Why Turfgrass Should Be a Part of High School Ag Programs

What comes to mind when the word turfgrass is mentioned? For many, the association with artificial turf pops up relatively quickly. However, that's not the only thing that should come to mind when you hear that word. The turfgrass industry is relatively larger than one may expect. The industry is also facing a shortage of qualified workers. Turf-specific job boards such as TurfNet, the Sports Field Managers Association (SFMA), and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) provide abundant opportunities. But why high schools and turfgrass? High school students and FFA programs can be the next generation of industry professionals and the cog that propels the industry further into the future. Here are six reasons why your high school or FFA program should consider adding a turfgrass curriculum:

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)

The STEM component of the turfgrass industry is ever bountiful. There are many ways to incorporate STEM. Plant physiology and botany can provide incredible scientific knowledge. The learning goes much deeper than simply understanding how photosynthesis works. Understanding plant anatomy, plant reproduction, and the effects of incorporating mowing and cultural practices, such as applying fertilizer, can grow a student's knowledge base. A lot of majors at the university level are named turfgrass science or turfgrass management for that specific reason. Various factors that influence the industry are also considered in this field, such as the development of diseases, soil properties, and the study of insects, among many others.

The turfgrass industry is also going through a technological boom. Recently, companies have started to roll out autonomous mowers designed for golf courses, sports fields, and lawns. Mowing isn’t the only portion of the turfgrass industry that has been impacted. Many managers are now implementing the use of drone technology and robotic painters to accomplish tasks that, 10 to 15 years ago, would have taken several-person crews. Product design continues to evolve as engineering evolves. Engineering can also occur through course or field design. 

Jobs are Plentiful with Good Pay

As stated in the introduction, the three major job board sites are full of job postings, with some ranging from turfgrass internships to full-time jobs. Many jobs found on these websites are with lawn care companies, sports fields (NFL, MLB, MLS), golf courses, and parks and recreation. While many turfgrass industry jobs are in those three areas, those aren't the only industry sectors you can get into with a turfgrass degree. Managers often need salespeople and consultants to find the right products to use. Golf courses need golf course architects to renovate their courses if they require a full-scale change to the layout. The industry needs researchers from universities and other entities to test products and replicate the data. Companies need people with a turfgrass background to deliver products that work. 

These jobs also pay exceptionally well, depending on the location, job title, organization, background, and completion of a turfgrass or related degree. Most salaries range from $50,000 to $100,000+ based on the previous factors listed. In the 2023 compensation report from the GCSAA, superintendents who participated in the report averaged a base salary of $109,621—an increase of 12.6% from the prior report in 2021. The assistant superintendents made a base salary of $56,299 in the report—a rise of 15.3% from 2021. Equipment managers and mechanics saw a 16.2% increase to $60,584 in 2023. Sports field manager salaries are comparable across job postings. 

Hands-on Work 

Many students love hands-on work and building their craft. Involving this type of work can be a key skill builder for many years. Some schools have already implemented hands-on learning with turfgrass. Atlee and Brentsville High Schools in Virginia have successfully implemented these practices on their sports fields and in the classroom. Both are responsible for maintaining their playing surfaces, painting the fields, and helping to repair the playing surfaces after the games. The classroom aspect involves a curriculum that builds over students' high school careers.

The Atlee program starts with students taking a horticultural science or agricultural science course in their 1st year of high school. From there, students can enroll in the 2-course program starting in their 2nd year.  All students must complete the prerequisite to take the turfgrass science courses. Atlee’s program is also guided by the state career and technical education standards. 

The Brentsville program has recently partnered with The Toro Company to create the Toro Grounds Academy.  Brentsville operates similarly to a trade school within its county and requires an application for students to enroll. Brentsville maintains not only its field, but also those of other high schools within the county. 

These programs have gone on to win national awards for the field of the year through the SFMA in the Schools and Parks category. High school teachers can access curriculum through the SFMA or ICEV. 

Degrees are Readily Available

College decisions for many young people are always challenging. The question of "What do I want to do for the next 40 years of my life?" is asked countless times. Some students find attending a huge university intimidating and think they will just become a number. However, that is not the case with turfgrass programs. Many of these programs are among the smallest majors at those universities. With class sizes of around 20 students, you can make friends and grow connections within the program for years to come. On top of that, you have the network to work with and all the significant resources that a smaller college may not be able to provide. If you still don't think a large university is right, consider other options such as a community college or a branch campus. Everyone has their own path into the industry, and starting small and then transferring can be an avenue to success. 

Many land-grant institutions, such as Penn State, offer a turfgrass degree. Below is a map of United States and Canadian institutions that provide a turfgrass degree. Penn State World Campus offers a turfgrass degree and certificate program in addition to these in-person tracks. Teachers looking at adding a turfgrass program to their high school should check with their in-state institution about a dual enrollment class.

Continuation of Sports Beyond High School

Playing a sport is one of the most popular things in high school. According to the National Federation of High School Sports, participation across the US topped 8 million in the 23-24 school year. While most of those high school athletes have dreams and aspirations of making it to college ball or the professional level, the odds are stacked against them, with an NCAA study showing that roughly 3 to 14 percent of athletes make it to the college level, depending on the sport. An even smaller percentage of that chunk makes it to the professional level.

So why bring this up? If you’ve ever talked to an athlete, they are usually passionate about the sport they participate in. While they may not be able to make their dreams of playing the sport they love come true, they can make a career out of it while still being around and interacting with other people who love the sport they grew up playing. That's where a career in the turfgrass world comes into play. Athletic field managers or golf course superintendents care about the game. These people interact with players, staff, coaches, administration, and owners on a regular basis.  Without the manager or superintendent, there is no surface to play on, and the other cogs in the wheel can’t do their job.

A Study Shows

In a study conducted by the author of this article at Purdue University, Indiana agriculture teachers were asked to fill out a needs assessment survey on the need for turfgrass curriculum. Greater than 90% agreed that a turfgrass curriculum is of interest to teachers. Additionally, teachers didn't have the accurate information to provide their students, to ensure they knew that the turfgrass industry was a viable career. So, what does this mean for Pennsylvania, where agriculture is just as important a market as Indiana? 

Urban agriculture and other nontraditional ag sectors are becoming more critical. You can extrapolate this data from what we know about turfgrass being taught in high schools nationwide. Significantly few high schools have picked up this topic to teach their students or FFA members. Most schools already have state standards that involve teaching agronomy or horticulture, but including something that many students interact with daily has practicality and applicability. Many agronomic practices can be translocated from the turf industry into the crop sector and vice versa. Products may differ with some terminology, but we are all doing one thing: growing large quantities of plants.