“Growing Professionally with OTF” was the theme of the 2004 Ohio Turfgrass Conference and Show.
More than 3,800 turfgrass professionals participated in the educational conference and tradeshow at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Dec. 7 through 10, 2004 and almost 2,900 attendees visited with leading suppliers of turfgrass products and services in more than 530 booths. The trade show floor offered one a diverse group of exhibitors and new entertainment at its welcome reception, as Doug MacLean, general manager, Columbus Blue Jackets, gave a welcome presentation.
“A lot of business was written on the show floor,” show manager Kevin Thompson says. “Many exhibitors have commented on the number of decision-makers visiting the trade show, and the quality and number of new prospective customers they met.”
Terry Bonar, superintendent at Canterbury Golf Club in Beachwood was pleased with the event.
"This year it seemed to me that the subject matter, the speakers, the superintendents and the panels addressed problems that were of particular interest to me and a number of people that I talked to,” Bonar says.
John Cummings, CGCS, superintendent of Berry Hills Country Club in Charleston, W. Va., is a veteran of the show and can’t recall one being better than this one.
“The OTF Conference and Show was fantastic this year,” Cummings said. “I have been to many OTF Conferences prior to and since graduating from The Ohio State University and this has to be the very best one that I can remember.”
The conference and show officially opened with a keynote speech from Mike Veeck, part owner of five professional baseball teams, senior vice president of the Detroit Tigers, ad agency executive and nationally-recognized speaker. The educational sessions featured turfgrass management experts from Iowa State University, Penn State, University of Georgia, University of Kentucky, Michigan State and the Sports Turf Research Institute in the United Kingdom, along with several professionals representing athletic facilities and golf courses around the country. More than 30 hours of pesticide re-certification training, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, and Sports Turf Managers Association credits were available in more than 100 hours of education, making it the largest and most diverse curriculum OTF has ever offered.
A highlight of the event included the OTF Annual Awards Banquet. Nearly $25,000 was awarded in scholarships to turfgrass management students from schools throughout Ohio. Additionally, OTF president George Furrer presented a symbolic check in the amount of $173,800 to Dr. Bobby Moser, dean, College of Agriculture at The Ohio State University, representing 2004 research grants to the university and student scholarship awards. The banquet also highlighted the presentation of the following awards to two outstanding turfgrass professionals:
Mike O’Connell, superintendent at Maketewah Country Club in Cincinnati, was presented with the Professional of the Year award for his commitment to the golf course maintenance profession, and for his many years of involvement in the Greater Cincinnati Golf Course Superintendents Association. O’Connell’s award was presented by longtime friend and OTF past president John Fanning of Verdicon/UHS.
Pamela Sherratt, The Ohio State University, Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, was presented with a Professional Excellence Award by John Street for her accomplishments in turfgrass research and education, particularly in the areas of sports turf research and extension.
In its 38th year as the nation’s premier event for turfgrass management, the Ohio Turfgrass Conference and Show is sponsored by the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation, The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, OSU Extension, Ohio Lawn Care Association, Ohio Sports Turf Managers Association and Ohio Sod Producers Association. The 2005 Ohio Turfgrass Conference and Show will be Dec. 6 through 9 in Columbus.
For additional Ohio Turfgrass Foundation information, call 888-683-3445, fax: 740-452-2552, e-mail: info@OhioTurfgrass.org or visit the Web site at www.OhioTurfgrass.org.
More than 3,800 turfgrass professionals participated in the educational conference and tradeshow at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Dec. 7 through 10, 2004 and almost 2,900 attendees visited with leading suppliers of turfgrass products and services in more than 530 booths. The trade show floor offered one a diverse group of exhibitors and new entertainment at its welcome reception, as Doug MacLean, general manager, Columbus Blue Jackets, gave a welcome presentation.
“A lot of business was written on the show floor,” show manager Kevin Thompson says. “Many exhibitors have commented on the number of decision-makers visiting the trade show, and the quality and number of new prospective customers they met.”
Terry Bonar, superintendent at Canterbury Golf Club in Beachwood was pleased with the event.
"This year it seemed to me that the subject matter, the speakers, the superintendents and the panels addressed problems that were of particular interest to me and a number of people that I talked to,” Bonar says.
John Cummings, CGCS, superintendent of Berry Hills Country Club in Charleston, W. Va., is a veteran of the show and can’t recall one being better than this one.
“The OTF Conference and Show was fantastic this year,” Cummings said. “I have been to many OTF Conferences prior to and since graduating from The Ohio State University and this has to be the very best one that I can remember.”
The conference and show officially opened with a keynote speech from Mike Veeck, part owner of five professional baseball teams, senior vice president of the Detroit Tigers, ad agency executive and nationally-recognized speaker. The educational sessions featured turfgrass management experts from Iowa State University, Penn State, University of Georgia, University of Kentucky, Michigan State and the Sports Turf Research Institute in the United Kingdom, along with several professionals representing athletic facilities and golf courses around the country. More than 30 hours of pesticide re-certification training, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, and Sports Turf Managers Association credits were available in more than 100 hours of education, making it the largest and most diverse curriculum OTF has ever offered.
A highlight of the event included the OTF Annual Awards Banquet. Nearly $25,000 was awarded in scholarships to turfgrass management students from schools throughout Ohio. Additionally, OTF president George Furrer presented a symbolic check in the amount of $173,800 to Dr. Bobby Moser, dean, College of Agriculture at The Ohio State University, representing 2004 research grants to the university and student scholarship awards. The banquet also highlighted the presentation of the following awards to two outstanding turfgrass professionals:
Mike O’Connell, superintendent at Maketewah Country Club in Cincinnati, was presented with the Professional of the Year award for his commitment to the golf course maintenance profession, and for his many years of involvement in the Greater Cincinnati Golf Course Superintendents Association. O’Connell’s award was presented by longtime friend and OTF past president John Fanning of Verdicon/UHS.
Pamela Sherratt, The Ohio State University, Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, was presented with a Professional Excellence Award by John Street for her accomplishments in turfgrass research and education, particularly in the areas of sports turf research and extension.
In its 38th year as the nation’s premier event for turfgrass management, the Ohio Turfgrass Conference and Show is sponsored by the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation, The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, OSU Extension, Ohio Lawn Care Association, Ohio Sports Turf Managers Association and Ohio Sod Producers Association. The 2005 Ohio Turfgrass Conference and Show will be Dec. 6 through 9 in Columbus.
For additional Ohio Turfgrass Foundation information, call 888-683-3445, fax: 740-452-2552, e-mail: info@OhioTurfgrass.org or visit the Web site at www.OhioTurfgrass.org.
