Industry Update

Source: www.TurfMagazine.com

U.S. Lawns Holds Annual Conference

The 2010 U.S. Lawns annual conference was held in Orlando, Fla., and featured entertainment by comedian/magician Erick Olson, a speech by U.S. Lawns president Ken Hutcheson, a keynote address from Brian Holloway and sessions with Bryan Flanagan and Bob Alexander.

Two people were inducted into the U.S. Lawns Hall of Fame, Shawn Bone of Dayton, Ohio, and the late Alan Swinburne of Haines City, Fla. The company renamed the Rising Star award as the Alan Swinburne Rising Star Award to honor Swinburne, who lost his battle with cancer in 2010.

New Distributors for Wiedenmann

Wiedenmann North America, LLC announced five new distributors authorized to carry the full line of Wiedenmann professional turf equipment. The new distributors are Arizona Machinery, Avondale, Ariz.; Beard Equipment, Mobile, Ala.; Mid Cal Tractor, Stockton, Calif.; ShowTurf, Boynton Beach, Fla.; and Turf Equipment & Irrigation, Midvale, Utah.

Jim Carter

Carter Joins Peterson Cat

Jim Carter has accepted a position as used equipment manager for Peterson Cat, the authorized Caterpillar dealer in Oregon and southwest Washington. Prior to joining Peterson, he spent 35 years with the previous Cat dealer in northern Oregon and southwest Washington, including 10 years as a used equipment manager.

Excel Installs New Testing Grounds

Excel Industries, Inc. has developed a new 20-acre mowing test facility near its production plant in Hesston, Kan. The area, which includes trees and slopes, was installed as an expansion of Excel’s current testing grounds. The mowing facility will be the centerpiece of Hustler Days 2012.

Distributors discuss the Plugr PL855 turf aerator with Nathan Antons, SourceOne national sales manager.

SourceOne Distributors Gather at GIE

The GIE+EXPO was the site of the first distributor meeting hosted by SourceOne Outdoor Power Equipment. Distributors were briefed on new product features and discussed the growing SourceOne product lines. The company received positive feedback on the growth of models in the Plugr line of aerators and its website change to www.sourceoneope.com. Distributors also provided input on the Dealer of the Year award.

Rebecca Butler

Dixie Chopper Names National Sales Manager

Rebecca E. Butler was appointed to the position of national sales manager for Dixie Chopper. Previously, Butler had served as both a zone manager and territory manager. She joined the company in 2008 as the first female territory manager. She holds a degree in business management.

Ariens to Acquire Søvde

Ariens Co. announced it has reached an agreement to acquire Søvde, a power equipment distributor located in Rygge, Norway. The acquisition is expected to be complete in early February. Søvde will continue to operate as a two-step distributor between Ariens and independent power equipment dealers in Norway. Lasse Jonassen will remain as managing director of the company.

Stens’ 2011 catalog.

Stens Offers 2011 Catalog

Stens’ 2011 catalog features over 6,000 parts and includes over 300 new product additions. It contains easy-to-use tabs by product categories, search capabilities by OEM and competitor part numbers, equipment and engine model quick reference charts and an easy-to-find new products section. For more information, call 800-457-7444 or visit www.stens.com.

Rain Bird Announces Awards Program

Rain Bird announced the launch of the Intelligent Use of Water Awards program, an interactive grant program that will award more than $50,000 to water conservation and environmental sustainability projects that promote green spaces. Open to nonprofits, landscapers, homeowners, schools, community organizations or anyone with an appropriate project, the program invites the public to submit projects in need of funding at www.iuowawards.com. Winners will be announced on World Water Day, March 22.

Eagle Point Named Preferred Partner

Eagle Point Software was chosen as a preferred industry partner by Autodesk, Inc.. The Autodesk Preferred Industry Partner Program delivers tightly integrated, industry-specific software solutions that leverage the power of Autodesk’s 3-D modeling and simulation technologies to create competitive advantage for customers.

Discovery Education to Launch Program

Discovery Education is launching a new science-based curriculum in the spring for elementary students, geared toward helping them appreciate and take care of green spaces around the home responsibly. TurfMutt, a caped dog crusader, is the face of the new program and aims to get kids outside and help them understand the importance of green spaces. Visit http://turfmutt.discoveryeducation.com and sign up for Mutt Mail, and visit www.turfmutt.com to join TurfMutt’s blog.