I'm excited to join the Arizona Cardinals field crew as a game-week painter for the remainder of the 2023 season. Thank you to
@andylevy5
, for the opportunity to learn the NFL side of the turf industry!
As I was mowing the field today, I wondered how many turf managers can say they’ve mowed a golf course green and a baseball field on the same day?
Checked that box today🙋♂️✅
The turf gods accepted me in the industry and I got my first “welcome to the biz, kid” moment today. Caught a curb and put one of our workman’s in the lake. Not to undermine the severity of the situation, but thankfully all I have is a damaged ego and a good story to tell.
Had some great conversation with Arizona Diamondbacks Head Groundskeeper, Grant Trenbeath tonight after the WBC game. Really appreciate him taking time out of his day to talk shop with me!
I’ve learned Spring Training groundskeeping isn’t for the faint of heart, but it’s allowed me to really dial in my skills dragging & watering skins. Mess up? No big deal, there’s always another field to prep here!
Excited to announce my continuation with the
@WindSurgeICT
as the grounds intern for the 2023 season. Through the
@CapsAndover
program, I’m able to learn and work at the ballpark during school hours. Thanks to
@hartmanboy7
&
@J_CooleyWSurge
for the opportunity. Let’s work!
February 28th ➡️ July 27th
First picture is when I mowed the infield for the first time ever - second picture is from today. Just trying to get a little better every day.
Can’t thank
@TRombeck
&
@AndoverSchools
enough for highlighting me in the most recent edition of the Andover Update. This magazine went out to 11,500 homes in the Wichita/Andover area, so this was a great opportunity to raise some awareness for the turf industry.
Hey Siri, play “Kansas City” by Fats Domino 🎶
So thankful to be interning for
@kcgrassman
,
@gkpr04_kc
& crew this summer with the
@Royals
. Have lots of good memories growing up at The K, and looking forward to making many more & learning lots this year! Let’s go!!
#RaisedRoyal
Been a chill two weeks with the boys on the road and minimal field events, but it’ll be a grinder the rest of the way. 45 games in 90 days starts Tuesday!
Elated to announce that in addition to attending Ottawa University to complete general education courses, I will be starting a new position at the KC Royals and Texas Rangers Spring Training facility in Surprise, Arizona. Thank you to Eric & Colby for the opportunity!
Appreciate
@kcgrassman
and
@gkpr04_kc
for taking some time out of their day to chat it up with me, and for the upgraded seats! First class crew here at The K!
It’s been a great couple weeks back home for the holiday, but it’s back to PHX tomorrow for Fiesta Bowl/Cardinals prep.
8 flights in the next month between KS, AZ and FL for SFMA. Here we go!
Solid first homestand with the Royals crew. Had the opportunity to whip up some mound art for the 2014 World Series reunion. Exciting times at The K this summer!
#TheBoysArePlayingSomeBall
Sunday Funday: Part 2
Guess history does repeat itself. Same coupler location burst, both on Sundays and at almost the same time as it happened last year 😂
Had a fantastic time at the OKC Dodgers Turf Field Day! Met lots of great people and received some great advice. Thanks to
@j_golding5
and
@W_Jeff_Jackson
for putting this event on!
After 869.64 total hours worked, countless 17 hour days, a crashed workman, broken TV, quickcuppler, leaf blower, catching first pitches, a new nickname and lots of naps, my 2022 season is over. Proud of how I pushed myself this summer & can’t wait to go even harder next season!
Minor League Baseball announced today that Field and Facilities Manager, Ben Hartman, of the Wichita Wind Surge was awarded the Texas League 2022 Groundskeeper of the Year award.
READ MORE:
Thank you
@MegKruger_
and
@pioneerathletic
for having me on the podcast!
We covered:
- my recent move from KS to AZ
- my career experiences thus far
- being a young person in the turf industry
Give it a listen!
Back to Back Inspiring the Next Generation Episodes AVAILABLE NOW!
This week
@Jakob_Scales
"Bobber" joins us to share his POV on the industry from the lens of the next gen.
Watch/listen to the full
#GroundskeeperChat
here:
When I met the D-Backs crew a year ago today, I didn’t expect our paths to cross again. A lot can change in a year’s time.
Excited to be a part of the Arizona Diamondbacks grounds crew for the spring/fall portions of the season, before & after my internship with the Royals!
Had some great conversation with Arizona Diamondbacks Head Groundskeeper, Grant Trenbeath tonight after the WBC game. Really appreciate him taking time out of his day to talk shop with me!
Had the opportunity to meet and help the crews at both Camelback Ranch and the Surprise complex. Can’t thank Eric in Surprise and Matt at Camelback enough for allowing me to join them for a couple hours and talk turf.
Had a fantastic time touring and meeting professors and students in the Turfgrass Management program at Oklahoma State University today. Thanks to
@STILLturflab
for setting the day up & showing us around, and
@wu_yanqi
and
@OSUgrounds_crew
for meeting me!
Thanks to the folks at
@GCImagazine
for highlighting me in the TurfHeads Takeover issue, in which I wrote my summer working at both a top-100 golf course & minor league baseball stadium simultaneously and how to attract and retain young turf professionals! Give it a read!
Outflow boundary came up quick on us when we were pulling tarp, and suddenly became an all hands on deck effort to keep the tarp controlled. Pretty cool to see players, clubbies, and front office staff all come together to help out within a moment’s notice.
Had a great day at Iowa State University learning about their turf program, although it was a snowy, dreary day. Thanks to
@ThomsTurf
,
@barbaclawson
, and
@CycloneTurf
for making today happen and showing me around!
🚨 Calling all young bloods in the turf industry 🚨
Please fill out this survey regarding your experiences as a young person in our great industry. The results will be conveyed in an upcoming article in
@SportsField_Mag
. Excited to collaborate on this!
Would like thank the
@Twins
,
@STPGroundsCrew
and
@crgroundscrew
for allowing me to help out and meet their crews! Met some great dudes in the turf industry over the past couple weeks.
@ldl_dex
This is only the beginning. You know what happened before the Final Four? 2011 NIT Championship, 2012 NCAA tournament bid but lost in the first round. Good things come to those who wait. Postseason experience is everything. Super proud of how this team battled from day one! 🌾
Super cool opportunity I have to continue working and learning at the golf course during school hours through
@CapsAndover
. Bunker renovations have begun 🚧
It’s not every day you get to welcome your school to the ballpark you work at. Super cool to see this idea come to fruition and be able to do something special for the game today thanks to
@CapsAndover
! Super happy with how these turned out.
Fun last two days in Manhattan at KTF. Met a ton of new people and caught up with familiar faces. Shoutout to mom for letting me miss two days of school to attend. Grateful to have great bosses guiding me along my journey. Let’s do it again same time next year!
14 of the NFL's 30 stadiums use artificial playing surfaces — but player safety concerns could change that.
Converting those surfaces to grass fields would reportedly cost the league $11.9 million.
@Justin_A_Byers
has more ⤵️
Thanks again
@MattLaWell
for inviting me on the podcast. We talk about my summer working both for the Wind Surge and Flint Hills National Grounds teams. Had a lot fun!
.
@Jakob_Scales
is the rare turf pro who works simultaneously on both golf courses (at
@FlintHillsGolf
National in Andover, Kansas) *and* on sports fields (for the Double-A
@WindSurgeICT
). He's also only ... 17 years old: