By Dan Brey

In recent years since the pandemic, the turfgrass area at Penn State’s Berks Campus – known as “Valentine East” – has struggled to keep the turf maintained properly to support teaching, research, and outreach. Although Penn State’s Office of Physical Plant agreed to provide the mowing and maintenance of the site, it has been a significant challenge in terms of funding and also availability of dedicated staff. The Toro zero-turn mower there has been dependable and loyal for many years, but this spring it finally mowed its last blade of grass. A new rotary lawn-height mower was desperately needed, however, the current financial situation within the Pennsylvania State University made the goal of obtaining a new mower seem unlikely. Therefore, the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council stepped in to help.

A new Toro zero-turn rotary mower was purchased this summer. Funding was provided through a partnership between Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council and Penn State Berks. The Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council’s Equipment Grant Program paid for half the cost of the new mower, with an agreed match for the other half from Penn State Berks (Dr. Todd Migliaccio, Associate Dean, Office of Academic Affairs). “This is a positive first step in helping us to rebuild Valentine East, and it sends a message to our turfgrass science students that you are an important part of our teaching mission here at Penn State Berks,” said Dr. Mike Fidanza, Professor of Plant and Soil Science, and Director of the Center for the Agricultural Sciences and a Sustainable Environment.

The next priority is to repair the irrigation system. Also, the creeping bentgrass areas need to be re-established, and autonomous mowers will most likely be utilized to maintain those areas. For now, the lawn-height areas will be maintained with the new mower.

Thank you to the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council for your support of the turfgrass science program at Penn State Berks.

Pictured Above: The new Toro Z-Master 4000 HDX XL recently arrived at Penn State’s Berks Campus to maintain the turfgrass teaching and research areas. An initial “test run” proved it is just what the turf plots needed. Thank you to the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council !

Dan Brey is the Chief Mechanic in the Office of Physical Plant at Penn State’s Berks Campus, in Reading, PA.

This article was featured in the Summer 2025 issue of Pennsylvania Turfgrass – read the digital edition here: https://theturfzone.com/ptc/?ascat=72&sub=issue&issue_id=9406&rti=true