The Central Florida Sports Turf Managers Association (CFSTMA) partnered with host site Lake Jem Farms, CEU speaker sponsor Sod Solutions and lunch sponsor Everglades Equipment to conduct our 7th Annual Field Day March 21, 2019.
More than 75 attendees from the Central Florida area had the opportunity to receive 1 CEU credit toward maintenance of their sprayer applicators licensing with a talk from Jerad Minnick, Entrepreneur Consultant for natural grass sport surfaces. He discussed the evolution of Bermudagrass varieties, explored the evolution in its maintenance and how new varieties of Bermudagrass are creating new possibilities for high-use natural grass surfaces.
Prior to the CEU session, attendees visited 12 table top vendors (listed below) and after the CEU session, 12 equipment vendors (listed below) were afforded the opportunity to demonstrate their equipment in action – live in a parade format.
TABLETOPS VENDORS – Site One Landscape Supply, Pioneer Athletics, Beard Equipment, FMC, Nufarm, Yara North America, The Turfgrass Group, Scotts ProVista, Rain Bird, Harrell’s, Terra Feed, and Sod Solutions
EQUIPMENT VENDORS – St. John’s Turf Care, Helena Agri Enterprises, Beard Equipment, Wesco Turf, Global Turf Equipment, Crystal Tractor, Turf Tank, STEC Equipment, World Sports, Aerification Plus, Power Turf, Everglades Equipment
A lunch of BBQ ribs, potato salad, corn on the cobb was prepared on site by Everglades Equipment sales personal who double as expert BBQ Chefs. The meal was especially good eating enhanced by being outdoors under a tent on a beautiful Florida spring day.
There were varied organization represented at this Field Day….In no particular order they were: City of Maitland, Orange County Parks & Recreation, Mountverde Academy, Volusia County Parks & Recreation, Orange County Public Schools, Plant City, West Oaks Academy, City of St. Cloud, City of Ocala, City of Orlando, Citrus County School Board, Town of Belleair, Polk County BOCC, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, City of Debary, City of Tavares,
The CFSTMA Board in remarks at the conclusion of the event expressed their appreciation and a “Thank You” to the event sponsors; Lake Jem Farms for hosting the event, Sod Solutions for sponsoring Jerad Minnick our CEU speaker and Everglades Equipment for providing a wonderful lunch. Specifically we recognized:
- Jim Granger with Lake Jem Farms
- Christian Broucqsault with Sod Solutions
- Rafael Lara with Everglades Equipment
Everyone, vendors and attendees enjoyed the education session and the equipment demo! Event concluded around 2:00 p.m. with Lake Jem’s demo of sod harvesting and install equipment.
It was a wonderful spring day at Lake Jem Farms for CFSTMA professional, & commercial members and our first-time guests!