SFMA IN ACTION

SFMA introduced to its Commercial Members its 2027 SFMA Partnership Program— a new approach designed to create more opportunities for companies to build meaningful, year-round relationships with SFMA and its members.

The move from a sponsorship-focused model to a Partnership Program better reflects SFMA’ s goal of creating mutually beneficial, strategic relationships between SFMA and its Commercial Members.

The previous four premium packages have been redeveloped into three levels— Premiere, Elite and Supporter— making key SFMA Conference and year-round benefits accessible to more companies.

SFMA expanded the program from 10 highlighted benefits to 17, giving partners more ways to connect with members and increase their visibility. In addition, the program expanded À La Carte opportunities from 22 to 36, allowing Commercial Members to customize their SFMA engagement based on their company’ s goals.

Opportunities to support and participate in SAFE Foundation fundraising events has been expanded from three opportunities to 20.

One of the most significant advantages of the new Partnership Program is that the relationship between Commercial Members and SFMA doesn’ t end when the conference ends. Partnership participation is designed to recognize companies that support SFMA throughout the year. Priority Points help recognize and reward SFMA’ s strongest partners, including providing priority for conference booth selection and À La Carte opportunities.

SFMA invites Commercial Members to review the new 2027 SFMA Partnership Prospectus to see the full range of partnership levels, benefits and À La Carte opportunities available.

SFMA announced an exciting new educational experience at the 2027 SFMA Conference & Exhibition, February 1 – 4, 2027, in Tampa, Florida. Submit your presentation ideas for the new SFMA Live Learning Demonstrations!

SFMA is seeking dynamic presenters to share innovative ideas, practical solutions, and hands-on educational experiences during the inaugural SFMA Live Learning Demonstrations. This is your opportunity to showcase your expertise, contribute to the advancement of the profession, and increase your visibility within the sports field management industry. There will be two new events: SFMA Live Learning: Outdoor Demonstrations will be held on the afternoon of Monday, February 1, 2027, at the University of South Florida in Tampa. The Outdoor Demonstrations offer industry partners the opportunity to showcase innovative products, services, equipment and real-world solutions through live educational demonstrations in an outdoor interactive learning environment. Attendees will gain practical knowledge while seeing products and solutions in action. Transportation between the Tampa Convention Center and the university will be provided for conference attendees.

SFMA Live Learning: Indoor Demonstrations will be held during tradeshow hours on the tradeshow floor. Industry partners whose products or services are best demonstrated in an indoor setting will have the opportunity to present educational demonstrations at the Indoor Demonstrations during trade show hours on February 3 – 4 in a dedicated education area on the exhibit floor. This space will be equipped with audiovisual equipment, a microphone, and seating to support engaging educational presentations.

SFMA encourages presentations that demonstrate innovative products, technologies, equipment, services, and best practices through engaging, interactive learning experiences that attendees can apply in their daily work. Proposal submissions through the SFMA Member Portal are due by October 15, 2026. Contact Jennifer McLendon at jmclendon @ sportsfieldmanagement. org with questions.

Registration for the 2027 SFMA Conference & Exhibition opens October 15. SFMA’ s Annual Conference & Exhibition will be held at the Tampa Convention Center, February 1-4, 2027.

The event allows members to share information with other successful members of the sports field management industry. In addition to educational seminars, hands-on workshops and the latest technology on display, conference attendees are able to tour professional, college and municipal facilities that offer a range of insights to take home.

Earn up to 1.6 continuing education units( CEUs) through SFMA. In addition to SFMA, the following professional organizations may be providing CEUs for attending education sessions at the conference: American Sports Builders Association( ASBA) National Recreation and Park Association( NRPA) Golf Course Superintendents Association of America( GCSAA) Irrigation Association( IA) Professional Grounds Management Society( PGMS) National Association of Landscape Professionals( NALP) Pesticide Recertification Credits: Florida( If you are attending from another state and need pesticide recertification credits, you are responsible for contacting your state’ s department of agriculture for approval.)

Are you an SFMA member who is ready to get more involved with SFMA? The 2027 Committee Volunteer Interest Form is now open. As SFMA continues to strengthen the association and implement its new strategic direction, it is updating how its committees are structured and how volunteers are engaged.

One of the biggest changes for 2027 is timing: committees will have the opportunity to begin meeting as early as January 2027. Historically, SFMA committees typically began their work in March or April. Starting earlier will give volunteers more time to collaborate, establish priorities and make meaningful progress throughout the year.

Pending approval by the SFMA Board of Directors at its September 23, 2026, meeting, the 2027 committee structure will include several important changes:

Two-year committee appointments to provide greater continuity, while encouraging new perspectives, with eligibility for an additional one-year term following completion of the initial two-year term.

A maximum of two standing committees concurrently to encourage broader member participation and provide more members with opportunities to get involved.

A chair and vice chair for each committee to strengthen leadership continuity and create opportunities for volunteer leadership development.

Committee charters and standardized operating procedures to provide greater clarity around each committee’ s purpose, responsibilities and expectations.

Closer alignment with SFMA’ s Strategic Plan so committee work directly supports the association’ s priorities and future direction.

A new Awards Committee combining the Field of the Year and Innovative Awards committees.

Special Task Forces for areas that benefit from focused, project-based work rather than an ongoing standing committee structure. This will be by invite only.

Greater coordination among committees, with SFMA staff helping facilitate communication when projects and responsibilities intersect.

Whether you have served on an SFMA committee for years or have never volunteered before, SFMA encourages you to complete the 2027 Committee Volunteer Interest Form at https:// www. surveymonkey. com / r / 2027Comm _ Int. Deadline for signing up is October 15.

SFMA opened its call for submissions for the 2027 SFMA Innovative Awards Program. Created to position the SFMA Conference & Exhibition as a premier destination for discovering new products, technologies and solutions, the Innovative Awards Program recognizes advancements that positively impact sports field management professionals and the surfaces they manage. Any SFMA Commercial Member exhibiting at the 2027 SFMA Exhibition is eligible to participate. Each company may submit one entry per year. Eligible products, equipment, services or technologies must have been introduced for sale within the past two years and meet at least one of the following criteria: Substantially enhance the efficiency or effectiveness of sports field managers. Help make playing surfaces safer or more playable for athletes. Represent a material improvement to an existing product, equipment, service or technology that benefits sports field managers. Submission deadline is October 15.

Applications for the 2026 SAFE Foundation Scholarships and Grants are officially open( https:// www. sportsfieldmanagement. org / scholarship-program /). Students: The following scholarships and grants are designed to recognize and support students who are preparing for careers in sports field management: SAFE Scholarships( includes Grau, Watson and General SAFE Scholarships). Gary Vanden Berg Internship Grant All Members: The following scholarships and grants are designed to recognize and support individuals in the industry: Darian Daily Memorial Scholarship Leo Goertz Membership Grant Terry Mellor Continuing Education Grant Scholarship and grant recipients receive more than financial support. They gain recognition within the sports field management industry and opportunities to become more connected with the SFMA community.

Whether you are continuing your education, building industry experience, or preparing to enter the profession, SFMA encourages you to explore the opportunities available and apply.

All applications must be submitted through the SFMA Member Portal by October 15, 2026.

The SFMA Student Challenge is presented in partnership with the SAFE Foundation, Founding Partner Hunter Industries and Supporting Sponsor Site One. Each year students from 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities throughout the country compete in an exam that challenges knowledge in the sports field management industry. The winning teams receive a cash award, a plaque, and medallions for each team member. The prize money benefits the institution’ s turfgrass science program and creates opportunities for students pursuing a career in sports field management. The 2027 study guide is coming soon; be sure to thoroughly review the study guide in preparation for the competition.

The 2027 Student Challenge will take place February 3 from 2-4:30 pm. Registration will open October 15, so start thinking about your team now. A maximum of four undergraduates can compete on a team and must declare if they are representing a two-year or four-year institution. Competitors receive complimentary conference registration. You must be an SFMA member to participate.

High school, undergraduate, and graduate students are invited to submit a poster of their research or case study for SFMA’ s Poster Project Showcase at the 2027 Conference. The showcase will take place throughout the conference, with posters available for attendees to view in the conference Education Session Hall. Students will have the opportunity to discuss their projects and answer attendee questions on February 2 from 1:30-2 p. m. in the education session hall.

All posters will remain on display in the Education Session Hall for the duration of the conference. Students participating in the Poster Project Showcase will receive complimentary conference registration( Note: If a student is also competing in the Student Challenge, only one complimentary registration will apply).

Only 12 submissions will be selected for display. The deadline for submission is October 15 at www. surveymonkey. com / r / C6T92VM. Poster submissions will be reviewed, and students will be contacted by October 30 with selection decisions and more information.