FIELD OF THE YEAR SCHOOLS AND PARKS SPORTING GROUNDS
SFM: Please detail for us the involvement of your students in the management of this field, and the benefits of the hands-on experience it provides for their turfgrass education. Sheetz: In 2021, the program was born with the simple idea of creating a curriculum focused on hands-on experience in the green industry. There was a significant shift from the county’ s traditional agriculture / horticulture focus to landscaping and turfgrass management, where jobs all over Virginia were blossoming. Now, five years into the program, enrollment has skyrocketed as students gain a new passion for the turfgrass industry and take pride in their work.
As in all Career and Technical Education frameworks, the class is split between classroom and lab lessons. Classes are driven by workplace readiness skills and work-based learning opportunities. Students have many opportunities within the industry, whether it is the paint crew for that week’ s games, mowing patterns, or setting up for special events. Students learn how to use proper techniques and maintain a safe workplace environment. All students are a part of an effective learning environment that becomes their own space of creativity where they can thrive.
The program has been very successful at setting up students with internships and jobs postgraduation. Close collaborations between the school and employers directly helps students obtain internships and jobs. Over the last two years, students from this program have worked with the Richmond Flying Squirrels, Richmond Kickers, Chesterfield Parks and Recreation, and various golf courses around the Richmond area. Students are expected to take ownership of their education. This program empowers them to make their own work decisions, whether it is a simple decision such as a mowing pattern, painting various boundary lines for different sports, or creating the stencil for our football field for the entire season. Students take pride in their work, and this is creating more than just a field. Work in turf management creates a place for memories, a safe playing environment for athletes, and something pleasing for spectators to observe. It has a larger purpose— for sports and the environment— and that is critical.
14 SportsField Management | May 2026 sportsfieldmanagementonline. com