The 2026 SFMA Conference and Exhibition was held January 18-22, 2026, in Fort Worth, Texas, and this issue of SportsField Management recaps this year’s event.
For me, there were plenty of highlights. From the welcome reception all the way through the annual awards banquet and dinner, there was always something happening.
First, I want to extend my thanks to our partners at SFMA for setting us up with a dedicated space to record podcasts live from conference. I thoroughly enjoyed my discussions with key industry leaders, and we have already begun to release those conversations on our website and wherever your favorite podcasts are found.
In addition to those planned podcast discussions, the week was filled with plenty of other great impromptu conversations and networking. SFMA Conference is always the best opportunity to connect — and reconnect — with so many amazing people from throughout this industry.
I was also excited this year to have an opportunity to join the Thursday half-day Seminar On Wheels tour to AT&T Stadium (home of the Dallas Cowboys) and Globe Life Field (home of the Texas Rangers). The behind-the-scenes look was great, but the most memorable moment was being among those temporarily stuck on a huge freight elevator at Globe Life Field.
But we all made it out in time to wrap up the conference in grand fashion at the awards banquet. I once again want to thank SFMA for incorporating our Rising Star Awards into the banquet. It was great to give recognition to our 2025 class of Rising Stars on the main stage in front of their peers. I hope this will encourage all of you to nominate a Rising Star for our 2026 class (https://sportsfieldmanagementonline.com/rising-star-awards/).
I hope you enjoy our full recap of everything the conference had to offer, and I look forward to seeing you all in Tampa in February of 2027.
John Kmitta
Associate Publisher/Editorial Brand Director
jkmitta@epgacceleration.com
763-383-4405