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EAST DUNDEE, Ill. – Turfgrass Producers International (TPI) held their annual Summer Convention & Field Days in Park City, Utah last month. Field Days activities were conducted at nearby Biograss Sod Farm in Sandy, Utah.
Highlights of the TPI Convention portion of the event included a roundtable forum where turf producers from around the world met to discuss topics such as irrigation, worldwide turf issues, turf farm innovations, seed quality, warm-season vegetative stock and a wide variety of other topics. The field day focused on nearly 60 of the industry’s top equipment manufacturing companies who featured the latest technological advances in equipment, parts, products and services related to the turfgrass industry. Turf producers also viewed on-farm turfgrass test plots featuring varieties of Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue to help determine which perform best in their local geographical location.
The TPI Summer Convention & Field Days agenda also included an educational farm/ag tour, a special fundraising golf tournament for International Turf Producers Foundation (ITPF) from which all proceeds go to continuing turfgrass research, a “Family Fun Fair” and a banquet at Olympic Park (home of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games) that included a spectacular aerial exhibition featuring Olympic and World Champion athletes.
In addition to TPI members from across the United States there were also international members in attendance representing Australia, Canada, England, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, South Africa and Spain.
During the conference events, TPI also took time to recognize members with association awards and also elected its leaders for the next year.
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DOUGET RECEIVES PRESIDENT’S LEADERSHIP AWARD. David Doguet of Bladerunner Farms, Poteet, Texas was the unexpected and very surprised recipient of the prestigious “President’s Leadership Award” presented to him by TPI President Art Campbell at the association’s 2005 Annual Business Meeting held during the convention.
Doguet is only the third recipient to be so honored by a TPI president. The President’s Leadership Award is presented at the sole discretion of the residing president and is presented to a TPI member who, during his or her term, has shown exemplary dedication and performance to TPI for one or more years.
During the unannounced awards presentation, Campbell was quick to acknowledge that Doguet’s individual devotion, compassion, commitment, tenacity, imagination and dedication to the turfgrass industry has been demonstrated time and time again. “For more then two decades David Doguet has been actively involved with TPI in ways that are too numerous to mention,” Campbell said. “He has served as a TPI board member, secretary/treasurer, vice president and in 1997-1998 he was TPI’s president. He has served as the chairperson for TPI’s public relations working group since its inception. He has continually maintained high visibility on behalf of our industry, and he has been a persuasive and articulate spokesperson when representing TPI, the Turfgrass Producers of Texas, and all turfgrass sod producers on issues of local, regional or national concern. At a time when many individuals with David’s tenure might ease back a bit on the throttle, he moves forward.”
Most recently, Doguet coordinated a meeting of some of the leading extension specialists in the nation for a face-to-face event with TPI representatives in an effort to improve overall communication. Additionally, his personal efforts in addressing issues proposed by the San Antonio Water System are well documented. Campbell says these efforts “have benefited the green industry and demonstrated how individuals working together can communicate effectively with local governing agencies. I am deeply honored to present this award to David Doguet and I can’t think of anyone who is more deserving.”
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TPI NAMES LEADERS. On the leadership side of the association, Warren Bell, owner of Biograss Sod Farm in Sandy, Utah, was elected president of TPI. The election took place during the organization’s Summer Convention and Field Days in Park City, Utah.
Prior to his election as President, Bell served as a TPI Trustee and later served as the group’s secretary/treasurer and vice president. He has served the green industry in Utah since the early 1980’s and has been active in civic as well as industry boards and advisory committees.
As president of TPI’s more than 1,100 member, not-for-profit trade association he will be responsible for the group’s overall operations. These responsibilities include overseeing a six-person professional staff, a Midwinter Conference and Summer Convention, the publication of Turf News magazine and the TPI Business Management newsletter, an ever-expanding public relations program, as well as representing the turfgrass industry on local, state and federal issues of importance.
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Also Elected during the conference was Arthur Milberger of Turfgrass America, Bay City, Texas, who was named vice president of the association. Throughout his career Milberger has served on numerous TPI committees – including director of the International Turf Producers Foundation (ITPF), water policy vice chairman, PR committee chairman, TPI representatives committee and most recently as secretary/treasurer. His industry leadership roles have included holding such prestigious positions as TifEagle Growers Association President, Texas Turfgrass Association President, Texas Sod Producers Association President and he has served as a member of the Texas A&M College of Ag. Development Council.
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Also taking on a new leadership position is George Brandt of American Sod Corp., Palatine, Ill., who becomes secretary/treasurer of the organization. During his more than 30 years with TPI he has served as Director of the International Turf Producers Foundation, Chairman of the TPI Water Policy Committee, a member of the Public Relations Working Group, served as a TPI Representative and was active on the ITPF Research Committee. He is also the past president of both the Wisconsin Sod Producers and the Sod Growers Association of Mid America. Along with his affiliation with TPI he is an active member in the Midwest Sod Council.
TPI is represented by some of the world’s leading turfgrass sod producers, seed producers, equipment manufacturers, suppliers, and various individuals involved in education and/or research related to all aspects of turfgrass production. With members in more than 42 countries, TPI provides a wide variety of educational programs and publications. It also operates the Turf Resource Center and The Lawn Institute, which provides consumers and landscape professionals with access to scientifically documented information about turfgrass and environmental issues.
Turfgrass Producers International is a 39-year-old, independent, not-for-profit association comprised of more than 1,100 turfgrass sod and seed producers, equipment manufacturers, suppliers, and other professionals involved in related education and research. TPI has members in over 40 countries worldwide.
