The University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment and the Kentucky Horticulture Council co-hosted the annual Turf & Landscape Management Short Course on February 20-22, 2024. This event continued a 40+ year tradition and provided valuable programming to more than 520 green industry professionals in Kentucky. Thirty-five topical sessions were offered across three educational tracks with 27 different speakers. 

One highly anticipated outcome of the meeting is the pesticide certification and CEU opportunities. The first day of the Short Course was dedicated to covering basic information to prepare attendees to take the state certification exam and more than 150 participants sat for testing. Based on content delivered on days 2 and 3 of the Short Course, 2,808 CEUs were submitted. 

Continuing education for turfgrass professionals grows the knowledge base of those working in the industry across the state, especially in our largest cities. This content helps to promote research based best management practices in efforts to reduce inputs and improve economic benefits for those managing turfgrass. The Short Course is always held within one county of Louisville because of the importance of reaching this large population with University of Kentucky extension efforts while remaining in driving distance from Lexington and other city centers. Attendees were from many landscape companies, parks and rec, metro, Churchill Downs, University of Louisville, Louisville City FC, Louisville Bats, Bellarmine, Louisville Zoo, Kentucky State Parks, University of Kentucky Athletics, and many more.