If you're a college student interested in turfgrass management at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, you're not likely to pass up an opportunity to travel out-of-state to a warmer climate to attend turfgrass science-related conferences, compete in national competitions and visit professional sports facilities in January or February.
On Feb. 5, two Nebraska turf competition teams finished 25th and 47th out of 77 teams, comprised of 287 students from 30 universities, at the 32nd Annual Collegiate Turf Bowl. The contest, presented in partnership with John Deere, was held during the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Conference and Trade Show in Orlando, Florida.
Josh Hong, Riley Dinslage, Ryan Knipping, Nate Agosta, Joel Herman and Jaden Krenzer competed for the Huskers. All are plant and landscape system majors with an option in turfgrass science and management. Anne Streich, professor of practice in agronomy and horticulture, was the team adviser for the trip.
For the third year, the Turf Bowl exam was conducted electronically. The test included 100 multiple-choice questions covering math, turfgrass growth and development, soils, fertility, pesticides, irrigation, mowing and water management. Students also had to identify turfgrass and weeds from live samples, insects and diseases from images with descriptions of species they affected and conditions that favored their presence, and turfgrass seed from seed samples.
The students also toured the Orlando City SC Training Ground, home of Orlando City SC in the MLS, in Kissimmee, Florida, and met with Billy Myrehn, head groundskeeper.
On Jan. 21, five agronomy and horticulture students attended the Sports Field Management Association Conference in Fort Worth, Texas, and competed in the Student Challenge. Two Husker teams placed 16th and 17th out of 21 teams.
The SFMA Student Challenge, presented in partnership with the SAFE Foundation, founding partner Hunter Industries, and supporting sponsor SiteOne, brought together students from institutions nationwide. Participants competed in an exam that tested their knowledge of the sports field management industry.
Agronomy and horticulture students (from left) Max Mueller, Carson Vachal, Easton Petsche, Aaron Barnhouse and Alex Painter attend the National Sports Field Management Association Conference and compete in the Student Challenge Jan. 21 in Fort Worth, Texas.
Amanda Folck | Agronomy and Horticulture
The Student Challenge teams included Alex Painter, Carson Vachal, Aaron Barnhouse and Easton Petsche, all plant and landscape systems majors with a turfgrass science and management option, and Max Mueller, an agronomy major. Amanda Folck, an assistant extension educator in turfgrass management in the agronomy and horticulture department, was the adviser during the conference.
Alongside the competition, students met with various representatives from the turfgrass industry and visited turfgrass facilities. They visited AT&T Stadium and home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, Southern Methodist University Athletic Facilities, Toyota Stadium and home of the MLS’s Dallas FC, Globe Life Field and home of the MLB’s Texas Rangers, and Riders Field and home of the MLB’s Frisco RoughRiders.
“There is optimism for those respective students attending either conference, from attending the SFMA or GCSAA, to attending in person to see the resources, information and industry support collectively shape the future of the turfgrass industry,” Folck said. “This is in addition to the work we at the UNL Turfgrass Science Program are providing to help prepare for their next chapter in the industry.”
