STMAinaction

SportsTurf 41www.stma.org

Get Ready Y’all – STMA is coming to Austin!By Patrick Allen, STMA Manager, Sales and Marketing

DIn January 2011, the22nd Annual STMAConference andExhibition will be in

Austin, TX for the first time. Themajority of the events will be at theAustin Convention Center and theheadquarters hotel is the HiltonAustin, which is adjacent to theAustin Convention Center. WhileAustin, the state capital of Texas, isthe 15th largest city in the U.S. withmore than 750,000 residents, andmore than 1.5 million in the metro,the city is very compact, and there ismuch to do within walking distanceof the Conference locations.

Three of Austin’s famous enter-tainment districts are within a shortwalk of the Hilton Austin- SixthStreet, Warehouse/Downtown, andRed River. Five more—University ofTexas, South Austin, South Congress,East Austin, and Market District[DASHHERE]are a short taxi ride away. Theseeight districts house the majority ofAustin’s more than 200 live musicvenues. These venues, plus the factthat the Dixie Chicks, Stevie RayVaughn, Willie Nelson, and manymore musicians all got their start inAustin, have led to Austin formallybeing called the Live Music Capital ofthe World©.

In addition to music, Austin is thetop filmmaking location in the stateof Texas, and one of the top locationsin the country according toMovieMaker Magazine. Both of theseindustries are featured at the interna-tionally renowned South bySouthwest Music, Movie, andInteractive Conference and Festival(SXSW), at which more than 250,000visitors enjoy 10 days of concerts,trade shows, and festivals eachMarch.

Austin is also a notoriouslyhealthy and environmentally con-scious city. It has been named one ofthe safest cities in America due to avery low violent crime rate by multi-ple sources, and the “Greenest City inAmerica” by MSN, the “#1 CollegeTown in America” by the TravelChannel, and the “City with the Best

People” by Travel + Leisure magazine.The city is home to the world head-quarters of Whole Foods, Inc. andsmoking is prohibited in most restau-rants, bars, and music venues.

While its “greenness” significantlycontributes to Austin’s reputation asone of the best places to live inAmerica according to Forbes, the citydefinitely pollutes. Don’t worry aboutthe environment though, it’s just themesquite! It also contributes to thewaistline of its visitors as Austin ishome to world famous barbequejoints Stubbs, Iron Works (adjacent tothe Hilton Austin), Salt Lick, andCounty Line. Don’t like barbeque?There are many other styles of foodavailable throughout the city, includ-ing sushi, international, upscale, andTex-Mex, another local flavor thatshares top billing with barbeque.

Getting to Austin is easy, asAustin-Bergstrom InternationalAirport services more than 250 com-mercial passenger flights per day and38 locations non-stop. And with theaverage high temperature in Januaryin the 60’s, many STMA-ers will behitting the links at one of the areasmore than 25 area public and resortgolf courses, including Barton CreekResort and Spa, one of the premiergolf resorts in the U.S.

As you can see, there is a lot goingon in Austin. We didn’t even mentionthe University of Texas, home tosome 50,000 students, the vastamount of local attractions, LakeTravis, Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake,Texas Hill Country, shopping, or the1.5 million Mexican free-tailed batsthat make their home under theCongress Avenue Bridge.Chiroptophobes (those who fearbats) the continent’s largest urbanbat population only calls the bridgehome from April-November.

For more information on theSTMA Conference and Exhibition,please visit www.STMA.org/ confer-ences.

For more information on Austin,please visit its Convention andVisitors Bureau website atwww.austintexas.org. ■

Helen Albrightson

Jarad Alley

Austin Anderson

Matt Anderson

Chris Ball

John Barry

Al Beavers

Peter Bell

Steve Berg

Charles Blackwood

Dan Blank

Tom Blomquist

Jeff Bosworth

Jason Bowers,

CSFM

James Brown

Mike Burgess

Jeffrey Burke

Tim Burns

Tommy Burnside

Steve Bush, CSFM

Gregory Byszeski

Matthew Cairns

Ian Camp

Steve Campbell

Steve Carrithers

Kevin Casey

Dave Causer

Herb Combs

Shawn Connors

Jeff Cordes

Steve Cothrel

Clark Cox, CSFM

Jason Craft

Stephen Crockett,

CSFM

Alfred Cybart

Andy Davis

Luke Davis

Mike Dickert

Michael Dickinson

Michael Donahue

Michael Dryden

Damian Faggi

Steven Farrington

William Fee

Bryan Filkins

Jeff Fisher

Chris Freund

Joseph Furr

Carl Ganger, Jr.

Jonathon

Ganobcik

Steve Garske

Kirk Gregg

Todd Halbert

Jason Hester

Susan Holmes

Brian Holtzapfel

David Hubinger

Rob Huff

Eric “EJ” Jackson

Zhongchun Jiang,

Ph.D.

George Jimenez

Dan Johnson

Don Kaib

Ryan Kaspitzke

Michael Kelley

Brian Keyl

Jack Kidwell

Rob Kimbrel

Ryan Klatt

Jeff Kozel

Chad Kropff

Jim Langston

Sparky Lee

Andrew Lipinski

Jordan Lorenz

Dutch Lundy

James Lynch

Shaun Lynch

Sean Mahonski

Joshua Marden

Thomas Marks

Brett Marshall

Greg Mayfield

Brian McKinnon

Nick McNamee

Aaron McWhorter

Michael Michaud

Jeff Mondor

Chris Morrow

Joe Motz

Mark Moxley

Kelly Nelson

Matt Neri

John Netwal, CGCS

Larry Noon

Hugh Norris

Mark Novak

Pat O’Donnell

Guru Pahwa

Bradley Park

Matthew Parrott

Donald Patillo

Peter Petel

Jim Querry

Brock Phipps

Chuck Pula

Allen Reed

Melissa Reynolds

Walker Reynolds

Scott Roberts

Jimmy

Rosthenhausler

G.W. Ruckman, Jr.

Jeff Salmond,

CSFM

Robert Sanderson

Don Savard, CSFM

Stephen Sayrs

David

Schlotthauer

Robert Schulte

Nicole Schwehr

Nicole Sherry

Kevin Shipman

John Shuey

Steven Smith

James Soltis

Chad Smith

David Smith, CSFM

Grant Spear

Tom Stafford

David Stein

Lane Stillings

David Taylor

N. Grove Teates, Jr.

Robert Thebodo

Denna Thompson

Christopher

Untiedt

Jeff Vanlierop

Joshua Viet

Tommy Walston

Rich Watson

Tim Wehner

Jeff Wendel, CGCS

Larry Wendell

Dean Whitehead,

CSFM

Todd Wiggins

Gary Wilber

L. Wayne Williams

Matt Williams

Norm Wills

Mike Winger

Chad Yeomans ■

Years and Counting!STMA recognizes the following members for their com-

mitment to STMA during the previous seven years. Thankyou for your support!

7

42 SportsTurf | January 2010 www.sportsturfonline.com

■

42 SportsTurf | May 2010 www.sportsturfonline.com

STMA, in partnership with fourchapters from the Northwest, willbe bringing national level educa-tion and an outdoor exhibition to

Seattle July 21-22, 2010. The Intermountain,Northern California, Oregon, and PacificNorthwest chapters will be participating in thishighly anticipated event. While focusing onSports Turf Managers, STMA encourages atten-dance by members and crew alike, and will beproviding education for all levels of sports turfexperience. As a special treat, attendees will get anight at the ballpark, where the Seattle Marinerstake on the Chicago White Sox July 21.

More than 14 hours of education is highlight-ed by nationally recognized sports turf authori-ties Drs. Andy McNitt, Dave Minner, RobGolembiewski, and Ali Harivandi, who will belending their expertise to presentations and/orpanel discussions on natural turfgrass and syn-thetic turf. Behind the scenes tours of the facili-ties’ of the Seattle Seahawks (NFL), SeattleMariners (MLB), and Seattle Sounders FC (MLS),and hands-on demonstrations on logo painting,synthetic paint removal, and repairing high trafficareas make up the interactive components of theevent. Other education will be provided by localprofessional sports turf managers, builders, andarchitects with significant sports field experience.

According to Pam Sherratt, STMA ConferenceEducation Chairman, “You will not find a bettersports turf specific educational experience out-side of the STMA Conference and Exposition heldevery January.”

Registration costs for the 2-day event will be$95 for a member of STMA National or one of thefour participating chapters and $125 for a non-member. This price will include 2 days of educa-tion, entrance to the exhibition, most meals, andthe ticket to the game Wednesday evening.Online registration will be available, so keepchecking back at www.STMA.org for the most up-to-date information regarding the event.

STMA has also negotiated reduced rates attwo Seattle area hotels. The Sixth Avenue Inn islocated in downtown Seattle and has a rate of$89 per night plus tax, and is near Safeco Fieldand Qwest Field, where the majority of the eventwill be taking place. The Holiday Inn Seattle-Renton has a rate of $94 per night plus tax, and iscloser to Starfire Sports, where the exhibition willbe held July 21. Please call the Sixth Avenue Innat (206) 441-8300 or the Holiday Inn Seattle-Renton at (425) 226-7700 and tell either you are

with the Sports Turf Managers Association toreceive these special rates.

Put July 21-22 on your schedule and start talk-ing to your employer about making sure that youare able to attend this incredible educationalopportunity. If you have any questions, pleasecontact STMA at 800.323.3875 orSTMAInfo@STMA.org.

Interested in exhibiting or sponsoring thisevent? Please contact Patrick Allen, STMAManager of Sales and Marketing at 800.323.3875or pallen@stma.org.

ABOUT THE FACILITIESQwest Field and Event Center is the home of

the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and the SeattleSounders Football Club of Major League Soccer.The facility also hosts major concerts, internation-al soccer matches, and other events throughoutthe year. With more than 70% of the seats cov-ered and amazing views of the surroundingCascade Mountains and downtown Seattle,Qwest is one of the premier event facilities in theUS.

Safeco Field is home to the Seattle Marinersand has a capacity of 47,116. Opened in 1999,Safeco features a one-of-a-kind retractable roof,which covers the field but doesn’t enclose thestadium, preserving the open air environment.The grass is a custom blend of four strains ofKentucky bluegrass and two strains of perennialryegrass, which is spider-webbed with 20-30miles of heating pipe to bring the turf out of dor-mancy in time for the home opener each year.

Starfire Sports is the official administrativeand training home of the Seattle Sounders FC.Located about 15 minutes from downtownSeattle in Tukwila, Starfire is a state-of-the-artsports complex featuring eight, lighted, all-weath-er, synthetic fields, including a 3,000 seat grand-standed stadium field, four natural grass fields,and an 80,000 square foot Athletic Center.

The Virginia Mason Athletic Center (VMAC)is the training and practice home of the SeattleSeahawks. Located in Renton and completed in2008, VMAC has three natural grass outdoor foot-ball fields and one indoor synthetic field. At morethan 200,000 gross square feet, including morethan 50,000 dedicated to training, the facility isthe second largest training facility in the NFL. Theland was formerly home to a coal tar refinery andcreosote plant, since remediated, and enhancesthe environmental climate of Renton and its wet-lands by civilizing and redeveloping the site. ■

STMAinactionSeattle will host Northwest Regional Conference and Exhibition in July

T he SAFE Foundation(Foundation forSafer Athletic FieldEnvironments)

shelves are bare! As theFoundation gears up for its annu-al auctions and raffles that itholds at the annual STMA confer-ence, it is seeking your donationsto help make it a success.

Please consider donating:• Team gear: hats, shirts, jack-

ets, any item that displays yourteam’s logo

• Products and equipment• Tickets to sporting events• Electronics• Gift cards• Whatever you wish to donate!Attendees love to bid on your

stuff and the proceeds go directlyto the Foundation, which fundsscholarships and education. TheFoundation raised nearly $10,000from the auction and raffles heldduring the conference in Orlandoearlier this year. SAFE also award-ed $8,000 in January to theStudent Challenge team winnersfrom the conference and $12,500in scholarships during the fourthquarter of 2009.

As STMA’s charity, SAFE strivesto raise money from grants, dona-tions, the SAFE/Jacobsen annualgolf tournament and the auctionsand raffles so it can turn aroundand make awards to deservingstudents and fund educationalinitiatives. Send all donations toSTMA headquarters, 805 NewHampshire, Ste. E, Lawrence KS66044. SAFE is in the midst ofdeveloping a far-reaching strate-gic plan and vision to guide it intoits next decade of service. ■

Got stuff? SAFEneeds stuff!

SportsTurf 43www.stma.org

STMA Affiliated Chapters Contact Information Chapter SponsorsSports Turf Managers Association ofArizona: www.azstma.com.

Colorado Sports Turf ManagersAssociation: www.cstma.org.

Florida #1 Chapter (South): Main 954-263-7933; Secondary 954-782-2748

Florida #2 Chapter (North): 850/580-4026.

Florida #3 Chapter (Central):863-665-5800

Gateway Chapter Sports Turf ManagersAssociation: www.gatewaystma.org.

Georgia Sports Turf ManagersAssociation: www.gstma.org.

Greater L.A. Basin Chapter of the SportsTurf Managers Association:www.stmalabasin.com.

Illinois Chapter STMA: 847/263-7603.

Intermountain Chapter of the SportsTurf Managers Association: www.imstma.org.

Iowa Sports Turf Managers Association:www.iowaturfgrass.org.

Kentucky Sports Turf ManagersAssociation: www.kystma.org.

Keystone Athletic Field Managers Org.(KAFMO/STMA): www.kafmo.org.

Michigan Sports Turf ManagersAssociation (MiSTMA): www.mistma.org.

Mid Atlantic Sports Turf ManagersAssociation (MASTMA) (formerly theChesapeake Chapter STMA) Ph. 410-704-2197 www.mastma.org

Minnesota Chapter STMA:www.mstma.com.

MO-KAN Sports Turf ManagersAssociation: www.mokanstma.com.

Nebraska Sports Turf ManagersAssociation: 402/441-4425.

New England STMA (NESTMA):www.nestma.org.

Sports Field Managers Association ofNew Jersey: www.sfmanj.org.

Sports Turf Managers of New York:www.stmony.org.

North Carolina Chapter of STMA:www.ncsportsturf.org.

Northern California STMA:www.norcalstma.org.

Ohio Sports Turf Managers Association(OSTMA): www.ostma.org.

Oregon STMA Chapter: 503/953-9406

Ozarks STMA: www.ozarksstma.org.

Pacific Northwest Sports Turf ManagersAssociation: www.pnwstma.org.

Southern California Chapter: www.socalstma.com.

South Carolina Chapter of STMA:www.scstma.org.

Tennessee Valley Sports Turf ManagersAssociation (TVSTMA):www.tvstma.com.

Texas Sports Turf Managers Association:866/897-8621.

Virginia Sports Turf ManagersAssociation: www.vstma.org.

Wisconsin Sports Turf ManagersAssociation: www.wstma.org.

Forming Chapters:Gulf Coast Chapter: 225/757-9136.

Nevada STMA Chapter: 702/884-2987.

STMA International AffiliateOrganizationsNational Parks, Singapore:www.nparks.gov.sg

Sports Turf Association, ON, CANADAwww.sportsturfassociation.com

Forming International AffiliateOrganizationsIrish Institute of Sport SurfacesInstitute of Groundsmanship

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QLast year we had fire ant moundson our field and all around thegrounds near our fields. I know theysting, but are these a turf pest? We gotsome complaints to our city managersabout them last year so we tried ourbest to control them. Before last year,I do not remember seeing them mucharound our fields. Is there anythingwe can use to prevent them?

North Carolina

The red imported fire ant con-tinues to move into North Carolinaand surrounding transition zonestates. It seems that with moremovement of nursery stock and sodbetween states, combined with mildwinters that fire ants may eventuallyfind a home in every county inNorth Carolina.

Growing up in Louisiana andthen living in Florida for years, I donot know what it is like to not havefire ants around. North Carolina’sattempt to hold them back withquarantine areas does not seem tobe working. So, the complaints dueto that burning sting from fire antsare likely to get more prevalent.

The fire ant is not really a turfpest in the sense that they causedamage to the turfgrass plant. Theybuild unsightly dome-shaped dirtmounds (called colonies) in the turfthat may cause shading of low-mowed turf, but the more commoncomplaint is the dulling of mowerblades after hitting the mounds.Additionally, ants like to build theirmounds in electrical equipmentsuch as satellite irrigation boxes,often shorting circuits. It is also notvery fun trying to repair their dam-age in irrigation or electrical boxesuntil they are removed.

The problem is their sting. Thefire ants get a grip with their mouthand then sting from their abdomen,injecting a toxic venum that gives

that burning sensation. The sting isnot as painful as a wasp sting, but itcan still be deadly to highly sensi-tive individuals. For most adults itis a short term pain followed by anintense itching. The sting oftenresults in a bump with a pustuleand the itching may last for severaldays. There is also the issue ofquantity. Because a 2-foot diametermound contains about 100,000ants, it is not uncommon to getnumerous stings during a shortencounter. No person ever wants tohear a small child cry out due tobeing covered in stinging fire ants.Complaints from parents will soonfollow.

Over the years people have triedabout every way imaginable to killfire ants. I grew up hearing localfarmers talk about all kinds ofhome concoctions and methods toattack fire ants—some of whichwere probably not very good for theenvironment and many constitutedbad advice. I am no entomologist,but I have learned from hangingaround with a few that there is nocontrol methods that will perma-nently eliminate or prevent fire antsfrom an area. The strategies mostoften used include: broadcast pesti-cide-bait applications, individualmound treatment, or a combinationof these two treatments.

Broadcast baiting is almost likeputting out a preemergence prod-uct. The idea is to reduce fire antpopulations early in the year.Products used include Advion,Amdro, Ascend, Affirm, Award,Justice, Distance, Esteem, etc.These contain either a slow actingtoxicants or a product that inter-feres with reproduction. They areformulated with a food source carri-er desireable to the ants. The work-ers carry the food source and toxi-cant/growth regulator back to the

colony and feed it to other ants. Itmay take several weeks to severalmonths for these to be effective.Bates should be fresh, dry, andapplied when ants are actively for-aging to be most effective. They areeasily applied using a broadcastspreader. Follow the directions onthe label.

Individual mound treatmentsattempt to eliminate the coloniesby treating the mounds directly. Toeliminate the colony the queen(s)must be eliminated. This is timeconsuming and may be difficult assome mounds are not easily seenabove the grass, while they go sev-eral feed down under the soil sur-face. But this can be a much quick-er way to reduce populations ofants that are in high traffic areaswhen you want to quickly reducethe risk of them stinging people.Mound treatment products may beformulated to use as a drench,granule, dust, or aerosol. Productsinclude Maxforce or Topchoice,Extinguish, Talstar, Orthene andothers. In addition, some of thebait products can be used formound treatment. Follow thedirections on the label.

So best strategy is often tobroadcast a pesticide-bait once ortwice a year to reduce overall popu-lation and then target any nuisancemounds that appear, especiallythose that appear near high trafficareas or areas that people are likelyto congregate. The mound treat-ments may need to continuethroughout the year.

Fire ants spend a great deal oftime searching for food. You canreduce ant foraging by eliminatingfood sources. Outdoor trash cansand dumpsters should be routinelyemptied and cleaned. And lastly,remember, fire [ants] take noholiday. ■

Q&A

46 SportsTurf | May 2010 www.sportsturfonline.com

Fire

ant

Illu

stra

tion

cour

tesy

of

isto

ckph

oto.

com

BY DR. GRADY MILLERProfessor, North

Carolina State University

Questions?Send them to Grady Miller at

North Carolina State University,Box 7620, Raleigh, NC 27695-

7620, or emailgrady_miller@ncsu.edu

Or, send your question to

David Minner at Iowa State University, 106

Horticulture Hall, Ames, IA 50011 or email

dminner@iastate.edu.

Fire ants