The GCM staff is covering all the action at the 2025 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show as it unfolds. Check back often for the latest industry news, company announcements, highlights from the Education Conference, and more.
T.A. Barker begins his term as 2025 GCSAA President during the GCSAA Annual Meeting. Photo by GCSAA
• T.A. Barker, CGCS, got emotional during his first speech as GCSAA President. "I’ve got this speech here. I can’t get through it, I know that already. I don’t know why I wrote it," Barker said to the assembly during the 2025 GCSAA annual meeting. The group chuckled as the meeting's sympathetic parliamentarian offered him a tissue.
"I thank you all for bestowing this honor on me. Esteemed members, standing here today as a newly elected president is one of the greatest honors of my life," Barker said. "It's humbling to reflect on the incredible journey that’s brought me to this moment."
Barker was elected President of the association for 2025, following in the footsteps of Jeff L. White, CGCS, who became Immediate Past President. Marc E. Weston, CGCS, was elected secretary/treasurer. Steven J. Hammon, CGCS, H. Scott Griffith, CGCS, and Brian J. Roth, CGCS, were elected to two-year terms as directors. Gregory B. Jones, CGCS, MG, and Ryan S. Kraushofer, CGCS, joined the board for one-year terms as director.
Students from Colorado State University's Turf Bowl team compete Wednesday in the annual Turf Bowl. Photo by Darrell J. Pehr
• Penn State University’s Team 1 claimed the top spot as students from 29 universities from across the U.S. and Canada gathered in San Diego at the 2025 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show for the 31st annual Turf Bowl. Winners were announced at the Send-Off Celebration this afternoon.
The winning team included Ryan Daub, Kyler McGowan, Joseph Lofland and Aidan Huedepohl. Adviser is Ben McGraw, Ph.D.
Second place went to the University of Maryland Team 17, with members Luke Murnane, Zachary Onderko, Joseph Poulas and Conner Todd. Adviser is Geoff Rhinehart.
Team 15 from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst placed third with members Jett Giza, David Newsome, Jacob Zeliger and Colby Soltysik. Adviser is Michelle DaCosta, Ph.D.
A total of 76 teams competed with 276 participants — the highest numbers of teams and competitors since 2012. Penn State University last won the competition in 2023, with Purdue taking first place in 2024, 2022 and 2021.
Other results:
- Fourth: Purdue University Team 10, Jake Tower, Hayden Flick, Broden Piel, Hayden Wilson. Adviser Cale Bigelow, Ph.D.
- Fifth: The Ohio State University Team 28, Zachary Beier, Jake Miller, Evan Flory, Trevor Sheets. Adviser David Gardner, Ph.D.
- Sixth (tie): Penn State University Team 3, Ryan Young, Wilson Kreitz, Gideon Foley, Chase Groelle. Adviser Ben McGraw, Ph.D.
- Sixth (tie): Purdue University Team 70, Otto Hoehl, Gavin Kenning, Mason Stephen, Bryce Thompson. Adviser Cale Bigelow, Ph.D.
- Eighth: University of Guelph Team 43, Hayden Gouin, Benjamin Horsburgh, Gavin Harkness, Aaron Brock. Adviser Cameron Shaw.
- Ninth: Cal Poly Pomona Team 63, Joel Torres, Magdaleno Basilio, Helena Novak-Murano, Jeffrey Hoyt. Adviser Sean McLaughlin.
- Tenth: Colorado State University Team 74, Kimberly Meza, Parker Gaudreault, Samantha Bradley, Maxwell Nikkari. Adviser Anthony Koski, Ph.D.
- The competition is presented in partnership with John Deere. Leah Brilman, Ph.D., director of Turfgrass Product Management and Technical Services-DLF, and Gwen Stahnke, Ph.D., retired instructor of turfgrass management at Walla Walla Community College, Wash., facilitated the competition.
Students identified turf, weed, insect samples and turfgrass disease in multiple-choice and sample-identification formats.
Organizers thanked Christian Bowman, Ph.D., Marcel Derendorf and Jim Baird, Ph.D., all at the University of California-Riverside, for growing and collecting most of the samples. Ambika Chandra, Ph.D., of Texas A&M University AgriLife Research & Extension, Dallas, provided zoysiagrass samples.