The 36th SFMA Conference and Exhibition will be held at the Palm Springs Convention Center in Palm Springs, California, January 13-16, 2025. This year’s theme is “Oasis of Knowledge,” and the sports field management industry’s premier event will feature seven education tracks, a full trade show with more than 160 exhibiting companies, networking opportunities, keynote address, SAFE fundraisers, the SFMA Student Challenge, Seminar on Wheels, and much more.
“We’re thrilled to be back in California for the first time since 2016,” said Whitney Webber, SFMA sales and marketing manager. “The return to the West Coast has brought a lot of excitement, but I’m especially looking forward to our newly rebranded FIELD Forum, previously known as the Women’s Luncheon. Tara Furiani’s session ‘Game On: Leveling the Playing Field in Sports Field Management’ promises to be a real highlight.”
Webber added that the General Session – featuring John Sorochan, Ph.D., Trey Rogers, Ph.D. and Alan Ferguson – will offer exclusive insights into the preparations and field management strategies for World Cup 2026. In addition, SFMA has increased its focus on networking opportunities and diverse education sessions.
“Being in Palm Springs adds a unique flair to the event, especially for those attendees who haven’t been to a West Coast conference before,” said Webber, who added that Palm Springs should draw a more diverse crowd, which provides a great atmosphere for networking.
“The networking opportunities are invaluable, and I always look forward to hearing about the latest developments and innovations in the industry through the educational sessions,” said SFMA Academic Director, Chase Straw, Ph.D. “The conference is a great way to stay updated while building meaningful relationships.”
Matthew Arms, CSFM, grounds superintendent at Spartanburg High School, enjoys that the SFMA Conference moves to different locations each year and is excited to travel to Palm Springs for its scenic views and renowned golf courses.
Joe Churchill, fields and grounds specialist for Reinders, Inc., is interested in the education sessions presented by talented professionals. “They are the main reason I attend,” he said. “It’s also a great way to reconnect with industry friends.”
The Palm Springs weather, the Seminar On Wheels, educational opportunities, new equipment, industry trends and the opportunity to connect with friends are all things Rebecca Knapp, CSFM – West Technical Manager, Arborjet, is looking forward to as well.
“It’s a great way to immerse yourself into the industry and meet like-minded people who are passionate about professional playing surfaces,” said Knapp.
According to Straw, one of the best aspects of attending SFMA Conference is the sense of rejuvenation he feels afterward.
“It’s not just about catching up with everyone in the industry, but also about seeing how supportive and collaborative this community is,” he said. “I always leave knowing I have a strong network of people I can reach out to whenever I need advice or help.
“I encourage first-time attendees to try to participate in all the social events, as well as the educational sessions and trade show,” Straw added. “Don’t be afraid to start conversations; everyone is welcoming and eager to help.”
Arms recommends that attendees plan out the education sessions they most want to attend.
“I have learned so much and broadened my view on many things at these conferences over the years,” he said. “It is definitely a clear career builder. Take advantage of any and all events possible to network within the industry. Creating a portfolio of contacts in the industry is invaluable when it comes to your career success.”
Said Webber, “There’s so much to gain from networking, educational sessions, and exploring the trade show floor. It’s incredibly rewarding to watch our members come together, share knowledge, and collaborate. The energy is contagious!”
The following preview provides in-depth insight into the 2025 SFMA Conference and Exhibition, but for more information or to register, visit www.sportsfieldmanagement.org/conference.
SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
(For tracks and detailed descriptions of each session, visit SportsFieldManagement.org/Conference.)
Monday, January 13
6:30-8 a.m.: Continental Breakfast
7 a.m.-3 p.m.: SAFE Golf Tournament – A fundraiser for the SAFE Foundation. (Transportation and lunch provided. Additional fee required.)
7-a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Half-Day Seminar on Wheels. Visit West Coast Turf Sod Farm and Empire Polo Club. (Transportation provided. Additional fee required.)
1-5 p.m.: Volunteer Field Rebuild – Demuth Park, Palm Springs, California. (Transportation provided.)
1:15-5 p.m.: Pre-Conference Education
6-9 p.m.: SAFE Bowling Tournament – A fundraiser for the SAFE Foundation. (Transportation and dinner provided. Additional fee required.)
Tuesday, January 14
6:30-8 a.m.: Continental Breakfast
8-9:30 a.m.: General Session – FIFA. John Sorochan, Ph.D., Trey Rogers, Ph.D., and Alan Ferguson (see below for more details).
9:45-10:45 a.m.: Conference Education
- The Hole Truth: Aerification Myths and Methodology – Gerald Henry, Ph.D.
- Data-Driven Sports Field Management – Dan Sandor, Ph.D., Tyler Carr, Ph.D.
- Irrigation Scheduling: Dialing It In, Getting it Right – Brad Jakubowski
- Optimizing Turfgrass Growth for Reduced Light Stadia – John Sorochan, Ph.D., Conlan Burbrink
- Your Next Career Move: Presented by Dream Job Quitters – Ryan DeMay, CSFM, Stephen Lord, CSFM
- Providing Opportunity for the Future – Drew Miller, Ed.D., Danny Losito, CSFM
11 a.m.-Noon: Conference Education
- Nitrogen Fertilizers – Old to New – How to Use – Beth Guertal, Ph.D.
- The Importance of Being Sharp – Danny McConnell, Trent Manning, CTEM
- Autonomous Mowing Strategies Impact on Turfgrass Quality and Disease – Jason Henderson, Ph.D., Vickie Wallace
- Sustainable Turfgrass: Can Sports Fields Be Maintained with Fewer Inputs? – Gregg Munshaw, Ph.D.
- Soft Skills: Essential Skills for Interpersonal Success – Mike Goatley, Ph.D., Lisa Goatley
- Managing Common Disease and Insect Pests in Cool-Season Sports Fields – Geoffrey Rinehart
12:15-1:45 p.m.: Chapter Leadership Training
12:45-1:45 p.m.: ICEV Workshop – Dave Grossman and Marc Moran, CSFM
2-3:15 p.m.: Conference Education
- Predict and Diagnose Field Problems, Followed by the Ultimate Quiz – Pamela Sherratt
- Leveling the Playing Field: Building an Inclusive Culture for Your Sports Field Management Team – Alpha Jones, CSFM
- Maximize Your Resources to Improve Field Quality and Playability – Brian Holtzapfel, Joe Breiding
- Pull Up a Chair: Securing a Seat at the Table – Meg Kruger
- Trends in Athletic Field Rootzone Cultivation: WTF!!! What’s the Focus? – Cale Bigelow, Ph.D., Barry Stewart, Ph.D.
- Benefits of GPS Sprayers and Spreaders on Sports Fields – Weston Floyd, CSFM, Mark Kruse, CSFM
3:30-5 p.m.: Conference Education
- The Future is in Secondary Education – Drew Miller, Ed.D., Seth Cameron
- Bermudagrass Evaluation – More than Just Traffic and Cold Tolerance – Barry Stewart, Ph.D., Marta Pudzianowska, Ph.D.
- Does Hybrid Stitching Work: What the Research Shows – Kyley Dickson, Ph.D.
- Knowledge Gained from 23 Years of QandA – Grady Miller, Ph.D.
- The Road to Recovery: Win the Turfgrass Battle vs. Wear – Keith Winter
- Fostering Gender Diversity: Empowering Women in Sports Turf Leadership – Maritza Martinez
5:30-6:30 p.m.: First Timers/International/CSFM Reception
6:45-7:15 p.m.: Live Auction benefitting the SAFE Foundation
7:30-10 p.m.: Welcome Reception
Wednesday, January 15
6:30-8 a.m.: Continental Breakfast
8-9 a.m.: Conference Education
- Native vs. Sand Root Zones: Compaction, Aeration, and Infiltration – Bryan Hopkins, Ph.D.
- Solving Drainage Problems with Certainty: Both Surface and Subsurface – James Puhalla
- Various PGR Scheduling Strategies for Sports Fields – Bill Krueser, Ph.D.
- The Art of the Game: Best Practices in Field Painting – Nick McKenna, CSFM, Brad Finn, CSFM
- Panel Discussion: Strategies for Poa annua Management in Sports Fields – Gerald Henry, Ph.D., Pam Sherratt, Scott McElroy, Ph.D., Chrissie Segars, Ph.D.
- The Little League World Series – Best 2 Weeks in Baseball – Matthew Duncan, CSFM, Jeffrey Fowler
9:15-10:45 a.m.: Conference Education
- Managing Infield Ball Speed: An Update for Professional Baseball – Larry DiVito, CSFM
- A New Field in Under a Week: No Problem?! – Rob Sikma, Scott Lupold
- Understanding and Working with the Soil Microbiome – Jason Eberhard,
- John Brooks, Ph.D., Cale Bigelow, Ph.D., Barry Stewart, Ph.D.
- Where’s My Water? Understanding Distribution Uniformity and Improving Irrigation Efficiency – Dan Sandor, Ph.D., Jada Powlen, Ph.D.
- Hybrid Field Maintenance – Robert Heggie
- Going Organic: Alternative Pest Management and Impacts on Playability – Joseph Roberts, Ph.D.
10:45-noon: Conference Education
- Diving Into the Sales Representative-Turf Manager Relationship – Michael Kerns, Josh Koss, CSFM, Stephen Lord, CSFM, Mitch Hooten, Matt Webber
- The Science Behind Successful Turfgrass Establishment by Seed – Pam Sherratt, Leah Brilman, Ph.D., Brad Park
- Strategies for Controlling Problematic Perennial Weeds – Gerald Henry, Ph.D.
- Better Mental Health: What Works; What Doesn’t – Lisa Goatley
- The Connection Between User Health, Environmental Impact and Economic Investment – Vickie Wallace, Tyler Carr, Ph.D.
- Severe Weather and Lightning Safety: Some Things May Shock You! – Brad Jakubowski
12:15-1:15 p.m.: SFMA Annual Meeting and Lunch
1:30-4:30 p.m.: Baseball Symposium
1:30-6:30 p.m.: Trade Show
2-4:30 p.m.: Student Challenge
Thursday, January 16
6:30-8 a.m.: Continental Breakfast
7:30-8:30 a.m.: FIELD Forum Breakfast Session: Game On: Leveling the Playing Field in Sports Management – Tara Furiani (see below for more details)
8:45-10 a.m.: Conference Education
- Mentorships: Helping the Next Generation Grow in the Turf Industry – Jason DeMink, CSFM, Daniel Kiermaier, Brad Finn, CSFM, Mira Emma, Carson Cornelius
- What’s New? Sports Field Management in the Transition Zone – Gregg Munshaw, Ph.D., Cale Bigelow, Ph.D., Mike Goatley, Ph.D.
- Fighting the Freeze: Winterkill and Spring Dead Spot Management Strategies – Tyler Carr, Ph.D., Mingying Xiang, Ph.D., Wendell Hutchens, Ph.D., Ryan DeMay, CSFM
- Toolkit for Increasing Diversity in Green Industries – Meg Smolinski, Paula Sliefert, Sun Roesslein, CSFM, Warren Gorowitz
- Designing/Building a Sports Field with the Grounds Manager in Mind –
- Nick McKenna, CSFM, Mark Baginski, Sam Titchener, Casey Scheidel, CSFM
10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Trade Show and Lunch
12-1 p.m.: Student Luncheon
1:30-3 p.m.: Conference Education (Repeat Sessions)
- The Hole Truth: Aerification Myths and Methodology – Gerald Henry, Ph.D.
- Sustainable Turfgrass: Can Sports Fields Be Maintained with Fewer Inputs? – Gregg Munshaw, PhD.
- Data-Driven Sports Field Management – Dan Sandor, Ph.D., Tyler Carr, Ph.D.
- Mentorship as a Lever for Equity: A Deep Dive from ‘Leveling the Playing Field – Tara Furiani
1:30-4:30 p.m.: Baseball Symposium
6:30-7:30 p.m.: Pre-Banquet Reception
7:30-10 p.m.: Awards Banquet
Conference Education will continue for four weeks post-conference via webinar: January 21 – February. 18 (every Tuesday, 2-3 p.m. ET and 3:15-4:15 p.m. ET). These will consist of eight virtual sessions included with a full conference registration! Visit SportsFieldManagement.org/Conference for more information.
GENERAL SESSION
Countdown to the World Cup 2026 – Behind-the-Scenes Look at Research and Preparation to Pull Off the World’s Largest Tournament
Presented by John Sorochan, Ph.D., Trey Rogers, Ph.D. and Alan Ferguson
To successfully stage the world’s biggest sporting event, FIFA funded a collaborative research and development effort between Michigan State University and the University of Tennessee to prepare pitches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This presentation offers an in-depth overview of the research, which began in 2021, with a focus on the challenges and progress in developing temporary playing surfaces for eight of the 16 stadiums. It will also highlight results from indoor testing conducted for the five domed venues and explore how the research has been applied to real-world scenarios.
FIELD FORUM
Game On: Leveling the Playing Field in Sports Management
Presented by Tara Furiani
Game On: Leveling the Playing Field in Sports Field Management” is a dynamic keynote designed to inspire and motivate industry professionals to champion equity and inclusion. Through a mix of pop culture references, storytelling, and actionable strategies, participants will discover how subtle shifts in behavior and mindset can create a more diverse, innovative, and successful workplace. This high-energy session empowers attendees to take immediate steps toward building inclusive teams and fostering a more equitable sports field management industry, while having fun along the way. Participants will gain insight into the present state of diversity in the sports field management industry, focusing on the underrepresentation of women and marginalized groups, and how this impacts team dynamics, innovation, and industry growth. Learn practical strategies for promoting equity through subtle yet impactful shifts in language, team roles, and behavior. Attendees will leave with actionable steps they can apply immediately to create more inclusive teams. Discover effective ways to attract diverse talent from high schools and colleges, fostering early inclusion through mentorship programs, internships, and partnerships with educational institutions.
EARN CEUS AT SFMA 2025
Increase your professionalism by taking advantage of the continuing education units (CEUs) offered at the SFMA Conference. Earn up to 1.5 CEUs through SFMA. In addition to SFMA, the following professional organizations may be providing CEUs for attending education sessions at the conference:
- American Sports Builders Association (ASBA)
- National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)
- Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA)
- Irrigation Association (IA)
- Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS)
- National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP)
- Pesticide Recertification Credits: California, Nevada and Arizona (Pending Approval)
Note: Pesticide Recertification credits are only available for the states listed above. If you are attending from another state and need pesticide recertification credits, you are responsible for contacting your state’s Department of Agriculture for approval.
STUDENT CHALLENGE
The SFMA Student Challenge is presented in partnership with the SAFE Foundation, founding partner Hunter Industries, and supporting sponsor Ewing. Each year, students from 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities throughout the country compete in an exam that challenges knowledge in the sports field management industry. The winning teams receive a cash award, a plaque, and medallions for each team member. The prize money benefits the institution’s turfgrass program and creates opportunities for students pursuing a career in sports field management. The Study Guide for the 2025 SFMA Student Collegiate Challenge is available online. Be sure to thoroughly review the Study Guide in preparation for the exam. The 2025 contest will take place Wednesday, January 15, from 2-4:30 p.m. at the SFMA Conference and Exhibition in Palm Springs, California. A maximum of four undergraduates can compete on a team and must declare if they are representing a two-year or four-year institution. Competitors receive complimentary conference registration. You must be an SFMA member to participate. All Student Challenge competitors are REQUIRED to register online before December 15. No paper registration forms will be accepted.
