Students in the Virginia Tech Turf Club competed in the 2024 Turfbowl along with 63 other teams from across the nation and Canada. The competition covered topics including turf, weed, seed, disease identifications, calculations for product applications, and general turf management questions. Our two four-person teams consisted of six Agricultural Technology Program students. While they didn't take home any awards this year, advisor and Instructor Jon Dickerson said, “I was very proud of their performance and look forward to next year in San Diego!” Dickerson along with Dr. Sandor are faculty sponsors of the Virginia Tech Turf Club and accompanied the students on the trip.

Turf Club
Team 1 :Jacob Golub, Matt Naiper, Whit Coggin, Brendan Fitzwater

The students' experiences at the GCSAA conference and turf bowl competition have a wide range of benefits. First, the experience of traveling for many students is intimidating and this allows them to get out of their comfort zone and see something new. Next, the competition itself allows the students to challenge their knowledge of what it takes to manage turfgrass. 

AT student Whit Coggin said, “The experience as a whole relates to the curriculum of the Agricultural Technology Program. Our agronomic knowledge learned in the classroom was put to the test. Aside from the agronomic standpoint, skills learned in the Communication Skills Class were also put to the test, since the entirety of the trip was spent networking with industry leaders from around the United States.”

Team 2
Team 2: Rob Greigg, Charlie Welsh, Ben Badillo, Matthew Keyser

In addition to the academic benefits of the competition, the students must work as a four-person group to complete the test, which is great team building. They build comradery between themselves and the other schools which can lead to important connections in their future in the turf industry. 

Team with industry professionals

The students also get the opportunity to meet and interact with industry professionals who participate with the GCSAA from both Virginia and North America. This allows them to network for potential internships and full-time employment. AT student Matthew Keyser said, “I took away a lot from the whole experience, I gained an internship with the USGA through a relationship I built with one of their agronomists at the show.” Matthew has been accepted as one of USGA’s Green Section summer interns. This national program allows a handful of students to learn from a USGA agronomist as they work with superintendents to solve complex course issues.

The students also get to see the importance of continuing education. Most attendees come for the professional development opportunities the GCSAA offers. Lastly, but probably the most exciting to the students, is the giant trade show during the conference. The trade show showcases the latest and greatest technologies on the market from all of the major and the up-and-coming manufacturers of equipment, chemicals, installation companies, and more. 

Special thanks to the generous sponsors who helped make sure our students could have this wonderful experience! 
Bulldog Field Equipment, LLC, Chad Kropff
Old Dominion Golf Course Superintendents Assication 
Prillaman Landscape Dimensions, C.D. Prillaman
RightLine LLC, Tim Zech
Syngenta Turf, Matt Drayton
Virginia Golf Course Superintendents Association 
Virginia Sports Field Managemnet Association 
Williams Landscape & Design, Aaron Williams