John Deere hosted sports turf managers from around the country June 13-14 during the 2018 Sports Turf 360 Summit in Durham, NC. Attendees gathered to enjoy a week of activities revolving around the sports turf industry, including workshops about turfgrass maintenance, equipment leasing options, professional relationship building advice, and tours of local sports facilities.
“This week was all about providing sports turf managers with the opportunity to ask questions, engage and expand their skillset in this competitive, ever-changing industry,” said Ren Wilkes, marketing manager for John Deere Golf. “On behalf of John Deere, we are honored to have hosted many bright professionals and be able to discuss industry issues, share knowledge and navigate solutions as a unit.”
The summit kicked off on Tuesday, June 12, with a tour of the USA Baseball National Training Complex and WakeMed Soccer Park, two sports turf facilities that host a variety of high-profile events each year, including the 2018 NCAA Division II Baseball Championship and the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Championship.
On Wednesday, June 13, the group participated in a series of stimulating discussion-based seminars focusing on a variety of sports turf-related topics. Notable speakers such as David Cutcliffe, head football coach at Duke University, Dr. Jim Kerns, professor and extension specialist of turfgrass pathology at North Carolina State University, and Rhonda Flanery, sales account manager with John Deere Financial, each provided a unique, professional perspective during discussions throughout the weekend. The day ended with a tour of the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, home of the Durham Bulls, the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.
The event wrapped up on Thursday, June 14, with a tour of the John Deere Turf Care Facility in Fuquay-Varina, N.C. The Turf Care factory, which produces the John Deere Golf and Sports Turf equipment, provided attendees with an inside look at how equipment is manufactured and the rigorous testing that occurs to ensure product reliability and performance. To learn more about John Deere and its ongoing support of the Sports Turf 360 Summit, please visit www.JohnDeere.com/Golf.