POST-SHOW RECAP
INNOVATIVE AWARD WINNERS The SFMA Innovative Award is given to one or more exhibitors whose innovation has made the sports field manager more effective or the playing surface safer . The 2025 winning products were as follows :
Hunter Wireless Valve Link ( WVL )
Running wire from the controller to field valves can be time-consuming , labor-intensive and expensive . The Hunter Wireless Valve Link ( WVL ) system uses LoRa Technology so you can easily connect valves without running additional wires or cutting into hardscape . It features simple , wire-free connections , works with Hunter ICC2 and HCC controllers , and is compatible with Centralus and Hydrawise Software . The WVL adds up to 54 valves (+ P / MV ) up to 2,000 feet line-of-sight or more with a repeater . License-free LoRa Technology enables wireless communication directly to the valve box — no copper field wiring required . WVL combines with conventional ICM or two-wire EZDS modules for ultimate flexibility .
Wiedenmann STrac 720 with ST 170 flex fraise mowing head
The STrac 720 with the ST 170 flex fraise mowing head is a pedestrian fraise mower that will fraise mow the infield and outfield lips of a baseball field , creating a safer playing surface . By eliminating these lips , you are removing a tripping hazard by leveling the surface and also reducing the unpredictable bounce of a baseball that can occur when the ball is hit into the lip . The transition zone ( s ) between the infield and outfield is smooth and level due to the application from the STrac 720 with the ST 170 flex fraise mowing head . The STrac 720 is a multipurpose machine with other heads that can be quickly swapped out . Other heads include a verticutting head , coring head , sod cutting head , sand fill head and several seeder heads .
PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL SPORTS TURF MANAGERS SYMPOSIUM The Professional Baseball Sports Turf Managers Symposium was held January 15-16 in conjunction with the 2025 SFMA Conference and Exhibition in Palm Springs , California .
The annual symposium provides valuable insights into many aspects of professional development
and groundskeeping , as well as the opportunity to develop relationships .
More than 85 groundskeepers plus sponsors attended the 2025 symposium . Presentations were geared toward Minor League Baseball and professional baseball groundskeepers , and session topics included the following :
Review and clarification of PDL guidelines and new rules for the 2025 season — presented by MLB representatives via Zoom .
Maintaining Sand-Based Fields – presented by Dr . Bryan Hopkins , BYU .
Work / Life Balance – presented by Joey Stevenson , Indianapolis Indians .
Infield Skin Maintenance – presented by Matt Parrott , Charlotte Knights .
Umpire Relations — Trevor Dannegger , AAA Umpire .
Ewing Outdoor Solutions and Sygenta served as presenting sponsors for the 2025 symposium . Sponsor partners included DuraEdge Engineered Soils , Beacon Athletics , Mountain View Seeds / MVP Genetics , Hunter Industries and SiteOne Sports Fields .
The symposium leadership team included Marcus Campbell , St . Paul Saints ; Dan Douglas , Reading Fightin ’ Phils ; Andy Gossel , Lehigh Valley IronPigs ; Ben Hartman , Witchita Storm Surge ; Mitch Hooten , West Michigan White Caps ; Morgan Hunter , Quad City River Bandits ; Jeff Jackson , Oklahoma City Comets ; Kyle Leppelmeier , Toledo MudHens ; Nick Rozdilski , Round Rock Express ; Tim Siegel , Kannapolis Cannon Ballers ; and Keith Winter , Fort Wayne TinCaps .
24 SportsField Management | March 2025 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com