Jack Warpinski, Centreville, MD (USA) • Woerner Farms, Graham Simmons, Foley, Alabama (USA)
• Eagle Lake Professional Landscape Supply, Eric Heuver, Strathmore, Alberta (CANDA)
How Will TPI Promote and Oversee Tese Experiences? TPI and LIT Committee members will assist in pairing Sending Farms with Host Farms during the initial application process. If the Sending or Host Farm would like non-compete agreements to be signed prior to a visit, TPI will facilitate this process. Upon completion of a visit, TPI will do a short “exit interview” with a Participant to be highlighted on the website, at TPI conferences, and in Turf News.
Sarah Nolte, a third-generation sod farmer, is the business manager for Blue Grass Enterprises, Inc., a family- owned operation in Alburnett, Iowa. She is chair of TPI’s Leadership, Innovation, and Technology Committee.
TPI Turf News November/Decemb ber 20 2024
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 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148
