INDUSTRY EDUCATION
LESSONS BEYOND THE GRASS For students, the educational trip to the LA Coliseum was about more than just painting lines, holding hoses, and rolling tarps. It was a lesson in teamwork, responsibility, discipline and professional standards. Each student went home with a new level of appreciation and respect for the industry.“ When you see a field on national television, you don’ t realize the time, effort and resources that go into preparing it,” said Atwater High School Student Jose Perez.“ The experience reinforced my interest in pursuing this as a career.”
Through high school program partnerships, the turf management industry asserts its investment in, and commitment to, the next generation. The goal is not only to inspire students in the short term, but to build relationships through a pipeline of future professionals who will bring heart, skills, knowledge and expertise to fields across the nation.
“ The return on investment,” as SFMA leaders see it,“ is cultivating a new generation of skilled professionals and leaders who will keep fields everywhere thriving.”
CULTIVATING CAREERS, ONE FIELD AT A TIME Much like grass itself, what began as an idea planted at the SFMA Conference bloomed into an innovative pathway for students in California’ s Central Valley, and an invaluable opportunity for LA Coliseum professionals to teach and give back.
Students saw an example of how industry leaders keep playing surfaces safe, healthy and green as could be. And for students who had never before attended a Division I College Football game and had only ever seen the LA Coliseum’ s field on TV, tending to its playing surface was nothing short of unforgettable.
– Article provided by Dave Gossman
42 SportsField Management | October 2025 sportsfieldmanagementonline. com