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Horizon Distributors, Inc. recently donated two new Jacobsen ECLIPSE walking greens mowers to the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) in Ft. Lauderdale.
Turfgrass universities like the University of Florida’s IFAS typically manage large turf plots that need to be maintained with the same professional equipment used on golf courses and sports fields. Not only do the donations take some of the financial burden of turf maintenance off the schools, it also gives students the opportunity to operate some of the most advanced pieces of turf equipment on the market today.
“Our department’s primary objectives are to develop and disseminate warm-season turfgrass management programs which emphasize the efficient use of water, nutrients and pesticides in south Florida’s subtropical environment,” said Dr. John L. Cisar, Associate Professor of Turfgrass and Water Management at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. “Having quality, commercial-grade equipment from Jacobsen gives our students the opportunity to manage our turfgrass in the same manner as professional superintendents and sports field managers.”
Jacobsen ECLIPSE walking and riding greens mowers are the only products to feature variable frequency-of-clip, onboard backlapping and a choice of either hybrid or battery drive. The advanced technology of ECLIPSE mowers allows turf managers to reduce the amount of stress on their turf, especially when mowing greens.
“We have long believed that supporting education benefits the industry as a whole,” said David Withers, President of Jacobsen. “We will continue to support education through equipment donations, scholarship programs and special events like our Future Turf Managers seminar in Charlotte, North Carolina later this year.”
Horizon offers Jacobsen products through its four Florida locations, as well as in Maryland, Delaware and Virginia. The donation is part of its ongoing commitment to provide students and landscape professionals with educational resources such as the Horizon Business Builder program and BizPro eSources online education and training content.
“We’re glad to join with Jacobsen to support the University of Florida’s IFAS and its students with this contribution,“ said Brian Frost, Business Development-Golf, Horizon Southeast. “Horizon places a strong emphasis on offering educational opportunities in the industry, and this will enable students to apply their turfgrass management knowledge using the latest in technology from Jacobsen.”