Having spent more than fifty-five years working in the sports turf, amenity and horticulture industry, I feel I am experienced and qualified enough to say that this industry is a challenging, engaging and sometimes frustrating one in which to work. 

However, the career opportunities within it are so diverse, it is not until you see the sheer size and scale of our land-based industry do you realise its potential.

Newcastle Under Lyme GC

You only must attend one of our three annual industry trade shows - GroundsFest, Saltex or BTME - to realise the extent and magnitude of this sector and what it can offer in terms of career prospects.

With over three hundred exhibitors / companies promoting their wares and services at any of the shows, it is a clear indicator of the scope and opportunities we have available.

The range of career opportunities are endless - both home and abroad. Coupled with the diversity of job roles across all our major sports (cricket, football, rugby, tennis, bowls and bolf), we must also consider all the support, supplier, product and service jobs that facilitate our industry. 

Having said all this, I am slightly worried where our next generation of practitioners will be coming from - particularly during this current climate of change and uncertainty following Brexit.

From what I’m hearing, there has been a reduction in student numbers attending sports turf related college courses in recent years. This may be due to several factors including lack of appropriate courses being run, cost of these courses and employers cutting back on training budgets.

I am also hearing of the difficulties that many professional clubs and businesses are experiencing, to find and retain staff. The working of weekends and evenings, plus getting their hands dirty, is putting off a lot of youngsters - along with the low working pay and conditions.

Ian and Jake Beech

However, a recent visit to Newcastle Under Lyme GC has given me some hope in that there are still many bastions of opportunity where youngsters get the opportunity come and work in our industry and prosper. I met up with Ian Beech, course manager. It was refreshing to see his enthusiasm for the youth of today. Having spent over 45 years at the club, he has been able to mentor and ensure his staff have the best training and opportunities to learn the diverse skill sets required to be a greenkeeper. His son Jake is a prime example of his endeavour to develop and retain staff.

Jake was keen to learn the ropes. He went to college, got his Level 2 in greenkeeping and is currently doing his Level 3 at Myerscough College. He also took up a work placement at the JCB Golf and Country Club. He learnt a lot while at the JCB resort and recognised the pressures of the job can be very different when working with a larger team of people.

Although Jake was offered a position at the JCB facility, he felt he would still learn more skills while continuing to work alongside his father and the tight group of four other members of staff at the club. They are centred around building a good team spirit and a healthy work ethic. He is pleased that the club have continued to support him and his colleagues with continued educational pathways, whilst maintaining a nurturing working environment.

Ian has, over the years, managed to persuade the club to invest in appropriate work facilities, including mess room, showers, tearoom storage sheds and a machinery workshop that makes working on the course more pleasant and rewarding.

The net results of Ian’s work is a golf course that is fit for purpose and the quality of the playing surfaces and its environment meeting the expectations of its members.

I personally feel it is important - and indeed our duty as turf professionals - that we continue to learn and develop our skill sets. We rely on a lot of machinery and equipment to help us do our jobs, therefore we should take the time and investment to keep up with the ever-changing legislation and regulations that govern the use of that equipment. Alongside this, we must comply with relevant legislation and guidelines when applying fertilisers and chemicals.

Returning to my point regarding how we encourage the next generation of professional groundsmen / greenkeepers to come and work in this vibrant industry - we need, collectively, to find a way of bringing to the attention of schools and colleges the wide-ranging career opportunities that are on offer within the grounds and sports turf industry today.

I know only too well that many of our national organisations and larger businesses have been working hard over many years to recruit and offer career opportunities.

However, at this present time it does not seem to be enough. I have on many occasions written about this issue in TurfPro and discussed the challenges facing our industry. I believe it is time we finally come together, collaboratively, to help create a new pathway into our industry. We need all the major CEOs from the likes of BIGGA, GMA, Parks Management Association (PMA), RHS, Lantra, BASIS, BAGMA, BALI, Fields In trust, APSE and others, including large businesses that supply our sector, to finally find a collective way to achieve this aim.

After being out of use for eight years, the sports field at Broughton High School in Lancashire has been restored following extensive drainage and renovation works carried out by Duncan Ross Ltd.

Lancashire County Council brought in the Burscough-based sports turf contractor to investigate and resolve long-standing safety and flooding issues which had left the facility unplayable. A detailed site investigation by the company identified a broken main drain as the cause of the problem, with the old drainage network beneath the surface found to be silted up beyond repair.

Duncan Ross designed and installed a new system including carrier, main, and lateral drains at five-metre centres, along with inspection chambers and outfalls for ease of maintenance. The work also included decompaction, sand topdressing, overseeding and fertiliser applications to help the new surface establish.

Mark Hodges, contracts manager at Lancashire County Council, said the project had provided reassurance that the field would now deliver reliable use for the school. “It was reassuring working with somebody who understands the needs of the school and comes up with a solution,” he commented.

Headteacher David Botes, added that he was extremely pleased with the results, praising the professionalism of the Duncan Ross team.

The field will see limited use this term, with full availability expected by next spring once the surface has fully bedded in.

Sharrocks has announced a new partnership with GKB Machinery, becoming the official dealer for Staffordshire and Shropshire.

Adrian Dodd & Steve Hanlon of Sharrocks

This new dealership agreement gives customers across the Midlands direct access to GKB’s full product range. The manufacturer offers a portfolio of professional machines, including scarifiers, top dressers, aerators, and brushing systems

“We’re delighted to be partnering with GKB Machinery,” said Adrian Dodd, sales director at Sharrocks.

“Their innovative and reliable equipment aligns perfectly with the needs of our customers and our dedication to supplying robust, high-quality solutions for the professional groundcare sector.”

The STIHL Group has officially opened its first battery-only production site in Oradea, Romania.

The manufacturer says the investment of €125 million marks a major milestone in their transformation toward battery technology and strengthens its European manufacturing footprint. 

The new facility becomes STIHL’s European centre of competence to produce battery packs and battery-powered tools, adding a key hub to the Group’s global network. Designed as a core element of the Group’s international production network, the site will play a central role in meeting the growing demand for battery-powered products across European markets.

Construction began in March 2024 and was completed in less than 18 months. The company says the factory will gradually ramp up operations to reach an annual capacity of 1 million battery packs by 2026. By 2028, output is expected to rise to 1.8 million battery packs and 1.7 million battery-powered tools. Production initially focuses on battery-powered blowers and AP battery packs from the professional STIHL range. Over time, the portfolio will expand to include additional battery-powered equipment such as brush cutters, chainsaws, and other tools.

The new facility has 47,000 square metres of operational space on a 147,000 square metres site. The plant is equipped with flexible multi-product production lines and a high degree of automation, integrating Industry 4.0 principles that ensure digital traceability, optimised processes, and outstanding operational efficiency.

At the official opening Dr. Nikolas Stihl, Shairman of the Advisory and Supervisory Board, said, “The new plant in Oradea expands our global network and strengthens STIHL’s position in the fast-growing battery segment. It is a vital addition that will secure our long-term competitiveness in Europe and support our customers with high-performance products developed and built for professionals and demanding consumers worldwide."

CLIMATE, COLLABORATION AND CHANGE

EARLY AUTUMN COLOUR

A ROBOTIC GAME CHANGER

AN ENJOYABLE, VALUABLE TWO DAYS

KEEPING COOL UNDER PRESSURE

FUNDING, SKILLS & STANDARDS

THE BUSINESS OF SHOWS

COMBATTING SUMMER STRESSES

MERE-LY ROBOTS

GROUNDS FOR RESPECT

DIFFICULT TIMES FOR PARK FUNDING

TURF PROFESSIONALS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

TIME FOR EFFECTIVE COLLABORATIONS

THE HEAT IS ON!

A GROWING BUSINESS

INVESTMENT, SUCCESSION & EXPANSION

ROBOTS TAKING THE STRAIN ON COURSE

MAINTAINING WEED FREE SURFACES

ROBOTIC LINEMARKING IN ACTION

HABITAT, HERITAGE & HANDS-ON SKILLS

DRYING TIMES

GUARDIANS OF THE ESTUARY

INVALUABLE PUBLIC GREEN SPACES

DRIED OUT

A CHANGING PARKS ENVIRONMENT

A FLUSH OF GROWTH

LATEST DEVELOPEMENTS

CHANGING THE MINDSET OF SPORTS CLUBS

FLUSH OF SPRING

TEN-DAY PREP

SQUARE PREPARE

BUSY TIME ON THE COURSE

WEATHER TO SPRAY?

SPRING IS ON ITS WAY

BUZZY BTME

SHOW WEEK AGAIN

ROBOT WARS

WHAT WILL THE NEW YEAR BRING?

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View all of 2018's blogs here

ONE OF THE GREATS

Sad passing of Stephen Bernhard

NEW STRATEGY

BASIS commits to amenity sector

RECRUITMENT & CAREER PROGRESSION IN GROUNDS MANAGEMENT
How the GMA is tackling the key issues

ON TEST
Segway Navimow

SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE IN THE SUPPLY OF FERTILISERS

To the amenity sector

50 YEARS OF GOLF STEWARDSHIP
Part four

REFLECTIONS ON A CAREER
A lifetime of dedication

CREATING AN INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT PLAN
Key steps

50 YEARS OF GOLF STEWARDSHIP
Part three

50 YEARS OF GOLF STEWARDSHIP
Part two

50 YEARS OF GOLF STEWARDSHIP
Part one

DEMONSTRATING AND APPLYING AN INTEGRATED APPROACH
Reviewing the tools available

CRICKET MANAGEMENT THROUGH THE DECADES
Part two

CRICKET MANAGEMENT THROUGH THE DECADES
Part one

A LOOK AT THE OPTIONS
When implementing an integrated approach

50 YEARS OF FOOTBALL MANAGEMENT
Part two

50 YEARS OF FOOTBALL MANAGEMENT
Part one

57 YEARS & COUNTING!
My life in the industry

DEMONSTRATING AND APPLYING AN INTEGRATED APPROACH
New series of articles for 2025

IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE
Examples from across the year

VINTAGE PUSH MOWER USE
Enthusiast maintains lawn the old fashioned way

SUSTAINABLE AMENITY MANAGEMENT
Principles and practises

PLACING URBAN GREEN SPACES AT THE HEART OF INFRASTRUCTURE
Midlands Parks Forum's annual conference

RAISING THE VOICE
At the Amenity Forum's annual conference

SUSTAINABLE PARKS
Parks For London case study

WHY GRASSROOTS RUGBY IS IN DECLINE
A steady drop off in participation.

SEEDS OF SUSTAINABILITY
Focus on a major supplier of grass seed and related products to the amenity sector

ON TEST
STIHL BGA 300 cordless leaf backpack blower

ON TEST
EGO Multi-tool

PUT THEM ON THE TOOLS!
Time for an attitude change

SUSTAINABILITY IN THE TRAINING SECTOR
Grasping the challenge of encouraging more sustainable practice

SUSTAINABILITY IN LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Lessons learnt and experiences

SKILL SETS NEED RECOGNITION
Turf professionals are underappreciated

GREATER RESPECT FOR GROUNDS STAFF MIGHT MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
To the recruitment crisis

A COMPETITIVE SALARY
Why employers should advertise the salary when recruiting new staff

ON TEST
Makita XGT UV001G lawn scarifier

AN EXAMPLE OF SUSTAINABILITY IN MACHINERY SUPPLY
Focus on Kubota

MY PERSONAL GREENKEEPING PHILOSOPHY HAS NEVER CHANGED
I don't follow any set program

SUSTAINABILITY IN LANDSCAPING
A substantial element of amenity activity

IS IT TIME TO SAY NO TO 'NO MOW MAY'?
Any real benefits?

SUSTAINABILITY IN OUR PARKS & PUBLIC GREEN SPACES
Meeting the challenge

THE PATH TO WIMBLEDON
For groundstaff member, Conrad Cavil

ON TEST
EGO LBP8000E backpack blower

SUSTAINABILITY IN THE LAWN CARE SECTOR
A key consideration

BEEKEEPING IN COMMERCIAL ENVIRONMENTS
The current situation

SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE IN THE AMENITY SUPPLY SECTOR
Optimising land use through integrated solutions

SUSTAINABILITY IN THE GOLF SECTOR
Focus on BIGGA

THE SEARCH FOR SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE
Bringing together key points

DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR GOLF
R&A are supporting clubs

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF EVERY POUND OF BUDGET
A course manager's view

A NEWFOUND APPRECIATION FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS
Who look after grassroots pitches

SUSTAINABILITY & THE UK ACTION PLAN
For weed, pest and disease management

CONCERN FOR PARKS FOLLOWING COUNCIL BANKRUPTCIES
What does the future hold?

TAKING A GLOBAL LOOK AT SUSTAINABILITY
Is the rest of the world also driving towards sustainable practice?

RENOVATIONS, PLAY AND THANKS
On my mind this week

SUSTAINABILITY – IMPLICATIONS FOR TRAINING & EDUCATION
Set to play a crucial role going forward

TULIP TREE
Liriodendron tulipifera

LYDIA BROOM
Genista lydia

THE LAWN AND ITS VALUE
Changing attitudes

GIANT HOGWEED
Invasive and potentially harmful

LIFE-CYCLE ANALYSIS & SUSTAINABILITY
Considering every stage of the journey

NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY
The most important nutrient

BERBERIS THUNBERGII
A shrub that has stood the test of time

ENSURING FUTURE PROSPERITY
Advice imparted at road shows

INNOVATION & SUSTAINABILITY
A key focus

PHOTINA RED ROBIN
A sensational flowering shrub

VALUING THE GRASSROOTS
We must not overlook those who maintain these grounds

MANAGING WEEDS SUSTAINABLY
In amenity spaces

DETECTING NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS
In turf plants

SPRING RENOVATIONS UNDERWAY
A crucial period

SUSTAINABILITY IN SUPPLY
A focus on those who supply essential inputs to our sector

CHANGING CLIMATE
Is a borehole the key for clubs?

SUSTAINABILITY AT THE SHARP END
How to put into practice when budgets are tight?

ANOTHER NAIL IN THE COFFIN OF GRASSROOTS RUGBY
Clubs are struggling

SUSTAINABILITY IN PRACTICE
Seeking transparent and robust supply chains is essential

TIME FOR ACTION
To reverse recruitment crisis

CONTROLLING COSTS
Planning is crucial

THE SEARCH FOR SUSTAINABILITY
What exactly does the term mean?

CARING FOR THE GRASSROOTS
From volunteers to contractors

DEFRA IS LETTING DOWN THE COUNTRY
Complete failure to address the plastic grass debate

WE CAN ALL DO MORE
To aid biodiversity

MY LIFE IN GREENKEEPING
With Bruce Cruickshank

LEVELLING UP, GETTING SMARTER & GETTING AHEAD
Parks require so much more funding

SWITCHED ON FOR HARD WORK
Putting trimmers through their paces

MACHINERY HIGHLIGHTS
At this year's show

MY SALTEX
Daniel Lewis​, Manchester City Football Club

AWASH WITH LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Two months till showtime

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING FORWARD
Priorities for the amenity sector

THE DECLINE OF ‘PARKITECTURE’
A symptom of the state of parks in 2022

DEVELOPERS SHIRKING GREEN SPACE RESPONSIBILITIES
Lack of financial commitment

TIME TO COME TOGETHER
For the good of the industry

THE DEATH OF GRASS ROOTS CRICKET
Gathering apace?

ROUTES INTO THE INDUSTRY MUST BE ENSURED
Q&A with David Fisher, Lantra’s head of industry partnerships

STRONG VIEWS ON CRICKET PITCH PERFORMANCE MARKING
A bone of contention

A PREMIUM PRODUCT
Delivered at Naas Golf Club

THE GREEN REVOLUTION
And Esker Hills

MAKING A CHANGE
Laytown and Bettystown Golf Links

A DAY AT THE RACES
Naas Race Course

WORKING TOGETHER AS ONE VOICE
How the industry needs to proceed

OVER 175 YEARS OF EDUCATION
Wesley College

ELECTRIC EXCITEMENT
Dennis's Ian Howard talks electrification

THE HOME OF CORK GAA
Páirc Uí Chaoimh

LONG POLE BATTERY HEDGE TRIMMERS TESTED
STIHL HLA 66 and HLA 86

OVER 800 YEARS OF HISTORY
Johnstown Castle and Gardens

A CLUB GONE WILD
Kilkenny Golf Club

A GOLF COURSE IN THE GARDEN OF IRELAND
Woodenbridge GC

80 YEARS YOUNG
Charleville Golf Club

AN UPLIFTING EXPERIENCE
Bunclody Golf & Fishing Club

GETTING BACK TOGETHER
Albeit gradually . .

GO WEST
Inishturk GAA pitch – one of the most westerly sportspitches in Europe

WORKING ON A TIGHT BUDGET
Nenagh Golf Club

ON A MISSION
Wrekin Golf Club aiming to enrich wildlife and fauna

WILD AND WONDERFUL
Design By Nature

LEARNING HOW TO SURVIVE
Abbey Par 3

TACKLING OBESITY
Vital that schools can provide sport

A LIFETIME OF LEARNING
Vital for turf professionals

CELEBRATING 125 YEARS
Tullamore Golf Club

UNIVERSITY CHALLENGES
At Trinity College Dublin

BLENDING THE OLD WITH THE NEW
Bray Golf Club

A WELL POLISHED COURSE!
Ierne Social And Sports Club

IDENTIFYING THE TRUE VALUES
Of grounds maintenance

THE INDUSTRY WILL CHANGE & ADAPT
But it will survive

WIRRAL GOLF COURSES SAVED
Renewed hope and optimism for the future

GREEN SPACE CONTRIBUTION TO WELLBEING IS UNDERVALUED
Parks invisible on national agenda

A SHINING LIGHT IN IRELAND'S SUNNY SOUTHEAST
Wexford Golf Club

GREEN SPACES DO NOT LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES!
Keith Kent says we must invest in people

WE SHOULD TELL THE WORLD ABOUT THE UK INDUSTRY
Right time for all sides to come together

SOIL LIFE IS PRECIOUS
Good-quality soil can help save the planet

MORE THAN JUST CUTTING GRASS
Encouraging the next generation

A BUZZ FROM DOING THE JOB
Wide experience of the turf grass industry

PAYING THEIR WAY
Low wages is the bane of the industry

AMENITY MANAGEMENT IMPACTS US ALL
Professor John Moverley

CARING FOR PARKS OF ALL TYPES
Mary Worrall

TOP FIVE FRUSTRATIONS FOR CRICKET GROUNDSMEN
What causes you the most frustration in your role?

PROFESSIONALS AT THE CUTTING EDGE
Vic Demain and Phil Sharples

BOWLS CLUBS IN PERIL
A sad decline

A VERY SPECIAL INDUSTRY
Loz looks back

SNEAK PEAK AT A ROBOTIC "GAME CHANGER"
Commercial model capable of covering 50,000 m2 teased

HALESOWEN PICK A BIG ROBOT UP FRONT
Invest in mowers

COMPRESSED AERATION
The new way

PARKS MATTER MORE THAN EVER
Recent sector developments

ON TEST
STIHL blowers

THREE CORE VALUES TO SHAPE OUR INDUSTRY
Real concerns for the future

ENGLAND'S GREEN SPACE GAP
A split along racial lines

ON TEST
EGO STX3800 strimmer with RTX2300 Rotocut head

A SECTOR FACING IMPORTANT TIMES
Review of the National Action Plan

PARKS MATTER
The role of public parks in the recovery: a discussion paper

A UNIQUE SPORTING VENUE
Wormsley private estate

A BTME OUTDOORS?
A good bet for the industry

PARKS NEED APPROPRIATE POLITICAL REPRESENTATION
Q&A with Philippa Reece, Parks and Foreshore Manager at Adur and Worthing Council

CRICKET LOAM
What does it mean?

A HERCULEAN EFFORT TO GET PARKS BACK TO NORMAL
Q&A with Chris Worman, Rugby Borough Council’s parks and ground manager

ON TEST
STIHL battery products

TURFGRASS STRESS MANAGEMENT
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and antioxidants during biotic and abiotic stress in turfgrass plants

AUTUMN DISEASE MANAGEMENT
The coming months are going to prove very difficult

THE ABUSE OF PARKS . .
Is the abuse of society

WHY PARKS MATTER?
A statement from the Parks Management Forum to the Prime Minister

THE 21st CENTURY PARKS MANAGER
Innovative, creative and entrepreneurial

EAT, SLEEP, CUT, REPEAT!
Cricket under covid

TIME FOR A SINGLE SHOW?
Debate brought back into focus

A CHALLENGING TWO MONTHS
Running golf design projects from home

PRESSURE SITUATION
Cementing the reputation

A CLUB TO BE PROUD OF
10 years at the helm of Olton GC

GAME CHANGERS IN TURFCARE
The day the Lord's outfield reconstruction proved its worth

THE ESSENCE OF ESSENTIAL
Finding a sensible way forward on defining "essential maintenance"

THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT WAS
2001

HOW TO LOOK AFTER A GOLF COURSE WITH NO GOLFERS
Fundamental to the survival of almost all courses, if not of the game itself

RAIN STOPPED PLAY WOULD BE WELCOME
. . along with ‘lunch is being taken early’

PHYSICAL CONTROL OF TURFGRASS PESTS
An urgent problem

A DIVERSE & ENTERTAINING WEEK
Successful BTME 2020

INTEGRATED PEST CONTROL
Opportunity to embrace new methods

ENVILLE ON THE UP
Major investments taking place

GREEN FLAG AWARDS 2019
A great success

U.S PROFESSIONAL EQUIPMENT SHOW EXCELS
Buoyant GIE+EXPO

LEGACY OF THE SOLHEIM CUP
At Gleneagles

A DAY OUT WITH THE LADIES
Behind the scenes at the Solheim Cup

COVENTRY UNIVERSITY'S EDIBLE GARDEN SUCCESS
2006 - present

HAIL THE GRASS MASTERS!
Boorish media comments about pitch quality are wide of the mark

CONTRACTOR SEES MULTI-DISCIPLINE SUCCESS
360 Ground Care serving professional facilities

BUSY TIMES
Judging the Green Flag Awards

TAKING AN INTEGRATED APPROACH
What does it all mean in managing turf surfaces?

UNDER PRESSURE
Dry weather conditions continue to keep turf managers focused on moisture management

EDDIE SEAWARD
Death of Wimbledon’s influential grounds manager

MAJOR NEW IRRIGATION PROJECT
At Top 100 classic Berkhamsted Golf Club

NEW HORIZONS FOR THE HATTERS
Investment paying off at Kenilworth Road

ELIZABETHAN RESTORATION
At Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens

WHAT IS BIOPHILIA?
The vital impact of parks and green spaces on health and well-being

WORM CONTROL
Without carbendazim

THE TRUE COST OF PETROL
Battery-powered outdoor power tools are now turning the heads of professionals

SANDS OF TIME
Sand-based pitches are now the norm in professional sports

WHY DO WE DO THE RIGHT THING?
We must maintain industry standards

CHASING GRASS PERFECTION?
11 things you need to know . . .

MAINTAINING STANDARDS
Q&A with BASIS ceo, Stephen Jacobs

STRI RESEARCH DAY 2018
Hosted at research trial grounds in Bingley

THE MECHANIC
Leicester City FC invest in new role

LORD'S 'GRASS-GUVNOR' TO RETIRE
Mick Hunt bows out after 49 years

HOLLOW CORING & DEEP SCARIFICATION
Is it really necessary?

Last week it was my privilege to once again report from the world's largest trade exhibition for the outdoor power equipment industry, Equip.

I attended with a contingent from TurfPro and our sister magazine for the UK professional dealer trade, Service Dealer. Enjoying the show alongside me were owner of TurfPro and Service Dealer, Duncan Murray-Clarke, our video expert David Comiskey and Pete and Emma McArthur from dealership Strathbogie Forest & Garden representing our incredible UK commercial dealer sector.

I personally haven't attended Equip for three years and it's absolutely extraordinary to see how it has grown even bigger in the intervening period. Honestly, it's on another level. The size and scale of the show is genuinely a sight to behold. I'm sure any of our UK readers who work in any kind of a turf professional capacity couldn't fail to be impressed by the event that the OPEI exceeds themselves with each and every edition. They describe it as the show where the industry comes home, and despite the sheer hugeness of the endeavour, it does indeed feel like a celebratory gathering of people from across the US and the globe - all with a shared passion for the sector.

And last week, the show felt like even more of a party than usual. Only days before they opened their gates on Wednesday they were named as the Greatest Trade Show by Trade Show Executive - and incredibly, were cited as the third largest trade show of any industry in the United States! That's mightily impressive.

Our visit to Louisville, kicked off last Tuesday with a Welcome Celebration held at Churchill Downs racecourse, home of the famous Kentucky Derby.

Pete, Emma and Duncan at Churchill Downs racetrack

Here the thousands of attendees gathered ahead of the official opening of the show, to view the magnificent racing cathedral, have a drink and some food and get ready for the big kick off.

DAY 1

The show itself got underway on Wednesday, with what I always think is a superb innovation. From 9am till 12pm the indoor showfloor is exclusively open for dealers and the press. This allows for an environment of open and honest conversation between the dealers in attendance and their manufacturer suppliers.

Once these dealer-exclusive hours concluded, the show was then opened to the professional end-users visitors - the vast majority of whom, I think it's fair to say, come from the landscaper / contractor sector, rather than the sportsturf industry. It was at this point that the vast outdoor demonstration area is opened and when a UK visitor gets to really comprehend just how ginormous this show truly is! Both in terms of footprint and visitor numbers.

The showground in its entirety is simply vast. I asked Chuck Bowen of the OPEI how long he thought it would take to walk from one end to the other and he said at least 30 minutes - and that would be without bumping into people! He told me that moving visitors around the site could be something they look at options for in the future.

As well as spending hours walking up and down the vast aisles and demonstration plots checking out the exhibitors, I spent time both days attending various press conferences held by manufacturers such as STIHL, Honda, Briggs & Stratton and Toro amongst others.

Getting inked on the STIHL stand!

On STIHL's stand (where you could sign up for a genuine STIHL tattoo to be emblazoned on you live at the show!) their top management spoke about the 80+ new innovations coming in 2026. Included in this were a new water pump line-up; upgraded cut-off machines; their latest developments in mobile and static charging technology; a top handled chainsaw and various mowers. 

Honda meanwhile were giving a major launch to two new ZTR mowers - the Prozision and the Prozision Autonomous. The latter of these allowed a user to drive an area to be mown once, which the unit will then remember, and can subsequently be left to cut without an operator on board. It has the ability to store multiple cut routes in its memory allowing contractors to take the machine to multiple locations.

Briggs & Stratton were promoting their For Pros, By Pros theme for the show. This included developments to their Vanguard engines that meant they ran cooler; news that they are working on developments to their swappable Vanguard battery packs; an all new Ferris Z1 32" with Oil Xtend; and the launch of the all-new Z3002 Hurricane blower from Billy Goat.

Toro had representatives from their various product area departments discuss innovation in the company and the developments they were excited about. Areas mentioned included modifications to the Turf Master; new autonomous mowing solutions;  and their hybrid fairways mowers. They said all departments were aiming to help their end-user customers face their biggest challenge, which at the moment tends to be staffing - hence the concentration on autonomy.

Also on Wednesday our sister magazine, Service Dealer, led a high profile discussion session on the main stage with NAEDA, considering similarities and differences in issues faced by dealers on both sides of the Atlantic. You can read about that in some more detail here.

Tom Healy, Jason Huber, Pete and Duncan

One observation I did make at the end of the first day, once I had been able to take in both the inside and outside areas, was perhaps a slight dichotomy in the industry currently? Inside, many of the exhibits on display were sleek, AI-powered, robotic, clean, futuristic, technological developments. Then when you walked outside, you were hit with an absolute cacophony of roaring engine noise and the distinct smell of gasoline exhausts. And the vast numbers of people using the machines to make these noises and smells, appeared to absolutely love them! 

So certainly in the U.S, I don't think many turf professionals will be giving up their gas-powered equipment any time soon.

DAY 2

Day 2 of the show, saw the extraordinary Mutt Madness take place alongside the main exhibition. Imagine going to SALTEX, GroundsFest or BTME and coming home having adopted a cute new puppy! That's what this is. It sounds crazy, but it works at Equip and offers the visitors something different, allowing a bit of time away from the main show.

This year's edition took place in the main atrium of the huge venue, meaning the puppies attracted a ton of attention from both attendees and the local and national media. The show once again made a sizeable ($10,000) donation to the Kentucky Humane Society.

It was during Mutt Madness that I managed to speak with the man whose brainchild that is, and who in his role as President of the OPEI oversees the whole of Equip, Kris Kiser.

Kris Kiser speaking with Steve Gibbs

Kris and I discussed both the show itself and the current state of the wider US industry. We covered topics such as the trends in technology seen at the show; how robotics are taking off for both domestic and professional users in the US - but how there is still a very real place for gasoline. We also touched on the thorny issue of tariffs and how the uncertainly of those is impacting the U.S market. You can watch my full interview with Kris when Service Dealer's Digital Special Report is published soon.

Pete, Duncan and David filming in downtown Louisville

If you're interested, we shall have so much more from Equip across all of Service Dealer's channels in the coming weeks - including, as mentioned, a packed Digital Special Report. Duncan, Pete and David spent the week recording many video interviews with the great and the good across the exhibition - as well as capturing our various in-depth sit-downs with the movers and shakers of the US outdoor power equipment industry. There will also, of course, be plenty more coverage in Service Dealer magazine itself.

Until then, I'd just like to thank the organisers of Equip for staging such a magnificent show and for making us all feel so welcomed and included in their celebration of the industry. It really is a genuine pleasure to attend this event. I feel confident in saying that if any of our UK turf professional readers were able to find the time (and the finances) to make the trip over to Louisville at some point, they would not be disappointed. It's a true eye-opener and full of wonderful discoveries.

Pete summed it up this week, saying, "There is just nothing on this scale in the UK. It's really a remarkable achievement."