PROFILE
fe . There are hundreds of people around the world who would tell you the same thing about Mike .
Lastly , I ’ m incredibly lucky to work with the turf team at Ohio State . We ’ ve never had a cross word and they are like my family . I ’ m incredibly lucky to work with the Drs . Karl , Dave and John . We support each other , and we work well together .
SFM : What are the biggest accomplishments of your career and / or what are you most proud to have achieved ?
Sherratt : My biggest achievement – the thing I am most proud of – is my students . I have students all over the world that I have taught . Their success is hopefully my legacy – successful students who have gone on to be the best in their industry , the best in their field . Knowing those people are out there , and that they have had those experiences , and they have successful jobs really makes me feel good .
From an agronomic standpoint , I ’ m proud that I have done a lot of applied research on turf management systems like hybrid turf systems and practices like PGRs , topdressing , turf selection , renovation , etc . I can share those experiences with turf managers through my extension and outreach efforts .
Outside of work-work , I ’ m a Scout leader , and I have come to the realization that everything I do in my career I can do in Scouts ( and vice versa ) – making those human connections with the youth , being a servant leader , helping them grow , and being part of their successful life journey is the same as my teaching . I ’ m as equally proud of my Scout efforts as I am of my career
SFM : How has your career benefitted from being involved with STMA ? And what is your advice to others regarding the value of being involved and giving back to the industry though service ?
Sherratt : I ’ ve been a member since 1999 . I remember going to the St . Louis conference in 2000 , not knowing anybody , except Brian Gimbel . He was the director of grounds at OSU , and I ’ d only just met him . I was a female , I was English , I didn ’ t know anybody , and I was immediately accepted by everybody . I couldn ’ t believe it . I had never come across an association like that before . I wasn ’ t standing in a corner on my own . Those connections were immediate , and I knew it was a special group of people .
I ’ ve learned so much over the years as far as technical information and agronomy . It ’ s nice to be able to talk with the other academics to find out what is going on at their institutions . It ’ s nice to have people going through the same challenges as you , and you can support each other . I look forward to the STMA Conference every year , and I look forward to it for the people . Obviously I learn a lot , but it ’ s the people that I go for – hanging out with them , learning from them , supporting them – it ’ s the people . You can get so much from those connections .
As to the second part of your question , I think it ’ s extremely important to give back to the industry . Every interaction you have with another human being leaves
36 SportsField Management | October 2021 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com