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Arkansas Turfgrass – Julie Holt, Content Director, TheTurfZone.com

After a hiatus from the in-person event in 2021, the Arkansas Turfgrass Association Annual Conference returned to an in-person event on January 27-28, 2022. Back at the Hot Springs Convention Center, the event once again delivered fantastic opportunities for members to network, get CEU credits and many other education opportunities. ATA Awards were also presented along with tributes to Dr. Karcher and Ron Fisher.

Daniel O’Brien put together a phenomenal lineup of speakers. This group of experts offered essential information on topics that attendees can use in day-to-day operations. Those topics and presenters included:

• Regulations (Seth Dunlap)
• Insecticides (David Held)
• Turfgrass Breeding (Brian Schwartz)
• Glyphosate and Cancer Risks (Jason Davis)
• Practical Calibration & Application (Zac Reicher)
• Branding for Turfgrass Managers (Julie Holt)
• Future of Turfgrass Education Panel (Chuck Cross, Michelle Buchanan, Mike Richardson, Shelia Finney, Julie Holt)
• GCSAA First Green Program (Johnny Walker)
• Tallgrass Prairie Restoration (Jay Randolph)
• New Turfgrasses for Gold Course Putting Greens (Brian Schwartz)
• Zoysiagrass Putting Greens (Thomas Walton)
• Managing Toughest Soil-Borne Problems on Greens (Zac Reicher)
• New Ways to Mow Grass (Mike Richardson)
• Rethinking Endophytes in Turfgrass (David Held)
• Optimized Cultural Practices for Responsible Sports Turf Management (Eric DeBoer)
• It’s All About the Soil: Rootzones for Natural Grass Fields (Ed Norton)
• Starting a Turf Management Program (Chuck Cross)
• Pioneering New Tracks in Turfgrass Education (Michelle Buchanan)

The Trade Show floor was open all day Thursday, and ATA members enjoyed seeing the newest and best products, equipment, and services available from a great collection of vendors:

• BASF Corporation
• GCSA
• Bayer
• GCSAA
• Syngenta
• Arkansas Group
• Arkansas Turf Support
• Jerry Pate
• SiteOne
• Regal Chemical
• PBI-Gordon
• MVP Genetics
• NuFarm Americas
• Harrell’s
• Ladd’s/Kansas Golf and Turf
• Specialty Sands & Services
• Advanced turf Solutions
• Ameriturf
• Quali-Pro
• Grasshopper Mower
• AgraTurf
• P&K Equipment

Don’t forget to congratulate our ATA Award Winners! 

2021 High School Field of the Year, Beebe High School – Ryan Smith

2021 Field of the Year, Lester White Field, Mountain Home Parks & Rec – Cody McKee, Lester White

ATA would also like to thank our event sponsors – with their support, we are able to host a great event!

Agra Turf – Title Sponsor

Bayer – Education session

ASGA – Break Sponsor

Syngenta – Workshop sponsor

Grasshopper Company – 2 Workshop sponsor

Jerry Pate – Education Session sponsor

Regal Chemical Company – Break Sponsor

Thank you to all who attended, supported, presented and displayed at the ATA Conference! We look forward to seeing you again in 2023!