By: Jim Novak, Turfgrass Producers International – TPI
Turfgrass Producers International (TPI) will hold its 2012 Summer Convention and Field Days, July 31-Aug. 2 in Asheville, NC — and there’s already a great deal of excitement surrounding the event. The host hotel is the historic Grove Park Inn nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Turfgrass producers from around the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Europe, Asia and Africa, are expected to attend the event. A nice balance of business and social functions are planned throughout the week to provide all in attendance with a variety of informative, educational and fun activities.
Pre-conference attendees will have the option to participate in a behind-the-scenes agricultural tour. The tour will include exploring a privately owned greenhouse operation that encompasses more than 37 acres of greenhouses and grows over 150 varieties of plants, including bedding plants, foliage, hanging baskets, African violets, mums, poinsettias, spring bulb crops, perennials, and many other flowering indoor plants; visiting a fifth-generation family-owned apple business that is one of the largest volume shippers of fresh apples in the entire state of North Carolina; a stop at one of North Carolina’s most successful tree nursery farms, and a visit to Super Sod (a division of Patten Seed) one of the south’s largest producers of quality turfgrass sod.
Among the other planned activities are a Next Generation Leaders Breakfast and The Lawn Institute Memorial Golf Tournament which will take place at the legendary Grove Park Inn Golf Club. For non-golfers, there’s a planned tour of the beautiful Biltmore Estate, the famous George and Edith Vanderbilt 250-room family home and country retreat nestled on 8,000 beautiful acres. Measuring 175,000 sq. ft., the Biltmore is the largest home in America.
Another highlight of the convention will be the popular TPI Banquet, which will take place at the “private” Puncheon Camp Creek Ranch. This unique location features a replica of a western town, complete with a gas station, general store, post office, bank and hotel. An Information & Idea Exchange session will include valuable education presentations on the pressing issues facing the turfgrass industry.
The TPI Annual Business Meeting will bring members up to date on TPI’s activities and include the appointment of new officers and trustees. Several presentations are planned, including: “Leveling the Playing Field”; “Synthetic vs. Natural Turfgrass: The player’s point of view”, “TPI: Your Turfgrass Industry Advocate”; and “Labor and Immigration: Issues Facing Turfgrass Producers.” There will also be a “Turf Town Hall” meeting where issues of importance to turfgrass producers will be open for discussion.
Attendees will also have an opportunity to visit manufacturer and supplier exhibits, talk to knowledgeable company representatives, see what’s new for 2012, and ask questions about equipment, products and/or services that can support their turf business.
The TPI Field Day at Turf Mountain Sod in will provide an opportunity to see plenty of equipment including harvesters, mowers, tractors, forklifts, tillers, installers, cultivators, etc. Field demos and exhibits will offer attendees an opportunity to learn about a wide range of products and services that can help grow their business and improve productivity.
The 2012 TPI Summer Convention & Field Days is sure to have something for everyone. For more information, visit TurfGrassSod.org and click on TPI Summer Convention & Fields Days.
