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Last updated2/26/04 |
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TURF
ALUMNI NEWS February 2004 |
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A number of graduates have recently been honored by Purdue University for their outstanding service and leadership in their respective fields. Bob Shaw (BS 1972) was awarded the Agronomic Achievement Award in October of 2003. Bob is the second-generation owner of Knox Fertilizer in Knox , IN. Bob's company started as a local company and is now producing fertilizer products for the consumer retail, golf course, lawn care, landscape, nursery and ornamental markets throughout the United States . Ted Woehrle (BS 1954) was awarded the Purdue Ag Alumni Association's Certificate of Distinction Award in February 2004. Ted has had an unprecedented career as a golf course superintendent, hosting nine major golf tournaments, given that hosting only a single major tournament would be considered a tremendous career for a golf course superintendent. Lee Schmidt (BS 1970) will be honored as a Distinguished Ag Alumni at Spring Fest in April of 2004. Lee is a co-owner of Schmidt-Curley Golf Design and has been involved with the design and construction of over 70 golf courses throughout the world. We congratulate these deserving alumni for their successes and their contribution to the turf industry.
Bev started retirement on December 31, 2003 after being with the Turf Science group for over 8 years and with the Agronomy Department for 26 years. Beginning in Soil Chemistry with Roth, Bev moved to the National Weather Service office with Stirm, Bruns, Peterlin, McIntyre, and Scheeringa. Then moved to the Agronomy main office, and topped off her career with Turf. Not slowing down any Bev is already working three days a week at a local (Talbot, IN) embroidery shop. She has a new computerized sewing machine to practice embroidery while at home as well as taking quilting classes. In her spare time Bev will be bonding with her granddaughter and packing for camping trips. If you live in Texas be on the look-out for an Indiana motor home, it may be Bev on a camping trip.
Dan Mudd Midwest Regional Turf Foundation Cory St. Clair Midwest Regional Turf Foundation Jeff Hermesch Bayer Kyle Post The Daniel Scholarship Tod Armbruster Indiana Golf Course Superintendents Association
December 2003
Bachelor of Science Degree
Christine Craven
Gregory Goecker
Andrew Haskell
Ryan Keller
John Maman
Clifton Meyer
Justin Stewart
Chad Yotter
Jennifer is in the early stages of her Purdue career, beginning work as the Turf secretary February 16th. She is excited about the new challenges of the position and having the opportunity to meet different people in the industry. Jennifer is married to Nathan, who is an engineer with ADKEV (plastic mold injection) in Goodland, IN. The two of them are avid Purdue sports fans and enjoy participating in sports themselves. Jennifer also enjoys costume parties with her favorite costume being royalty. She intends to continue working toward a BS in Public Relations and use those skills in her new position.
Over 1500 professionals attended the Midwest Turf Expo on Jan. 27-29 in Indianapolis. Attendees had the opportunity to attend workshops and educational sessions covering all areas of turf, parks, and recreation industries. The tradeshow consisted of over 100 companies exhibiting in 180 booths displaying turf equipment and products as well as park and recreation supplies and equipment. Golf course superintendent associations in IN as well as Elcona Country Club in Elkhart presented donations in excess of $25,000 to the MRTF. The MRTF then presented these donations and more totaling $208,000 to Purdue University Department of Agronomy for support of turfgrass research and education. Next year’s Expo is scheduled for Jan. 18-20.
Stan Morris was awarded the 2004 MRTF Distinguished Service Award for his many years of support to the Turf Program, its students, and the industry. The presentation was made at the 2004 Midwest Turf Expo during the Awards Reception. This is the highest honor given by the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation. Stan started his turf career at Woodland Country Club in the early 1960s. From there he went into turf equipment sales, and then seed sales. Stan is currently General Manager at Indiana Seed Solutions in Elwood, IN. Stan served on the MRTF Board of Directors in the late 1980s into the early 1990s and was instrumental in moving the MRTF Conference to the Indiana Convention Center. He has been a strong supporter of the turf industry and the Turf Program his entire career.
Purdue Agriculture announced last summer the addition of up to seven new faculty to help support the green industry including positions in turf, ornamental horticulture, urban tree and forest management, and urban landscape ecology and urban ecology. This cluster of faculty positions represents Purdue’s commitment to environmental sustainability. This is a tremendous commitment by Purdue, especially at a time when some universities are furloughing staff and most are certainly not hiring new positions. This commitment has partially resulted from the never-ending support of our alumni, the MRTF and Indiana’s Turf Industry as a whole. The current faculty and staff at Purdue are thrilled with the tremendous potential of these new positions and Purdue’s renewed commitment to urban agriculture. As of late February, we are in the final stages of selecting candidates for interviews in turfgrass entomology, turfgrass physiology, and landscape horticulture.
Dean Vic Lechtenberg announced at the GCSAA Conference in San Diego that the Turfgrass Science Program has won the prestigious Team Award for the School of Agriculture. This award is given annually to a team of faculty and staff who have demonstrated outstanding cooperation and success as a team. Team members include Drs., Cale Bigelow, Tim Gibb, Rick Latin, Zac Reicher, Ron Turco, and Fred Whitford. This award would never have been possible without the unselfish cooperation of Dr. Clark Throssell, Bev Bratton, Don Fassnacht, Glenn Hardebeck, Dan Weisenberger, and all of the graduate students. Additionally, much of the credit for this award goes to our outstanding alumni and the entire turf industry of Indiana who have tirelessly supported the Purdue Turf Program over the years. Thanks for your help!
Much of the Purdue University turf staff was in San Diego for GCSAA’s International Conference and Show. Drs., Rick Latin, Tim Gibb, George VanScoyoc, and John Graveel all taught seminars, whereas Zac Reicher gave a presentation on the created wetlands project on the Kampen Golf Course. Eight students competed in the Collegiate Turf Bowl with one team placing second by a mere 0.5 point over 350+ total points. Over 80 Purdue alumni and friends attended the Purdue Reception on Thursday evening including Harriet and Dr. Jim Beard (MS ’59 and PhD ‘61) and Eddie Connaughton (BS ‘85) from as far away as Dublin, Ireland. Please reserve time on Thursday night in your calendar for next years reception at the show in Orlando.
2004 Midwest Regional Turf Field Day July 27
Turf and Ornamental Seminar Nov. 2004
2005 Midwest Turf Expo Jan. 18-20
Two teams of Agronomy students traveled to San Diego, CA for the 10th annual collegiate turf bowl competition hosted during the 2004 Golf Course Superintendents Association of America International Golf Course Conference and Show. Purdue students placed second and 18th out of 67 teams from across the world. Iowa State University captured the title this year by the narrow margin of 0.5 point. The final tallies were Iowa State University 318.5, Purdue University 318 and Iowa State University(2) with 305. Agronomy students Todd Armbruster, Steven Biehl, Maureen Clark, Andy Eick, Nick Gressley, Daniel Mudd, Jim Newman, David Shell, Justin Stewart and Andrew Thompson represented Purdue this year. Prior to the competition students set their goal on finishing first. Students made a commitment to improve their placement in this year’s contest after placing fourth in 2002 and second in 2003. Students had weekly practice, with hour-long study sessions starting in September. They were responsible for not only studying the material but also preparing and giving the presentations. The extra study time helped narrow the gap between perennial favorite Iowa State. Students were proud to have represented their school well.
Students are responsible for information about turf science across the nation, not just issues pertaining to the Midwest. The three-hour turf bowl competition included the identification of soils, seed, grasses, disease, insects and weeds. The competition covers mathematics, plant physiology, and growth and development. Purdue’s performance in the competition over the last three years has helped to bring additional recognition to the university, school and department. Students are already looking forward to next year’s competition in Orlando, FL. Their goal is to have two teams in the top ten with one team finishing first. There is nothing as motivating as a 0.5 point loss. The team would like to acknowledge the support they received this year from the Agronomy Department, the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation and their advisor Dr. Cale Bigelow. Please commend them on their performance and hard work the next time you see these students.
Send corrections, suggestions, and comments to biehlj@purdue.edu