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: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/120370
you help the head groundskeeper? Well the first day I ended up telling the old guy what to do and I didn't know anything. Needless to say I brought up the level of work which he couldn't keep up with and left by the end of the month. Well when the mound was crummy the night before, I'm in the bullpen with the pitchers and they tell me what they thought, I take ground balls from the infielders, they told me what they thought, I shag flys with the outfielders and they told me what they thought. So I learned by fire! Also I would get a roving instructor come in town and give me some pointers as well as going on a road trip and get to the yard early and talk to other groundskeepers. SportsTurf: What changes if any are you considering or implementing for the winning field in 2012? Hebrard: Well since getting in the room at 2 in the morning after receiving the FOY award, getting up @ 5 for the flight back to Portland arriving at 12:30. Hoping to get some sleep before our Old Timers Banquet, (Dale Murphy, our guest speaker) Since my wife and I are involved in the organization she wanted to go early so I cleaned up and went with her. I also buy 2 tables to thank people that have helped me during the year, and had to help someone draw the tickets for the raffle prizes in another room when I heard my name called. The Organization presented me with a Merit award for my work with youth baseball fields including Alpenrose Stadium. Coincidentally, Dale grew up in Portland and played at Alpenrose and mentioned that some of his best memories of playing baseball happen there. Upon presenting the award to Carl Cadonau of Alpenrose Dairy he mentioned to me that he wants to convert the East field into the New Intermedi- www.stma.org ate level playing surface that Little League International is now promoting. Just need to remove 27 curly willows, add another 50 feet all around and build a 5' retaining wall! I want to have an interactive contest for Softball World Series follower to have a chance to vote on which pattern we do on the infield. I'm still trying to get the upgrade of the electrical power to the fields so that we can improve the lighting, hope to get some drainage on one of the fields each year and just simply maintain our strive for excellence! SportsTurf: How do you see the sports turf manager's job changing in the future? Hebrard: More attention to detail and budget. I can see that the use of cell phones will be invaluable to the groundkeeper as the instant acquisition of apps allows for a quick accurate answer to their needs. Plant of disease recognition, field measurements, Google earth and so on! Less and less help but more versatile equipment. n The STMA Field of the Year Awards began in 1988 and are given annually in baseball, football, softball, soccer and sporting grounds in three levels: professional, collegiate and schools/parks. A panel of 11 judges independently scores the applications and the winners are announced at the STMA Annual Conference and Exhibition. Winners receive signature clothing, complimentary conference registration, three night's accommodations and a trophy for display. The Field of the Year Program is made possible through the generous donations of Carolina Green Corporation, Ewing Irrigation Products, Hunter Industries, and World Class Athletic Surfaces, Inc. SportsTurf 35