Tiger Turf Talk

We are so back! We are excited to start back up the Tiger Turf Talk podcast on our 200th Episode with Nick McKenna, one of our program's biggest supporters. We caught up with him at this years SFMA Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. We spoke on the past history of the show, what is going on in the industry and so much more! We are excited to be bringing a couple of exciting series to the podcast...

To wrap our Grounds Leadership Podcast tour with have two of our favorite people in the entire world. Our special guest host Leah Withrow, hosts her mentor Joe Hill to discuss all of the important aspects of our industry. They also provide great insight to what the Toro Grounds Leadership Academy is all about. This is an incredible episode that you do not want to miss.

In this episode we have Drew Selensky, Former turfgrass professional. It was a hard talk to have such a bright young future industry leader have to step away from this incredible industry because of his needs to support his family. It is important to hear first hand what we struggle with as an industry. Be sure to listen.

Be sure to check out the most recent episode of Tiger Turf Talk with long time industry leader, Mr. Jason Bowers of Loudoun County Parks and Rec. Jason and I have a long friendship dating back to his time at Virginia Tech where we have a shared a love of the Hokies and Enter Sandman. This is an awesome conversation about the Grounds Leadership Academy and all things Toro. You do not want to miss i...

Be sure to check this episode out with product managers Max and Ben with their work on equipment ranging from the FieldPro 6040 to the GeoLink Sprayers. Their work is truly unparalled on the impact that they are having on our industry and how it will shape the future moving forward. Learn what they do to ensure the best products that you can truly count on. Check out these products at Toro.com

The highlight of our travels was checking in with one of our former students from the Brentsville Turf Toro Grounds Academy, Julie Kessler, Field Manager for CPKC Stadium the home of the KC Current. It is something truly special to see where she started in our classroom to see her at the highest level! We are so proud. You do not want to miss it!

We are beyond lucky to be able to stop in and see our great friend Travis Hogan at Arrowhead in Kansas City. It was great to catch up on all things Chiefs and growing grass in the transition zone. We also have the honor of speaking together at this years SFMA Conference. Be sure to catch this episode today!

Our next stop on the road brings us to Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. We had the honor of interviewing one of the one of the greatest groundskeepers of all time, Trevor Vance, the Head Groundskeeper of the Kansas City Royals. An incredible conversation of how sports field management has changed from the early years to today, while diving into his passion of coaching baseball and how it...

The one that we all have been waiting for is this podcast with one of our good friend, Mr. Jordan Netzel of the Lawn Tools. We were able to make a trip out to a very special place of where the new Headquarters will be for the Lawn Tools where they are making something truly special! We also dive into the journey of how it all came to be and how we met along the way specifically, the impact that he...

Be sure to check out our most recent podcast from our tour with one of our industry's future bright minds, Kennedy Ellis. It was so great catching up with her as she is spending the summer at the turf research center for her internship. You can tell how passionate she is about her research and her future as an educator. Be sure to check it out!

Our first stop on the 2025 Toro Grounds Leadership Podcast Tour was in Fayetville, Arkansas where we sat down with the Assistant Professor of the Arkansas Turf Program Wendall Hutchens. Great time catching up with one of the best people in the industry you will ever meet. We toured the research farm and all of the incredible work of the turf staff and students. An Episode you do not want to miss.

We are back with an awesome episode with a young industry professional, Whitney Mesi of Oklahoma Softball. She has an incredible story that has led her to this industry with a promising future. She also has awesome insight into taking risks and living your life to the fullest! Truly an incredible human being who I am so excited to see her future!

Be sure to check out our latest episode featuring newly named Dr. Travis Roberson from the Syngenta Company. We are thrilled to partner with the Syngenta Company, where we will be installing Spiio sensors throughout our facility at Brentsville. We were able to have Travis out to discuss the work he is doing with this innovative technologies and the impact that they can have on how we manage our tu...

Talk about an episode that everyone needs to listen to. The incredible insight that Josh gives on his experience and how he operates at ASU is something that we all can benefit from. The culture that he has been able to create among his crew is something that is special and should be used throughout the industry. His priorities to himself, family, and crew members are truly inspiring. This is an e...

We had the honor of having Andi on the podcast fresh off of her first trip to the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, where she received the incredible Allan MacCurrach Jr. Award. This is a great, authentic conversation with one of the most motivated industry professionals on the podcast with her unique journey to this point in her career. This is an episode you do not want to miss...

We were so excited to have industry leader Brad Finn on to talk about sports field management. We dive into his personal journey into the industry and how so many industry professionals played a role in his success. We also had the opportunity to debrief on the recent SFMA conference and the experience. This is an episode you do not want to miss.

We always love having friends on the podcast, but for this episode, we had the opportunity to have Tanner talk about the groundbreaking facility that is the future of golf in the TGL. The use of GameOn grass to facilitate a more realistic atmosphere in a stadium setting is truly something special. You do not want to miss this episode.

We are so excited to talk with the SFMA Professional Soccer Field of the Year winner, Mr. Aaron Fink. Just an awesome conversation about the growth of sports field management in Louisville and how he was there to open a new stadium for the MLS Expansion team. We also got into the significance of mentorship and how someone like Tom Nielsen impacted his career and how he carries his experiences bett...

Be sure to check out the first episode of 2025 with one of our favorite people, Max Casper, the newly hired Head Groundskeeper of the Reno Aces. It was such a fantastic conversation about the exciting start in Max's new role and his aspirations for the future. He has a unique journey into the industry that shows how important mentorship is for those unaware of the sports field management industry....

We are excited to have one of our future industry leaders, Drew Selensky from Texas A&M. We had a great conversation about the future of our industry and the impact that he is having on it through his work on social media of developing a brand where not only are we ushering in the next generation but creating awareness of all the incredible work sports field managers have no their communities...

We are excited to officially announce this historic partnership of the Brentsville Turf Toro Grounds Academy. In this episode, we dive into the journey to get to this point where we are looking to change the outlook of the turfgrass industry. With our shared vision, we aim to cultivate the next generation of turfgrass managers in all areas of the industry. You do not want to miss this one!

In this episode, we have a rising star in the industry, Ben Hartman of the Witchita Wind Surge. Such an amazing conversation with an awesome human being with a real passion for the industry. We also talk about the future generation and our role in creating the best opportunity moving forward. Be sure to check it out.

We stopped in Ames, Iowa, to visit with one of our favorite industry professionals, Joe Hill, and record a Joe Rogan-type Podcast with the longest episode recorded in Tiger Turf Talk history. You do not want to miss this incredible episode, which speaks to this incredible industry and the future that we should be striving for.

Wrapping up our time in Minnesota with a young and bright industry professional live at Allianz Field where we were able to dive into everything Minnesota United including his awesome companion Kobe the Golden Retriever. You do not want to miss this incredible conversation with an awesome person in this industry.

Be sure to check out this awesome episode with an incredible professional, Marcus Campbell. We had the incredible honor of seeing his first-class facility in St. Paul, where he is doing an incredible job. We got the opportunity to dive into what it takes to manage the field, the crew, and so much more. We cannot thank Marcus enough for taking the time! Be sure to listen.