Jeff Ross, head groundskeeper at Great Lakes Loons, is the winner of the 2024 SFMA Mowing Patterns Contest with his “Fan Appreciation Pattern.” Ross credited his assistant groundskeepers, Ryan Wolter and TJ Fairchild, for helping with the design.
“The pattern was mowed with our John Deere 2500B triplex mower in the outfield and a John Deere 260B walk behind greens mower on the infield,” said Ross. “The ‘Fan Appreciation Pattern’ was a poll on our team’s social media where I came up with three patterns and the fans got to choose which one would be on the field for the final home game of the season.”
Ross won complimentary registration to the 2025 SFMA Annual Conference in Palm Springs, California.
SportsField Management magazine recently asked Ross about the winning design.
SportsField Management (SFM): Please tell us about yourself, your crew and the fields/facilities you manage.
Jeff Ross: I have been with the Great Lakes Loons for 10 seasons – four as head groundskeeper. I have two seasonal assistants and a crew of six to eight game day employees. We manage the field and almost one acre of lawn seating inside the stadium.
SFM: Please detail for us the winning design and your inspiration for the design.
Ross: This winning design has been a favorite of mine for the last couple years. We typically put this pattern out once a year toward the end of the season/when in the playoffs. I love the design because it’s simple with lots of straight lines, with the focal point being the large GL logo in center field.
SFM: There is a lot of foresight, planning, dedication and hard work in what you do. What is your overall approach with regard to mowing patterns and on-field artistry, and what is your advice to other sports field managers when it comes to the creative aspects of the role?
Ross: When coming up with new mowing patterns I am constantly looking for inspiration from what others have done. I follow many other groundskeepers on social media to see what things we could implement at our stadium. If you want to try something new, just go for it. If you don’t like it, you can always mow a different pattern the next day.
SFM: What does winning the SFMA Mowing Patterns Contest mean to you?
Ross: Winning the SFMA Mowing Pattern Contest means a lot to me. SFMA is composed of the best groundskeepers in the country; and to win an award brings satisfaction for all the hard work my crew puts in every day.
