The 2011 New England Regional
Turfgrass Conference and Show concluded on March 10 at 1pm. As I stand in the middle of the Exhibit Hall watching as everyone begins their breakdown of exhibit space I reflect on this great week! The feelings are very similar to watching the last put of a major tournament that you just spent many months preparing for and then....it is over! Our Monday qualifier was a day full of seminar attendees viewing a variety of topics including Basic Turf Management, Irrigation Conservation, Computer Training and even life-saving training for
AED Equipment. More than 300 seminar seats were taken as new and old management techniques were shared as instructors fielded questions.
Our opening round included a full-field, hearing topics directed by the
USGA, including remote broadcasts, all benefiting superintendents and the ones they work with.
NERTF President, Mike
Buras, reminded attendees that the show continues to focus on its objectives and that attendees should understand that this show is their show and that all suggestions and comments are important to the foundation. The day peaked with a highlighted keynote sponsored by Bayer, and then a few opening hours on the trade show floor with a welcoming reception sponsored by Turf Products and
Andersons that begins the opportunity to initiate conversations with vendors while having some food and drink. Tuesday is a nice day without many distractions or decisions other than where to find lunch and whether to turn left or right on the trade show floor. As players gain confidence with vendors, the first butterflies
diminish. You can find some recreation on the show floor with a golf simulator, our driving range, and this year we initiated a batting cage for the first time. A boost came in the form Olympic Hockey Gold Medal Team Captain Mike
Eruzione, as he helped those in
attendance realize that with hard work and with a focus on their goals that they too can be a champion!
As Wednesday approaches, attendees prepare for a full-day that can feel much closer to 36 holes from start to finish. Morning refreshments sponsored by
Floratine are a welcome sight as attendees consider four tracts of education. The
trade show begins to heat up starting at 10am and going until 5pm. There is more education and more credits to pick-up in the afternoon and if you are looking for some friendly competition, come and challenge the field at the annual show auction where you can put yourself in a better position as you approach the final round. At the end of the day, there was the annual social event, Conference Reception in the
Westin Hotel sponsored by
Syngenta and
Harrells to relax and consider how the day played-out. If you are lucky enough to be around for the finale, then this is also a
tim
e to plan for the final round. But, many weren't done yet, as this year's special events included a dinner in honor of Dr. Joseph and Lonnie Troll. This historic event seated more than 100 in attendance and cited the creation of the
NERTF Distinguished Service Award given for the many years of personal attention that Dr. Joe and Lonnie have given to the turf industry and for the many whose careers
benefited by being educated and
fellow-shipped by the
Troll's. It was a special evening with Joe and Lonnie in
attendance that will always be a landmark event of the foundation.
As the final round is here, the field is thinned out and the opportunity to spend quality time on the trade show floor is still possible. There are two hours of high level education with appealing topics. Networking continues as the field can anticipate the approaching finish. Conversations tend to be more about last night and the events of yesterday, but eventually settle on the business of the day. As the clock strikes 1pm, and the week is, as Jim
Nantz might say, "one for the record books!" The floor exodus has begun, it is time to get out of the way! With 53 hours of education and 13 hours of trade show time the week takes a lot of planning, preparation and commitment to make it all go smoothly. We would like to thank all sponsors, attendees, exhibitors and presenters for your vital support. We appreciate everyone who has worked so hard to make this show to be as strong a conference and show as you can find in the industry. We thank you for your compliments and all your suggestions. Keep them coming! Don't forget to mark your calendar, in 2012 we will surprise many with an earlier show. The planning has already begun. Our dates are February 6th-9
th and before you know it....it will be time to tee it up again!
