TPI 2005 Summer Convention

This premier event for the sod industry was recently held in Park City, Utah. Over 850 people from 11 different countries were in attendance. The show started off with the ITPF , Al Gardner Memorial Golf Tournament on Monday July 25/05 at the Soldier Hollow Golf Course. Trebro sponsored the par 3, 16th hole and awarded Mark Weekly of Chantilly Turf, Va. a $100.00 cash prize for coming closet to the pin. Everyone enjoyed the spectacular views of the surrounding Wasatch Mountain Range and the day was a success in raising money for the International Turf Producers Foundation. This year’s winners of the tournament were Scott Woodward, Woodward Turf Farms, Va., Doug Barberry, Aldino Sod Farms, Md., Blake Phillips, Franklin Turfgrass, Va., and Mark Weekley, Chantilly Turf Farms, Va. The winning score was a 61 or 11 under par. Congratulations gentlemen, look out Tiger Woods. On Wednesday July 27 everyone moved out to Biograss Sod Farms, in Sandy Utah for an evening of displays, games, music, food, socializing, and fun. “Riding the Fault Line” a country and western, bluegrass band entertained the visitors to the Trebro booth where the complete range of Trebro Equipment was on display. This included the AutoStack, and HarveStack automatic stacking turf harvesters, the Quad lift pallet mover and for the first time the AutoSlab automatic stacking slab harvester. Delegates got a good opportunity to preview the equipment ahead of the demonstrations the following day. Mike, Gregg and Don Tvetene owners of Trebro Manufacturing were pleased to have the opportunity to sponsor the evening meal for the Family Fun Fair Event. Thursday July 28 was a busy day of field demonstrations back at Biograss Sod Farms. Don Heslop, Warrren and Peter Bell, of Biograss had their farm in tip top shape for the event. A tremendous amount of work goes into these shows and everyone at Trebro would like to thank them for their efforts in making it a success. Throughout the day turf producers got to see all the Trebro Equipment in action. The new AutoSlab was of particular interest as now turf growers in the warm season turfgrass areas can take advantage of Trebro’s labor saving solutions. Larry Smilsky, of Smilsky Sod Farms, was presented a plaque commemorating the sale and delivery of Trebro’s 100th AutoStack Turf Harvester. Larry owns and operates a 1300 acre sod farm in Cookstown, Ontario, Canada. He is a past member of the TPI Board of Trustees and is also a very active member of the Nursery Sod Growers Association in Ontario. Smilsky Sod Farms took delivery of their first Trebro AutoStack in July 2001. Thank you Larry for your continuing business. The next TPI Event will be the 2006 Midwinter Conference, Feb. 13 to 18/05 in Savannah, Georgia.