SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/126035
Facility&Operations new stadium. This project was largely volunteers and donations. The campus center expansion project was just completed. There were new plans for an expansion to the science center and add a new residence hall. I came into this job with a strong belief that I was hired to be more than just a grounds maintenance employee. I believe I was to be more than someone that made sure the grounds looked tended. I believe I was hired to fulfill a need; a part of a strategic plan of the college. I started using the words, "Department of First and Lasting Impressions." My mission was to help the college attract new students and parents, donors, and friends to the interests of the campus. I wanted them to be impressed with a community of a well landscaped and maintained campus. I wanted them to participate, to be drawn to the place with pride, and a sense of community belonging. I want the impressions to last a lifetime, a place where the alumni will always call home. A place the donor will believe their investments are well invested in future generations to assure the lasting integrity of the college community. Is that possible? I believe it then and I still do. Eventually, the department was supported with full-time employees and equipment to do the work. When I submitted the application for STMA Field of the Year in 2006, I didn't know what to expect. I applied with reservation as I was nominating myself. I thought however, how anyone would know about our facility in the middle of Montana if I didn't share? I wanted to bring national attention to Carroll College. Carroll College had been enjoying success from its NAIA National Championship football team. They had won four straight national championships. My crew and I helped support the team through long seasons into December by assuring a quality field for them to play. The woman's soccer team used the facility too. They also enjoyed successful seasons going well into November. Every year, I came to the athletic department asking for money to maintain the field that was getting much use well after growing season was finished. My plan focused on basic agronomy with no frills as I knew funds were tight. Carroll College is only 15 miles from the Continental Divide at an elevation of nearly 4,000 feet above sea level. 16 SportsTurf | May 2013 The stadium field is a native soil field with an 8.3 pH. The annual precipitation rate is 12.25 inches. I have an automatic irrigation system designed to my specifications so I can irrigate with a balance program. My plan consisted of aeration, aeration, and aeration along with overseeding with sport field bluegrass blends, topdress with as close to USGA sand as I could afford blended with Dakota Soil Enhancer 90/10, and fertilizer. On the stadium field, I remove weeds by hand. In 2007, I had budget issues. I was not able to hire students for the summer. My full time crew and I came up with a summer plan. They would maintain the irrigation system, take care of events, do the maintenance, we prioritized daily. I hired an outside mowing contractor to mow 2/3 of the campus once a week. I would maintain the athletic fields including the mowing. That summer, I worked 7 days a week as much as 16 hours a day. I didn't allow much time for myself. It was record heat for Helena. The month of July saw 28 days in the 90's and 5 of those days in the 100's. August and September weren't much better. We watched forest fires on the mountainsides around the valley. The valley often filled with smoke from those fires. It was a tough summer to work but the athletic fields were ready for the coming season. The woman's soccer team went 17-2-2 that season. They went to the national tournament only to lose during the final four. The football team won their 5th NAIA national championship. The field held up. I was awarded the 2007 STMA College and University Soccer Field of the Year, and I went on to receive the Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) Grand Award in the Athletic Field Category, and was recognized by Pioneer Athletics "Field of Excellence" award. I was called upon to speak in Montana and nationally. In 2008, I was nominated to be on the PGMS board of directors and now am serving my second 3-year term. I continue my involvement with STMA on the Chapter Relations committee for 3 years and now serve on the Membership committee. I am a believer in networking. I believe green industry associations are often working on common ground. Communication is key to promoting the green industry and working on promoting and using sustainable practices in a consciously aware society. Our industry is often viewed with objective scrutiny. It is important to realize our industry has been the environmental stewards long before today's challenges. I believe we need to share the message with the public. I often notice, when I am working on one thing I find I am usually doing something for many. Last spring, I received notice from my alma mater, the University of MinnesotaCrookston that I had been nominated to receive Outstanding Alumni of the Year. The outstanding Alumni Award is the highest honor bestowed on UMC alumni by the faculty, staff, administration and alumni at UMC. This award recognizes alumni who have displayed exemplary commitment and service to community, church, education, family or in their occupational field. A month later I attended the PGMS School of Grounds Management & GIE+EXPO in Louisville, where I was honored with one of the Society's prestigious awards, the PGMS President's Award. The PGMS President's Award is awarded by the PGMS President to a member or members they feel has shown outstanding service and contributions to the Society. As you can see, I didn't get where I am at, alone. Sure I put in much hard work, long hours, made sacrifices, and had to overcome personal challenges that may come easy for some. I can reflect on many experiences involving my parents, family, spouse, educators, friends, supportive supervisors, co-workers and associations. There have been people that helped motivate me and encourage me along; mentors each of you. I think you can see my life has been rather simple. Do you have an interest to participate and serve in improving our way of life and the industry what we believe in, the American Dream? I hope sharing a part of my life story with you; one might see making achievements is doable. Becoming a champion is just beyond the achievements. I have been deeply blessed with family, friends, close colleagues, and national recognition beyond expectation. All I wanted to do was give back. n Gerald Landby is Director of Grounds, Carroll College, Helena MT. www.sportsturfonline.com