Field Day is Sold Out!

Wednesday, August 6, 2025
8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Ohio Turfgrass Research & Education Center
2551 Carmack Road, Columbus, OH 43210

Join us for the 2025 OLCA Field Day! This revitalized event is packed with hands-on learning for lawn care professionals across Ohio, ensuring that everyone comes away with new knowledge and experience.

OLCA MEMBERS: 
•$65 for the first registrant
•$55 for each additional registrant from the same company
•$75 per OLCA member for ON-SITE  

Group Discount
Group of 5 or more receive one free registration - use promocode FieldDay5 at checkout
Group of 8 or more receive two free registrations - use promocode FieldDay8 at checkout

NON-MEMBERS: 
•$100 per person
•$110 per person ON-SITE

Supplier and Equipment Showcase
$250 per 20'x20' area
Set-up is 8:00 am; tear down after 2:00 pm                          

Session Information

Simple Techniques to Calibrate Electric Backpack Sprayers for Spot- and Broadcast Treatments Zane Raudenbush, Ph.D., Davey This hands-on presentation will demonstrate how application volume (gallons/1000 sq ft) affects spray coverage, mix rates and product efficacy. Attendees will collaborate in small groups to calibrate an electric backpack sprayer for broadcast treatments using the 1/128th.

Ready, Set, Secure: Safety & Lawn Care in Motion!
Devon Stanley, Benchmark Landscape Construction
This hands-on session will cover essential strategies for keeping you safe throughout the day by demonstrating thorough pre-trip vehicle inspections, techniques for properly securing ride-on equipment and inspection strategies for trailers and equipment. 

Application of Granular Materials – Efficacy, Equipment and Product Matters Ed Nangle, Ph.D., The Ohio State University CFAES Wooster and Tyler VanLandingham, The Ohio State University Application of fertilizers and pesticides is carried out with dry formulations for a majority of lawncare operators. This hands-on discussion focuses on the impact of size guide number, equipment application type and how operator variations lead to different responses. Attendees will apply materials and work with catch pans and distribution equipment along with testing different products. This hands-on experience of these variations will enhance attendees understanding of potential variations in the field.

Soap Wash and Pest ID-ing Shaohui Wu, Ph.D., The Ohio State University Turfgrass health is affected by various biotic factors including arthropod pests. This training video describes the seasonal occurrences of major turfgrass pests, including crane flies, billbugs, hairy chinch bugs, white grubs and various caterpillars (armyworms, cutworms, sod webworms). Identification keys, scouting methods and management strategies are discussed.

Lawn Boo-Boos Tyler Carr, Ph.D., The Ohio State University and Brandon Stith, The Ohio State University Achieve a healthier lawn by avoiding common treatment mistakes. This station will help you identify turf damage caused by improper fertilizer and pesticide application and other potential biotic causes. We will demonstrate frequent errors, explain why they harm your grass and show you the proper techniques to get the best results from your lawn care products.

Grassy Weed Identification and Control Dave Gardner, Ph.D., The Ohio State University Accurate identification of grassy weeds is important to ensure that the right herbicide is being used for control at the right time of year. This session will discuss identification and control options for grassy weeds common to Ohio.

Using a Soil Probe to Sample, Diagnose a Sample, & Save a Customer Pam Sherratt, The Ohio State University Proper handling of soil samples and understanding the sampling process is critical to making successful fertility recommendations going forward and keeping clients happy. How to properly collect a soil sample is critical to the success of soil analysis. This talk discusses the process of soil sampling as well as issues that you can immediately look out for within the soil sample prior to sending it off for chemical analysis.

Managing Mosquitoes in Residential Landscapes Megan Meuti, Ph.D., The Ohio State University This presentation will equip lawn care professionals with science-based strategies to effectively manage mosquito populations in residential settings. As homeowners increasingly expect comprehensive outdoor living solutions, understanding mosquito biology and implementing integrated control methods becomes essential for maintaining client satisfaction and expanding service offerings.

We have applied for 4.5 hours of ODA credit.

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with peers, hear from experts, and gain insights to support your business.

If you are not currently a member and are interested in joining OLCA, Join or Renew to get started.

Directions: Ohio Turfgrass Foundation Research & Education Facility, 2551 Carmack Road, Columbus, OH  43210

From the North, take the Ackerman Rd. exit off SR 315. Go west (right) on Ackerman Rd., turn south (left) onto Kenny Rd., watch for signs on your right, across from University Services entrance.

From the South, take the Lane Avenue exit off SR 315 and turn west (left). Turn north (right) on Kenny Rd., watch for signs on your left, across from University Services entrance.