Monday, January 8^th, 2024

Time

8:00 – 8:10 AM

Welcome & Opening Remarks – The Mission of TTA

Chris Sykes, TTA President

Training for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Pesticide Certification Exam

Learn all you need for the Category 3 and Category 7 Exams required to be a certified application in TN

Dr. Darrell Hensley

University of Tennessee

8:10 – 9:00 AM

A New Member of the UT Turf Team

Dr. Becky Bowling, University of Tennessee

*will be introduced by Dr. Samples*

9:00 – 9:10 AM

BREAK

9:10 AM – 10:00 AM

Labor Trends & Insights

Tyler Bloom, Tyler Bloom Consulting

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Keynote Speaker

Fundamentals of Winning: Performance Training and Team Building

Jason Kuhn

Stonewall Solutions

12:00 – 1:30 PM

TTA Awards Luncheon and Annual Business Meeting

1:45 – 3:15 PM

The Current Status of Turfgrass Internships

Dr. Brandon Horvath, University of Tennessee
Dr. John Sorochan, University of Tennessee

Tyler Bloom, Tyler Bloom Consulting

Luke Bennett (intern, Seminole GC)

Wesley Flatts (intern, Boston Red Sox)

Take the Exam to Become a Certified Applications in TN

Dr. Darrell Hensley

University of TN

3:30 – 5:00 pm

FIFA World Cup 2026: A UT Turfgrass Update

Dr. John Sorochan, University of Tennessee

Dr. Kyley Dickson, University of Tennessee

Tuesday, January 9^th, 2024

TIME

Turfgrass Deep Dive

Sod Session

Workshop

7:00 AM – 7:30 AM

Prayer and Fellowship

Scott Lehman, In His Grip Golf Ministries

8:00 AM – 8:15 AM

2022 Rounds for Research Update
Paul Carter, CGCS, Bear Trace at Harrison Bay

Mid-South Turf Council Information Exchange

Residential & Commercial Landscape Irrigation Overview

This session will provide hands-on training to optimize residential and commercial landscape irrigation systems, including both drip and bed irrigation.

Kyle Denham

Ewing Irrigation

8:15 AM – 12:15 PM

* 10 min break at 10:15 am

What is the Modern Transition Zone?

Growing conditions in Tennessee have always been challenging and continue to present new challenges. This session will provide a comprehensive, data-driven, overview of growing conditions in the state and discuss implications for turfgrass management.

Garrett Bastardi
T3 Weather

Dr. Jordan Booth
United States Golf Association

Bland Cooper
PGA Tour Agronomy

Dr. Jim Brosnan
University of Tennessee

Dr. Brandon Horvath
University of Tennessee

Dr. John Sorochan
University of Tennessee

12:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Lunch and Fun on the Trade Show Floor

6:00 – 9:00 PM

Top Golf Event

Transportation Provided

Wednesday, January 10^th, 2024

TIME

Golf Turf

Sports Turf

Hands-On Workshop

8:00 – 10:30 AM

Golf Course Renovations Across the Volunteer State

Bill Bergin, ASGCA

Scott Freund, Richland CC

 Brad Erickson, Brentwood CC

Ryan Emerson
McLemore

Maximize the Bang for Your Buck

Dr. Austin Grimshaw
Simplot

Spanish for Turfgrass Managers

Jose J. Vargas, University of Tennessee

Ivan Navarrete
University of Tennessee

Turfgrass Management at Western Kentucky University

Kyle Davenport, WKU

Behind the Scenes at AutoZone Park in Memphis

Tylor Meppelink,

Memphis Red Birds

Bart Cash,
Crossroads Sod

10:30 – 10:45 AM

BREAK

BREAK

10:45 – 11:45

A Look Behind the Curtain at the PGA Championship

David Elliot
Oak Hill CC

Sports Turf Irrigation to Minimize Pest Pressure

Dr. Becky Bowling, University of Tennessee

11:45 – 12:00 PM

TGCSA Update & Annual Meeting

TVSFMA Update & Annual Meeting

12:00 PM

ADJOURN CONFERENCE