The organizers of the Ohio Turfgrass Conference & Show recently announced a 10% increase in attendance figures over its 2007 event. The 42nd Annual Ohio Turfgrass Conference & Show was held December 8-11, Columbus, OH with nearly 2400 turfgrass professionals in attendance. An additional 800 exhibiting personnel were on hand for the trade show featuring nearly 200 exhibiting companies.
Highlights of the annual gathering included;
Steve Jurick, Executive Director, Miami Valley Golf Associations received the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation 2008 Professional of the Year Award
Rick Tyler, Superintendent, Blackhawk Golf Course, received an Ohio Turfgrass Foundation 2008 Professional Excellence Award
Dr. Al Turgeon, Penn State University gave the Keynote Address: “Implications of Global Warming: Cultural Relief and Future Management Strategies”
OTF President Todd Voss, Superintendent, Double Eagle Club presented a check in the amount of $94,000 to Dr. Bobby Moser, Dean, OSU College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. The check represented OTF’s 2008 donations of $72,000 for turfgrass research and extension outreach, and $22,000 in student scholarships awarded to 12 turfgrass students from around Ohio.
Play Golf Ohio hosted its 3rd annual Ohio Golf Summit featuring Keynote Speaker Joe Steranka, CEO, PGA of America
100+ hours of educational programming offered topics on golf turf, sports turf, lawn & landscape, irrigation, organic lawn and landscaping, sod production, environmental issues, mechanics and more
The Ohio Turfgrass Conference and Show is sponsored by the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation, The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, and The Ohio State University Extension. Supporting industry organizations include the Ohio Lawn Care Association, Ohio Sports Turf Managers Association, Ohio Sod Producers Association, and GCSAA Ohio Chapters.
The Ohio Turfgrass Conference & Show will return to the Greater Columbus Convention Center, December 7-10, 2009.