SFMA IN ACTION
SFMA Education
According to SFMA Education Manager, Jennifer McLendon, M. Ed., the ultimate goal is for SFMA educational content to become the go-to for anyone in the sports field management industry. In addition to the educational content at the annual SFMA Conference and Exhibition, SFMA offers a wide range of educational content and resources. These include the Turfgrass Science Certification, Turfgrass Management 101, Professional Development offerings, technical resources and more.
TURFGRASS SCIENCE CERTIFICATION SFMA’ s Turfgrass Science Certification, tested on the iCEV platform, is an entry-level certification( https: / www. sportsfieldmanagement. org / turfgrassscience-certification /) designed to build a pipeline of skilled turfgrass industry professionals. The certification can be earned by learners in all stages of their education and career and verifies individuals are prepared to pursue a career in the field of turfgrass science.
“ We have a lot of really great things happening,” McLendon said of the iCEV curriculum.“ We have been approved in Iowa and Maryland, and we just applied to the Texas Education Agency for approval in the state of Texas. We are working to get approved in Florida. Each state is its own entity and has its own plan.”
McLendon added that the curriculum is pending approval in Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio and South Carolina.
“ Our goal, of course, is to be recognized in all 50 states,” she said.“ We’ re getting there.”
The Turfgrass Science certification assesses knowledge and skills related to the Benefits of Turfgrass; Turfgrass
Anatomy, Identification and Adaptations; Turfgrass Environment; Turfgrass Cultural Practices; and Playing Surface Preparation.
The SFMA Turfgrass Science Certification is an ideal entry-level test for learners who wish to pursue careers in turfgrass and sports field management. But the best way to know for sure is to explore the certification page( https: / www. icevonline. com / turfgrass).
TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 101“ At our last conference, we announced that we offer Turfgrass Management 101, and Canvas is our learning management system,” said McLendon.“ We are live in Canvas, and Turfgrass Management 101 has been updated and vetted by the committee. We have several people per day that sign up for this
8 SportsField Management | July 2025 sportsfieldmanagementonline. com