Groundskeeper Chats

Routes to Turf: Groundskeeper Chat with Mike Kuhn

Arizona State University's Assistant Manager of Athletics Grounds, Mike Kuhn's Routes to Turf is far from traditional. While attending grad school, Kuhn simultaneously enrolled in a turf program at a local community college. For Kuhn turf and agriculture were always on his radar, listen to this week's Groundskeeper Chat to hear how turf became his career.

Routes to Turf: Groundskeeper Chat with Brian McDougal

Brian McDougal is a proud MSU turf program graduate and current keeper of the keys for Spartan Stadium. McDougal's past and present turf stories take place at Michigan State University where he is the Assistant Sports Field Manager today. After being an eager student intern at MSU, McDougal left to pursue a few other gigs before returning in 2021 to work on the stadium crew under Andy McNitt. McDougal shares the full story in this week's Routes to Turf #GroundskeeperChat

Routes to Turf: Groundskeeper Chat with Craig Potts

Sod Solutions Professional, Craig Potts joins us to share his Routes to Turf story and all that in-between. Texas born and raised much of Craig's story takes place at Kyle Field in College Station. Don't miss a minute of this legendary story, here's what you'll hear on this week's #GroundskeeperChat!

Routes to Turf: Groundskeeper Chat with Alpha Jones

Director of Operations for the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, Alpha Jones, CSFM, joins us for the first time to share his route to turf story. Jones is a passionate advocate for inspiring the next generation to consider turf as a career option and helping current groundskeepers develop professionally. Here's what you'll hear in this week's #GroundskeeperChat: 

• Gardening - to -  Landscaping - to - Groundskeeper of the Year 
• The mentors, peers and friends who changed the game along the way 
• "more than grass" and what's to come

 

Routes to Turf: Groundskeeper Chat with Zach Holm

Imagine being responsible for one of the world's most iconic parks. The park that serves as a backdrop to the life-long memories made for over 42 million guests a year! Zach Holm, CSFM,  Turf Care Manager of Central Park Conservancy in New York City says he's in the business of helping make memories. In this week's #GroundskeeperChat we discover how Zach's career brought him to NYC and the iconic Central Park!

Routes to Turf: Groundskeeper Chat with Wayne Ward

Industry and Tampa Bay legend Wayne Ward takes us back to the beginning of his career and updates our listeners on what retirement has looked like. Hint, hint, his latest gig has kept him living in the fast lane! Here's what you'll hear in our newest Routes to Turf #GroundskeeperChat: 

• Ag teacher turned turf professional 
• 30 years in Tampa Bay 
• Wayne reflects on the elements of the industry that kept him going 
• Retirement: far from it! 
• Lastly, the latest update from the designer of the Wayne Ward Collection 

Routes to Turf: Groundskeeper Chat with Weston Appelfeller

We continue with our Routes to Turf series by hearing cohost's Weston Appelfeller's turf origin story and how he ended up in the position he holds today. Appelfeller grew up dreaming of one day becoming a baseball umpire. Once he discovered that the turf industry was another route to being close to the game he loved, he dove in head first. Tune in for the rest of the story which includes gigs in Columbus, Boston, Austin and plenty of pivotal moments along the way.

Stay tuned for other turf origin stories and which routes others took to find a fulfilling career in turf.

A little bit more about our guest...
Weston Appelfeller is the Market Technical Advisor for Pioneer Athletics specializing in seeds and fertilizers. When he's not on the road helping customers, he sits in as the Groundskeeper Chat cohost. Appelfeller is a proud alumni of The Ohio State University and lives in Vermont with his wife and two kids.

Routes to Turf: Groundskeeper Chat with Jess Lenihan

From bunkers in Idaho to growing grass on plastic in Colorado, Jess Lenihan joins us this week to share her Route to Turf story. Jess is the Sod Farm Manager for Green Valley Turf Co in Platteville Colorado. Similar to many turf stories, once Jess was exposed to the industry at an early age, she was all in.

Routes to Turf: Groundskeeper Chat with Ben Hartman

Ben Hartman, Director of Field Operations for the Wichita Wind Surge, joins Meg for our next Groundskeeper Chat series: Routes to Turf! Hartman's story is unique because he represents the small percentage of the industry that knew about sports turf as a young kid! Listen along for how Hartman has made mentorship, advocacy and branding a priority in his career!

Capitalizing on Culture: Groundskeeper Chat with Jason DeMink

Sports Turf Specialist at the University of Michigan, Jason DeMink, CSFM joins us to talk about visibility for our industry. DeMink has been with the University of Michigan for 17 seasons and oversees football, baseball and softball. He joins Meg and Weston to share his passion for growing the profession