www.alaturfgrass.org Alabama Turfgrass Association 
 
Member e-newsletter May 2009
Greetings!

ATA's new service project, New Beginnings, is officially underway!  ATA members are encouraged to help participate in this new endeavor of ATA.  Many of us have benefited from the gifts of our industry - let's take this opportunity to use our knowledge and expertise to give some troubled teenage boys a baseball field at the Gulf Coast Youth-Reach foster home.  Look for more details below.
 
Also, now is the time to apply for the ATA President's Award of Excellence.  There are four categories for this award:  Sports Complex, Golf Course, Landscape and Sod Farm.  Each winner will be awarded a plaque at the Annual Conference, receive free registration to the Conference and be featured in an issue of our magazine, Turf Times.  The application can be found on our website, www.alaturfgrass.org.  Just remember, we need 10 digital photos of your entry - so get busy taking pictures of your facility!
 
Thank you for your response to our membership survey.  The ATA Board will use this information during our strategic planning session and when planning our future events.  You will notice many changes in our Annual Conference and Tradeshow this October due to your suggestions.
 
Again, thank you for your continued support of the Alabama Turfgrass Association!  We hope to see you at the New Beginnings project work day on June 18th! 
 
Pat White, Southern TurfCare
ATA President
 
NEW BEGINNINGS
an ATA service project 
 
 
BENEFITING:
Gulf Coast Youth-Reach
Foster Home located in
Summerdale, AL
  
VOLUNTEER WORK DAY:
Thursday, June 18th
10:30 am - 4:00 pm 
 
  Barry Brecke
Above: Board members with Youth-Reach staff and reWHAT IS NEW BEGINNINGS:
New Beginnings is a new service project of ATA. Board members voted to add this service project as a means of using our expertise, equipment and love of our industry to help those less fortunate. The 2009 Board chose Gulf Coast Youth-Reach as our beneficiary this year. Youth-Reach is a new Christian-based foster home for underprivileged troubled teens based in Summerdale, AL. ATA is committed to building a baseball field and a multi-purpose field for the boys to play ball and enjoy the turfgrass.  Once the fields are established, the residents of Youth-Reach will handle the maintenance of the field.
 
WHO IS HELPING:
Several companies have generously offered their products and services.  We are in great need of volunteers to help sprig the field and build the bases on Thursday, June 18th.  If you are willing to help, just show up on June 18th and we'll put you to work.  Donations of monetary value, product or equipment usage will also be greatly appreciated.  Please contact the ATA office if you can help! 
 1-866-246-4203 or mailbox@alaturfgrass.org.
 
A special thanks to these companies for their donations to the New Beginnings Project:
Craft Turf Farms
Ewing Irrigation
Southern TurfCare
Sprigger's Choice
 
Barry Brecke 
 Above: Field to be renovated at Youth-Reach
 
DIRECTIONS:
Gulf Coast Youth-Reach is located in north Baldwin County in Summerdale (25062 County Road 38).  Travel south on Highway 59, cross over I-10 and travel approximately 10 miles. Turn left onto Highway 90 in Summerdale. Travel 9 miles, then turn right onto CR-87. Travel 3 miles and turn right onto CR-38, Gulf Coast Youth-Reach will be on the left.
 
QUESTIONS?
1-866-246-4203 (toll free)
334-821-3800 (fax)
Tom Keeven Wins ATRF Raffle  Youth-Reach Photo
 
Tom Keeven of Emerald View Turf Farms was the lucky winner of the ATRF Grand Outdoor Adventure Raffle.  The drawing was held at the Poa annua Classic on April 20th by Mr. Jimmy Pursell.  Although Tom was not present to win - he is very much deserving.
 
Tom purchased his winning ticket at the TPI Mid-Winter Conference that was held in Pt. Clear, AL.  Tom is the second-generation of Keeven's who started Emerald View Turf Farm over 58 years ago.  Today, the farm has three locations (O'Fallon, MO, Jefferson City, MO and Columbia, IL) with a total of 1,600 acres in production.  Tom is a past president of the Turfgrass Producers International and supports turfgrass research every where he goes.
 
When Tom found out the the doves are so numerous they threaten the agriculture production in Argentina, he decided this was the best trip to take.  He not only would have fun, but he would be helping the food supply in Argentina. Tom and his best buddy will go to the Argentina Ducks & Doves Lodge in Cordoba, Argentina next February.
A special thank you to everyone who purchased a raffle ticket during this fundraiser.  ATRF was able to raise close to $8,000 with this raffle.  Your support of turfgrass research is greatly appreciated!
Apply today for the ATA
President's Award of Excellence 
 
The ATA President's Award of Excellence was developed several years ago to award members for their excellent turf managing skills. This is a great venue to promote your company, city, school, course or complex.  Plus it looks great on your resume! 
 
It's easy to apply - just complete the one page application and submit 10 digital photographs of your entry.  There are four categories you can enter:  Sports Field/Complex, Landscape, Sod Farm and Golf Course.  Entries are judged by ATA's past presidents and the winner will receive free registration to the Annual Conference, be awarded a plaque and be featured in the ATA Turf Times magazine.  Get your entry in today!  The deadline is September 1st. 
 
Apply today! 
Application can be found on our website at:
 
Thanks for a successful Poa annua Classic 
We had 88 turf managers and vendors attend the 2009 Poa annua Classic at FarmLinks Golf course on Monday, April 20th.  Thanks to everyone who participated in this annual tournament, especially our host, Mark Langer, CGCS, FarmLinks and the Pursell Institute.  The event is an annual fundraiser for the Alabama Turfgrass Research Foundation and we greatly appreciate our sponsors for making this event a financial success!
 
 AGRI-AFC, LLC
Agrium Advanced Technologies
Aquatrols
BASF
Bayer Environmental Sciences
DuPont Professional Products
Ewing Irrigation, Golf & Industrial
The Gowan Company
Harrell's, Inc.
Hendrix and Dail
Humphries Turf Supply
Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation
John Deere Landscapes
Kilpatrick Company
NaturChem
Southeast Turf Maintenance
SePRO/Legacy
Southern States
Syngenta
Turf Merchants Inc./Innovative Turf Supply
Valent, USA
 

Upcoming ATA Events 

Auburn College of Ag - Ag Classic
May 20th   Sporting Clay Tournment (Beck's Turf)
                Golf Tournament (AU Club)
                Dinner & Auction (Ag Heritage Pavilion)
May 21st   Fishing Tournament (AU Fisheries)
 
New Beginnings Work Day
June 18    Gulf Coast Youth-Reach, Summerdale, AL
 
Auburn University Turfgrass Field Day
July 23          Auburn University Turfgrass Research
                    Unit, Auburn, AL
                    3:30 - 7:30 pm - Field Day & Dinner
        Look for your more details in your mailbox
            
Annual Conference & Tradeshow
Oct. 20-22       Auburn University Hotel &
                      Conference Center, Auburn, AL
 
 
 
ATA ANNUAL SPONSORS
  
Gold Sponsors
Ewing Irrigation, Golf & Industrial
Kilpatrick Turf
Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation
 
Silver Sponsors
Agrium Advanced Technologies
John Deere Landscapes
NaturChem
Syngenta T & O Products
 
Bronze Sponsors
Bayer Environmental Science
DuPont Professional Products
Harrell's, Inc.
Humphries Turf Supply
Regal Chemical Company 
Southern States