It's another winter, another January, and the start of a new year. And in the Mid-Atlantic region, a flip of the calendar signals the ushering in of a new conference season. While there are always a few educational events hosted in late fall, the bulk of these happenings take place between now and the end of March. So, this New Year's resolution aside, it's a good time of year to think about your educational goals for the coming year.
Continuing education is one of our industry's top priorities. While there will always be new pesticides, new techniques, new technology and new equipment to learn about, there will always be an inherent responsibility in the turf industry to stay abreast on the latest trends. And, at least for me, it never fails that what would seem like the most basic review educational talk, I still walk away having learned something.
I kicked off the conference circuit last week at the Eastern Pennsylvania Turf Conference in Valley Forge, just outside of Philadelphia. This two-day conference was complete with a trade show, social mixer, and a wide range of educational topics. Attendees participated in seminars about bee ecology, disease management, weather analysis and water management.
Looking ahead, the Greater Pittsburgh GCSA is hosting their annual education this week, followed by a joint conference in Fredericksburg, Virginia, that will be co-hosted by the Maryland and Virginia Turfgrass Councils. Later in February (post-GIS), we will have the Western Pennsylvania Turf Conference. And while education is the primary component of these conferences, attendees also find value in the networking they are able to accomplish. Heck, this past week I learned as much from talking to a few guys as I had in listening to the educational talks.
Looking beyond the locals, we have the Golf Industry Show and education conference rapidly approaching in San Diego the week of Feb. 8-11. Highlighted by an array of education ranging from leadership to technology, there is something for everyone. And if you are struggling areas in which you would like to focus your winter education, try using GCSAA's self-assessment tool to identify gaps in your educational repertoire. From there, you can hone in your educational goals for the coming year.
Regardless of where you find your education this fall, I encourage you to continue investing in your professional growth through the many educational offerings around the industry. After all, a wise man once said, "if you are not constantly moving forward, you are falling behind."
