The events, which included a mini-expo and hands-on learning stations, focused on day-to-day operations, seasonal maintenance and new sports field construction and renovation.
On September 19, Ewing hosted its field day in Oklahoma City at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, home of the Oklahoma City Redhawks (Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros). Ewing’s second field day was in Tempe at Tempe Diablo Stadium, spring training home of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, on December 4.
The events were held in support of Turface® Athletics and the Keep America Playing Tour™, a nationwide initiative to educate coaches, sports turf managers and volunteers on maintaining the safest, most playable sports fields possible.
Attendees learned best practices and gained hands-on experience in pitching mound construction, field painting, water efficiency and irrigation system management, soil science and seed selection for sports fields.
Attendees received the opportunity to interact with fellow sports turf professionals and vendors, and were able to get their turf management questions answered by industry experts.
In Oklahoma City, attendees heard from Larry DiVito, head groundskeeper for the Minnesota Twins, as he shared his techniques to get his field, Target Field, prepped for a game.
In Tempe, attendees heard from Barney Lopas, field/ground maintenance manager for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, about his game day prep routines that ensure the field is in top playing condition. Grant Trenbeath, head groundskeeper for the Arizona Diamondbacks, joined Turface Athletics™ in discussing soil science, sharing with attendees the breakdown of his infield mix in the Diamondbacks’ unique retractable roof stadium.
Ewing hosted its first Keep America Playing sports turf field day in 2009 at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz., spring training home of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox. Since then, Ewing has hosted Keep America Playing events across the U.S., including Grand Prairie, Tex.; San Diego, Calif.; Tacoma, Wash.; Atlanta, Ga.; and Sacramento, Calif.
“We’re thrilled with the quality of this program and the positive feedback we’ve received from attendees,” said Douglas York, president of Ewing. “Helping sports turf managers maintain safe, playable fields is important. We’ll continue providing the support, products and educational programs to help make their jobs easier.”
To view a photo gallery of the Arizona event, visit the Flickr gallery.
About Ewing: A Premier Supplier and Quality Education Provider
Ewing is the largest family-owned supplier of landscape and water management products in the country. Ewing offers commercial and residential irrigation supplies, water management solutions, landscape and turf products, hardscape, landscape lighting, water features, erosion control, industry-leading seminars and more to professionals serving the landscaping, sports turf, golf, agricultural and industrial industries.
