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Garrett Goodwin
  • Horticulture
  • State Center, IA

Goodwin participates in Student Challenge at Sports Turf Managers Association's (STMA) Annual Conference

2018 Feb 6

Garrett Goodwin traveled with the delegation from Iowa State University to the Sports Turf Managers Association's (STMA) Annual Conference in Fort Worth, Texas to attend the conference and participate in the Student Challenge.

Iowa State was representated in the Student Challenge, an exam contest to challenge knowledge in the sports turf industry, by 4 teams of up to 4 students. After several years of coming in second, Iowa State placed 1st in the field of 33 teams. The other teams from Iowa State placed 15th, 18th, and 20th. Goodwin was a member of the 20th place team.

To prepare, the teams took part in a weekly study session in the fall and used knowledge gained from classes and internships to help with the exam, which was made of 100-175 questions that included multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, matching, reading passages, short answer, oral presentation, and identification/hands-on sections. Students from 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities across the country are eligible to compete.

The winning teams receive a cash award, a plaque and medallions for each team member. The prize money benefits the institution's turf program and creates opportunities for students pursuing a career in sports turf management.

In addition to the student contest, the conference offered educational seminars, hands-on workshops, the latest technology in the industry and tours of college and municipal facilities in the area.

The Iowa State teams are coached by Drs. Nick Christians and Adam Thoms, horticulture, with assistance from Isaac Mertz, graduate student in horticulture.