Students from Colorado State University participate in the 2025 Turf Bowl at the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in San Diego. Photo by Darrell J. Pehr
For the returning champion Turf Bowl team from Penn State University, news of a big increase in John Deere’s sponsorship came as a very welcome surprise.
“The increased support is amazing,” said Ben McGraw, Ph.D., professor and coordinator for the Turfgrass Science program at Penn State. “We typically bring four to five teams of students. If we are fortunate enough to win money — big caveat there — then I think we would use the money to bring an extra team and put them up in more convenient housing. I tend to put four of them in a hotel room together. So, no more pull-outs and cots.”
The 32nd annual Turf Bowl highlights today’s schedule of events at the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show. Staged in the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, competition is preceded by a special breakfast from 8-8:45 a.m. Then, 77 teams made up of 287 students from 30 universities will put their skills to the test from 9 a.m. to noon. While bermudagrass, bentgrass and Kentucky bluegrass will be top-of-mind, the students undoubtedly also will be thinking about the dramatic increase in award money provided by John Deere.
The top 10 teams will receive the following award amounts:
- 1st place - $15,000 (increased from $4,000)
- 2nd place - $12,000 (increased from $2,000)
- 3rd place - $10,000 (increased from $1,000)
- 4th place - $8,000 (increased from $800)
- 5th place - $7,000 (increased from $700)
- 6th place - $6,000 (increased from $300)
- 7th–10th place - $5,000 (increased from $300)
The 2025 second-place team’s adviser also praised the increase in award amounts at this year’s competition.
“The increased money is pretty cool,” said Geoffrey Rinehart, senior lecturer and adviser at the Institute of Applied Agriculture at the University of Maryland. “I think it’s wonderful that John Deere has increased their contributions.”
While the increase did not impact their plans for this year — Rinehart already had planned to take three teams from the University of Maryland — he greatly appreciates John Deere’s investment in the students and support of the Turf Bowl.
“I think all the advisers would say this, it’s just a tremendous event for students: the camaraderie with other students, the opportunity to see the trade show, the opportunity to see how big the industry is,” Rinehart said.
McGraw agreed.
“It’s something that we are grateful for GCSAA and John Deere supporting throughout the year,” McGraw said. “It’s a special trip for our students. They are really eager to get to Orlando and not only defend their title against other universities but compete against their classmates on other PSU teams.”
Turf Bowl facilitators will be Gwen Stahnke, Ph.D., retired director of turf management at Walla Walla Community College and adjunct professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Leah Brilman, Ph.D., director of Turfgrass Product Management and Technical Services-DLF.
For the third year, the Turf Bowl exam will be conducted electronically. The written test includes 100 multiple choice questions as well as hands-on turf, weed and insect identification.
Winners will be announced during the Closing Session from 1-3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, in the convention center’s Valencia Room.
Also Wednesday, GCSAA hosts the Florida State Turfgrass Science Competition. Six schools will be represented and include 30 student competitors. Students will take a written test in the morning followed by practicums at Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course Wednesday afternoon.
GCSAA staff and members are helping organize and judge the event, including several Excel Leadership Program members as well as GCSAA First Green and Workforce Development Committee members. Those who helped organize and judge the event include Mike Bednar, Jennifer Bryan, Tim Busek, Ralph Dain, Timothy Davis, Jordan Diede, Eric Dixon, Kevin Doyle, Clinton Edger, Peyton Edwards, Mark Kann, Carson Letot, Jacob Martens, Merry Mott, David Phipps, Elliott Pope, Ron Prescott, Tyler Robb, Randy Robinson, Heather Russo, Rob Uzar, John Walker and Nate Watkin.
Last year, GCSAA hosted the first-ever National Turfgrass Science Invitational at the 2025 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in San Diego. This year’s national competition was hosted last month during the national meeting of the Sports Field Management Association in Fort Worth, Texas. The event alternates back to the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, in New Orleans in 2027.
Darrell J. Pehr is GCM’s science editor