Steve Ruckman’s journey in turfgrass science began on his family farm in New Albany, Indiana, where he managed the grass between rows of Christmas trees to prevent erosion and control growth. That early experience sparked a lifelong passion, which he nurtured through high school by maintaining his school’s baseball and soccer fields. Steve pursued his…Read more about Alumni Spotlight – Steve Ruckman’s Turfgrass Journey from Farm to Field[Read More]
Dr. Cale Bigelow partnered with Citizens Energy Group to encourage Indianapolis residents to conserve water through smarter lawn care practices. The video segment aired on WISH-TV on June 19th: Citizens Energy Group promotes water conservation efforts. Dr. Bigelow advises watering lawns no more than twice a week, noting that Indiana’s 40 inches of annual rainfall…Read more about Dr. Bigelow and Citizens Energy Urge Smarter Lawn Watering to Conserve Water[Read More]
The 2025 Purdue Turf and Landscape Field Day took place on July 8 at the W.H. Daniel Turfgrass Research and Diagnostic Center in West Lafayette, drawing professionals from across Indiana and the Midwest. In addition to the 350 attendees, there were 30 exhibitors featured in the trade show. The event began in the morning with…Read more about Purdue Turf and Landscape Field Day Recap – Don’t miss this event in 2026![Read More]
This month’s “This is Purdue” podcast features Dan Kiermaier (BS 2012/Turf Management and Science), head groundskeeper for the Chicago Cubs. In this episode, you’ll learn about his journey through Purdue’s College of Agriculture, his experience during the Cubs’ 2016 World Series win, and his family’s baseball legacy, including his brother Kevin Kiermaier. You’ll also get…Read more about “This Is Purdue” Podcast Features Turf Alumni[Read More]
Dr. Jada Powlen and Dr. Cale Bigelow recently published a research article highlighted in the turfgrass industry trade publication Golfdom, entitled “How much nitrogen is needed to establish seeded bermudagrass?“.
Four teams comprised of 17 undergraduate students from HLA-Turf Science competed last month in the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) Collegiate Quiz Bowl competition at the GCSAA annual meeting in San Diego, CA. This exam tests the students’ plant/seed/pest/equipment identification skills, and practical turfgrass calculations related to golf turf management. Students from Turf…Read more about Purdue Turf Science Teams Shine at GCSAA Collegiate Quiz Bowl, Securing Top 6 Finishes[Read More]
The Indiana Green Expo (IGE), held from February 10 to 12 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, attracted 1,636 attendees and featured 108 exhibiting companies in the trade show. Organized by the Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association (INLA) and the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation (MRTF), the event offered a comprehensive blend of educational sessions…Read more about Another Successful Indiana Green Expo in the Books[Read More]
Eight HLA-Turf Science undergraduates competed last week in the Sports Field Managers Association (SFMA) Collegiate Quiz Bowl competition at the SFMA annual meeting in Palm Springs, CA. The students placed 3rd overall out of 26 teams in this competition. This exam tests the students plant/seed/pest/equipment identification skills, practical turfgrass calculations for the sports field manager…Read more about HLA Turf Science Students Competed at SFMA Collegiate Quiz Bowl[Read More]