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MTC TURF NEWS

Anyone who was unable to attend the 47^th MTC Annual Winter Conference and Trade Show, held Tuesday, December 13, 2022, at the Turf Valley Resort and Golf Course missed joining us as we dedicated this conference to our Secretary of 46 years and Treasurer for 41 years, Cheryl Gaultney, who passed away unexpectedly this past summer. Plus, you missed a first class opportunity to experience the latest in Turfgrass Education, a fabulous opportunity to network, a single day to recertify all your Pesticide Applicator Licenses for MD, DC, DE, VA, WV, & PA plus your Fertilizer Applicator License for MD & VA, and a chance to visit 30 Vendors who helped support the Trade Show. And we have to mention you missed some great food as well!

We especially want to thank Cheryl’s husband, daughter, grandkids, and other family members who came to the Trade Show and participated in the luncheon and dedication service for our dear friend and mentor who was a permanent fixture and MTC events for the last 46 years.  She will be greatly missed.

We also want to thank Sara Ellis, who is the lovely wife of our Immediate Past President Ben Ellis, who took a vacation day to run the virtual Zoom meeting of our Lawn and Landscape. With Sara’s help, we can offer recertification credits to anyone who is not feeling well and/or still concerned about being in large crowds. However, those using the Zoom meeting miss the other important factors of the live conference.

Our educators this year included: Dr. John Henderson – University of Connecticut; Dr. Shawn Askew – Virginia Tech; Dr. David Clement – University of Maryland Extension; Beth Ginter – Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council; Richard Reinhardt – Percy Public Affairs Lobbyist; Dr. Fereshteh Shahoveisi – University of Maryland; Chuck Schuster – University of Maryland Extension Emeritus; Steve McDonald – Turfgrass Disease Solutions; Elliott Dowling – USGA; John Emerson – University of Delaware; Geffrey Rinehart – University of Maryland IAA, Dr. Kevin Mathias – University of Maryland IAA Emeritus; and Dr. Shravya Peddigari – University of Maryland. A big thank you to all these professionals who shared their research and expertise with us. Also, a super big thank you to Geoffrey Rinehart and the Education Committee for the unbelievable hours required to put a program together of this quality.

Dr. Fereshteh Shahoveisi has accepted the responsibility to lead the Education Committee and to provide another exceptional program for this year’s conference, which will occur on Tuesday, December 12, 2023 also at Turf Valley. If you have any ideas for speakers or topics you would like to hear, please feel free to contact Fereshteh at fsh@umd.edu or Vernon at ExecDir@MDTurfCouncil.com or 410-745-9643.

Regardless of whether you were part of the 400+ people who took advantage of the December 2022 Conference and Trade Show, we all need to support, encourage and thank all the Vendors and Sponsors who help make our conference what it is, bigger and better each year. This year we had 28 vendors utilizing 30 booths and two outside heavy equipment displays. When you need equipment, supplies or assistance in any way, look to the list of Vendors and Sponsors who help make your conference what it is first when you make your next purchases. If you have a supplier who is not a MTC Vendor or Sponsor, send Vernon their name and contact information and we will attempt to bring them into our Trade Show next year.

Our Vendors this year included 

Bloom – Washington DC

Central Sod Farms -Centreville

Central Turf & Irrigation Supply – Frederick

Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council – Silver Spring

Collins Wharf Sod Farms – Eden

Corteva Agra Supply– Bradentan, FL

Cover Sports, Philadelphia, PA

Davisson Golf – Glen Burnie

Envu (formerly Bayer) – Churchton

Finch Turf Equipment – Eldersburg

Genesis Turfgrass Supply – Glen Rock, PA

Harco Fittings LLC – Lynchburg, VA

Harrell’s LLC – Fulton

Hummer Turfgrass Systems – Manheim, PA

IAA – College Park

K&C Grounds Maintenance – Lutherville

Landscape Supply & Chesapeake Valley Seed – Upper Marlboro & Savage

MASTMA – Davidsonville

MTC – St. Michaels

Neudorff USA – Annapolis

Newsom Seed – Fulton

Nutrien Solutions – Rosedale

Scientific Plant Services – Baltimore

Shore United Bank – Easton

Synatek Solutions – Souderton, PA

Syngenta – Davidsonville

Turf Equipment & Supply Co. – Jessup

Winterberry Irrigation – Southington, CT.

Our Sponsors this year who helped offset the massive costs to provide this event for you were:

Central Sod Farms – Friend of the University

Envu (Formally Bayer) – Lunch Sponsor

Harrell’s LLC – Coffee & Sweets Sponsor

Newsom Seed – Lunch Sponsor

Nutrien Solutions – Break-Out Room Sponsor

SiteOne – Lunch Sponsor

Syngenta – Break-Out Room Sponsor.

These sponsorships provided $5,550.00 additional dollars that were raised for support of the University Turfgrass Programs and the marketing of Quality Turfgrass in the State of Maryland which provides a safer playing surface for our children and cleaner waterways including the Chesapeake Bay.

Mark your calendar now to save Tuesday, December 12, 2023 for this year’s conference at Turf Valley.

See you at Turf Valley in December.