This past week — along with over 60,000 others — GCSAA’s senior director of member programs, Shelia Finney, and I were at the FFA National Convention. The convention takes place in Indianapolis at the Indiana Convention Center each October. Over the past several years, GCSAA has made it a priority to work with the FFA to educate students and advisors on the career opportunities available in golf course management.

15. Working with the FFA

These efforts have included connecting with students and advisors during the three-day show at the GCSAA booth. Shelia also sits on the Career Development Events (CDE) Committee — which is similar to the Collegiate Turf Bowl — and serves as a judge during the Nursery and Landscape CDE. Additionally, GCSAA sponsors ten FFA Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE) scholarships. The SAE scholarships are awarded to FFA students who create a business plan stating how they will use the funds for their specific ag experience. GCSAA — courtesy of John Deere — also offers complimentary membership to FFA students and advisors who are looking to get involved in golf course management.

Having worked at the FFA Convention over the past handful of years, I can attest to the benefits it brings to GCSAA and our members. The chance to speak directly with students and advisors about the career opportunities on the golf course, programs like the First Green, and discuss the distinctive golf course management industry is rewarding. The FFA Convention also offers offsite Career Success Tours during the week. Each year, a tour takes place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Golf Course where students learn about the game as well as the agricultural practices needed to maintain a course. This tour continues to be successful and has sold out for the past three years. 

While not every student who comes by for a discussion will become a golf course superintendent or an equipment manager, nor will each advisor begin teaching turfgrass management, the opportunity to connect with those who will enter a career on the golf course or teach students about turfgrass management is laying the foundation for the next generation of golf course superintendents. I truly enjoy this unique opportunity to work with the FFA — which has over 850,000 members — and look forward to assisting our current members and those in the future. 

As always, if you missed a previous post, please check it out below:

1. GCSAA Association Health Program
2. GCSAA Foundation
3. Awards Anyone?
4. Conference and Tradeshow
5. Melrose Leadership Academy
6. Melrose Equipment Experience
7. Thank a Superintendent Day
8. Golf Course Environmental Profile
9. First Green
10. Affiliated Chapters
11. Disaster Relief Fund
12. Planning for Retirement
13. Career Resources
14. Compensation and Benefits