INDUSTRY EDUCATION
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For high school teachers or administrators interested in starting their own turfgrass curriculum, Sheetz and Turner both recommend reaching out to others in the industry. From there, it’ s a matter of identifying resources and growing your network.
“ The biggest thing about the sports field industry is everybody is willing to help and it doesn’ t matter if you are running a multi-million-dollar stadium or you’ re teaching high school students,” said Sheetz.“ Just reach out to anybody.”
According to Sheetz, the best part of running such a program is the recognition the students receive and what they get out of the program.
“ We’ ve won Pioneer Athletics Field of Excellence three years in a row, we won a Virginia SFMA Field of the Year, and we were just nominated for Virginia School Board Association for work-based learning for students,” he said.“ That’ s a huge accomplishment. Any time our kids get recognition is always going to be my highest pinnacle. It’ s not about me; it’ s about teaching these kids how to go into this industry, and show them what else is available out there in the world.”
For Turner, a South Forsyth graduate himself, his favorite part of running the turf management pathway is getting to work with students for more than one class spanning several years of their high school careers.
“ Getting to see them grow, watching them interact, and seeing people step into leadership roles,” he said.“ Then seeing them get opportunities. You really get to know students.”
John Kmitta is associate publisher and editorial brand director of SportsField Management magazine. If you would like to share information about your high school turfgrass program, please reach out to him at jkmitta @ epgacceleration. com.
30 SportsField Management | May 2025 sportsfieldmanagementonline. com