Groundskeeper Chats

Visibility Matters: Groundskeeper Chat with Meg Kruger and Weston Appelfeller

Our Groundskeeper Chat co-hosts, Meg and Weston sat down to talk all things branding and how visibility can impact your crew, your career and your community. The duo will be LIVE at SFMA in Daytona Beach this year interviewing guests at the Pioneer Athletics booth, until then here's what you'll hear in this #GroundskeeperChat episode: 

• Branding 101, getting started 
• How to utilize social media for data points and resume building 
• How visibility combats misconceptions in our industry 
• The importance of bringing our industry into the spotlight 
• Lastly, the pair talk about their plans for SFMA, catch us there in January! 

The Business of Turf:Groundskeeper Chat with Ryan Bjorn

Gillette Stadium's Field Superintendent Ryan Bjorn joins our Groundskeeper Chat series to talk the business of turf. Ryan shares his turf origin story with Meg and Weston and brings light to the other professionals he had the opportunity to learn from before he took the job to lead his own crew in New England. Don't miss the opportunity to hear how Ryan and his crew manage it all and a cameo from Turf Twitter superstar, Boyd Bjorn! 

The Business of Turf: Groundskeeper Chat with Brian Hall

Brian Hall is the Facilities and Maintenance Director of Sylvania Recreation District in Sylvania, Ohio. In a single year his department will prepare the fields and grounds to host over 350,000 people for soccer, baseball, softball and so on. Brian joins us to talk about how he plans, budgets and tracks everything in order to be successful year after year.

Inspiring the Next Generation: Groundskeeper Chat with Jakob ”Bobber” Scales

Jakob "Bobber" Scales joins us for this week's #GroundskeeperChat to share his POV as a proud member of the next generation in the turf industry. Bobber talks about everything from his move from Wichita Kansas to Surprise Arizona , building his social portfolio and the origin story behind his nickname. Listen along to Bobber's full episode to hear:  

• How he turned his covid hobby into a career 
• Strategies for securing the next step 
• Building a social portfolio to serve as a resume 
• How veterans can help attract or inspire the next generation 
• Lastly, "The Weather Report" 

A little bit more about our guest...
Jakob "Bobber" Scales is a student at Ottawa University in Arizona and aspiring sports turf manager.  After three summers working with the Wichita Wind Surge, Jakob moved to Arizona to attend school and work at the Royals/Rangers spring training complex, Surprise Sports Complex.

Inspiring the Next Generation: Groundskeeper Chat with Hailey Tucker

Turf Science student Hailey Tucker is entering her Junior year at Texas A&M. She joins us to introduce her new podcast The Grass Gal (@TheGrassGal) and talk about her hopes for inspiring the next generation through conversations with industry leaders and fellow students. Tune in to our latest #GroundskeeperChat to hear Hailey discuss: 

• The origin story behind her new podcast, The Grass Gal 
• Her summer internship with Carolina Green 
• Navigating the transitional phase of student to intern to graduate 
• Choosing a career that caters to having a family 
• Lastly, our newest segment, The Weather Report! 

A little bit more about our guest... 
Hailey Tucker was an animal science major at Texas A&M before turf science caught her eye. After joining the Women in Turf Team at the Little League Softball World Series in 2022, Hailey dove head first into researching all the different career paths in the turf industry. Hailey has worked with Chase Straw, Weston Floyd and Nick McKenna during her time at A&M and Chad Price during her most recent internship with Carolina Green. 

Work/Life Balance: Groundskeeper Chat with Mike and Lisa Goatley

Husband and Wife Duo, Mike and Lisa Goatley, join us for a #GroundskeeperChat to talk about work/life balance in the sports turf industry. The pair share insight and tips for creating healthy habits in the workplace and on the Homefront. Here's what you'll hear in this week's #GroundskeeperChat 

• Being present 
• The importance of assessing your values as an employee and partner 
• How to set boundaries and expectations as an employee early on in your career 
• The Goatley's "What we've learned, sometimes the hard way" 
• Conducting "family business meetings" 
• Lastly, the importance of creating a trusting and communicative relationship with your employer/employee

A little bit more about our guests... 
Lisa Goatley is licensed professional counselor and sees patients struggling with mental health, martial conflict and trauma. Mike Goatley has been a professor and extension turfgrass specialist with Virginia Tech University for over 20 years, with 15 previous years at Mississippi State University. For decades, the couple have been navigating careers and raising children together and are here to tell us what they've learned along the way. 

A look at our industry today: Groundskeeper Chat with Patrick ”Irish” Coakley

Drew Miller is joined by DuraEdge rep for our last drop from the special edition #GroundskeeperChat X #TigerTurfTalk collaboration. Patrick Coakley, fondly known as Irish in the sports turf industry, comes to the chat with over 20 plus years of experience in the minor leagues and now his perspective from the other side of the dirt. Here's what you'll hear in this week's Groundskeeper Chat:

• How we can promote our industry to those outside of the sports turf world 
• Current challenges facing our industry today 
• Patrick talks about his love from dirt which started during his minor league days 
• New tech we can expect from the dirt side of the industry 
• Lastly, how to have parents buy into our priority of player safety and playability 

FIFA World Cup Panel Discussion: Groundskeeper Chat with Dr. John Sorochan, Dr. Trey Rodgers and Jose Aldrete

With the United States set to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026, we dive into the research, preparation and excitement that this team of professors and sports turf professionals already have the ball rolling on. Drew Miller moderates this FIFA World Cup Panel Discussion in another special edition #GroundskeeperChat X #TigerTurfTalk collaboration episode. Here's what you'll hear in this week's episode: 

• The challenge of creating consistent playing conditions in stadiums across the United States 
• The ongoing research and preparation for the 2026 World Cup 
• Full circle opportunity to give grad students the opportunity to play a role in the World Cup 
• What factors people may not consider when thinking of planning for the World Cup 
• Lastly, what each gentlemen is hoping the legacy of their work with the World Cup with do for the sports turf industry and groundskeepers to come

 

Turfgrass Across the Pond: Groundskeeper Chat with Paul Burgess

We dive into the world of football across the pond in our latest #GroundskeeperChat X #TigerTurfTalk collab episode! Drew Miller is joined by Sports Turf Legend, Paul Burgess to catch up on the latest and greatest in developing pitches. Burgess spent decades managing the pitches for Arensal FC and Real Madrid FC before becoming a pitch consultant for AS Monaco. Here's what you'll hear in this week's chat: 

• Turfgrass across the pond
• Bringing the World Cup to the U.S.
• Paul's current project with AS Monaco 
• The building blocks of a successful football pitch 
• Lastly, a pitch manager's role in athlete safety and playability. 

 

MLB Panel Discussion: Groundskeeper Chat with Matt Brown, Bill Deacon and Luke Yoder

We welcome current and former MLB groundskeepers for a special edition #GroundskeeperChat X #TigerTurfTalk panel discussion episode. Drew Miller hosts three MLB professionals who have all at one time worked on the field together. They talk about the strong family tree in baseball and where each of their paths have led them today. Here's what you'll hear in this week's episode: 

• The unique challenges of an ever-evolving baseball groundskeeper position 
• Developing staff to run their own shows one day 
• Creative strategies for scheduling and working in reset days 
• Managing dirt and growing grass while simultaneously hosting events 
• How to set expectations for new hires and the next generation 
• Lastly, securing a seat at the table for groundskeepers