SYRACUSE, NY—Alliance Bank Stadium, home of the Syracuse Chiefs baseball team, will host the New York State Turfgrass Association’s (NYSTA) Winning Fields Seminar on Thursday, October 2, 2008. This seminar is endorsed by Cornell University, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and the New York State Association for Superintendents of School Buildings and Grounds. According to Robert Sanderson, Winning Fields Seminar Co-chair, “Alliance Bank Stadium, in Syracuse, is a natural location to hold this year’s event. Our goal is to increase the awareness of athletic field managers and superintendents of school buildings and grounds on the skills necessary to maintain safe, high quality scholastic and municipal sports turf. This Triple A ballfield was transformed from artificial turf to a state-of-the-art natural grass playing surface within the past year, creating an excellent learning environment for our attendees. We are fortunate to have head groundskeeper, Wes Ganobcik, present updates on the new natural grass field and maintenance facility.”
Other key speakers include Dr. Norman Hummel, owner of Hummel & Company, Inc. who will review construction planning, soil analysis and recommendations. Professor Dominic Morales, SUNY Delhi, will discuss aerification issues and give equipment demonstrations. All attendees will receive a complimentary copy of “Sports Field Management,” written by Joann Gruttadaurio, former Senior Extension Associate with Cornell University. This comprehensive management guide provides information on how to maintain sports fields to maximize safety and performance.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is offering pesticide recertification credits and the Sports Turf Managers Association is offering certified education units (CEU’s) for this program. A discounted registration rate is available to NYSTA members. Attendees who join NYSTA with their Winning Fields registration will remain an active member through December 2009.
Exhibit space is available. Interested vendors must register by Thursday, September 25, 2008. Attendees will have the opportunity to visit the trade show throughout the event and during morning registration, breaks and lunch.
For more information or to obtain a seminar brochure, please call NYSTA at (518) 783-1229, fax (518) 783-1258 or e-mail nysta@nysta.org. Information is also available on NYSTA’s website www.nysta.org.