CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Nearly 30 college seniors from top turfgrass programs around the world converged in Charlotte, North Carolina, last month for Jacobsen’s annual Future Turf Managers event. Jacobsen is a Textron company. 
The annual event gives students a unique opportunity to network with turfgrass industry professionals at the highest level. During the three-day event, students visit with top superintendents and sports field managers, hear cutting-edge presentations from top industry experts and get an insider’s look at Jacobsen’s turf maintenance equipment. Several attendees expressed optimism on their future careers and the state of the industry.
Attendees must be recommended by professors at turfgrass programs. Students were selected from thirty colleges and universities including Penn State University, Mississippi State University, Iowa State University, North Dakota State University, Rutgers and the University of Florida. The group also included international students from Myerscough College in England and the North Melbourne Institute of Tafe in Australia. 
The group travelled to Charlotte Country Club and Sage Valley Golf Club, two top golf courses in the Southeast. The students also visited the University of South Carolina, where the group toured the Gamecocks’ baseball and football facilities.
The week also included a valuable discussion on leadership and communication by Steve Randall, senior manager of Chapter Outreach for the GCSAA. Each student received a full year’s membership to the GCSAA, sponsored by Jacobsen, and credit towards the pursuit of their Class A GCSAA certification.
Photos:
Top right: The attendees tour Sage Valley Golf Club, Graniteville, South Carolina.
Top Left: Garrett Emerick receives his Future Turf Manager certificate from Rocky Parson, VP of finance for Jacobsen.
