The Equip Expo is considered the landscape industry equivalent of the GCSAA Conference and Show. But that does not mean the show that the annual show that is within a day's drive of about 70 percent of the nation's populous cannot be useful to golf course superintendents, as well.
Registration is now open for Equip Expo, that is held each autumn in Louisville, Kentucky, and often provides an early glimpse into what is coming to the turf industry. Case in point was the huge number of robotic mowers that were on display at last year's show.
The conference also offers educational opportunities that can be of value to turf managers, including superintendents, and can serve as a convenient Plan B for those who are unable to travel coast-to-coast.
Show organizers recently released its lineup of education sessions for this year's show that is scheduled for Oct. 15-18 at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
Education and workshop session topics scheduled for October include:
- Recruiting and retaining employees
- Developing crew leaders into better managers
- Pesticide management and application
- Irrigation repair, installation and design
- Outdoor lighting design and installation
- Tree and shrub pruning and plant health
- New industry technology
The Drone Zone will provide sessions specifically targeting drone usage in landscapes that include:
- Aircraft registration
- Creating three-dimensional models with drones
- Creating an FAA-approved drone plan
- Getting airspace approval
- All you need to know about licensing
- Using drones for photography and marketing
Equip Expo’s new Certification Center will provide continuing education units (CEUs) for:
- Turfgrass cultural practices
- Turfgrass nutrient management
- Weed management in turfgrass
- Interpreting pesticide labels in the turfgrass industry
Some class registrations are an additional cost to registration for Equip Exposition, which is currently $25. The registration fee will increase to $30 on June 1.