Growing up on a farm, Clint Baxter says the ability to take on hard work was ingrained in him early on. Now the owner of Green Seasons Lawn & Tree Service in Kearney, Mo., Baxter uses both his knowledge of plants and that drive in his business.
“What I love about the green industry is it takes into account both the desire to produce healthy living results and the work ethic to be able to do what it takes to get it done,” Baxter says.
He also uses that initiative to connect with other industry professionals. One way he did that recently was by attending the 2024 LM Growth Summit.
Baxter was one of 36 attendees who participated in the three-day Summit this past December in Orlando, Fla. The annual event brings together lawn care professionals from across the country to connect with other owners and leading industry suppliers. From the group sessions to one-on-one meetings, attendees like Baxter had the opportunity to learn from their peers in a relaxed, noncompetitive setting.
It was during one of those networking opportunities that Baxter picked up valuable takeaways that he has since incorporated into his business. He was paired with another owner throughout the sessions, and Baxter says their conversations helped affirm an adjustment he needed to make to his services.
Last year, Baxter changed some practices with his lawn fertilization company and began using more granular products. However, that wasn’t as successful as the liquid applications he typically made, something his peer at the event encouraged him to return to.
“He reinforced the thoughts I had about going back to the way I did things in the past,” Baxter says. “We talked a lot, and I was able to listen and pick up things from him.”
Baxter also enjoyed learning about new products from the various lawn care and equipment suppliers who participated in the Summit. He saw several familiar faces from companies, including Stinger Equipment and Steel Green Manufacturing, and said he also enjoyed the PBI-Gordon meeting, where he learned more about Arkon liquid herbicide.
While at the event, Baxter had the opportunity to try out new pieces of equipment and ordered a wetting agent product from Greene County Fertilizer Co. that he’d used in the past, but not to the scale he’s using now.
“I always enjoy the Greene County folks,” Baxter says. “I’ve been buying from them for a long time.”
Participants also had the chance to meet and learn from others at the event in a speed-dating format, which Baxter says was unique and interesting.
“I’d never done anything business-related like that before,” he says. “It was a neat event and different from anything I’d ever done. I’m grateful to have been invited.”
A variety of speakers come to the event each year to share industry insights, information on new technologies and product information. Baxter says hearing from all the speakers was helpful, which added to the overall experience.
“Getting both the vendor and user points of view is always a great idea,” Baxter says.
From the round of golf to talking with other attendees at meals, Baxter says the social activities at the LM Growth Summit just added to the experience, and he would go back if given the opportunity. He encourages other lawn care professionals to apply for the event to attend in the future.
“It’s a great time,” Baxter says. “You connect with a lot of interesting people, hear about products, and also learn about some things that might be outside of your realm of products or services that might be useful.”
