College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Alumni & Friends

In March 1974, the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation, or MTF, made its first-ever gift to MSU, marking the start of a partnership that has grown for over 50 years. From 1974 to 2024, MTF has been a steadfast supporter of the MSU Turfgrass Management Program, expanding opportunities for students, faculty and staff.

A non-profit organization founded in 1957, MTF has a long history of supporting turfgrass research and education. MTF ’s membership represents a vast portion of the industry, including homeowners, golf courses, seed, sod and stolon growers, municipalities, parks and recreation, schools, landscape and lawn care contractors, athletics and cemeteries.

Housed within the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences (PSM) in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR), MSU’s Turfgrass Management Program is renowned worldwide for its excellence in teaching, research, extension and innovation. Leaders within CANR and PSM say support from MTF has been a key driver of the turfgrass program's success.

“The lasting partnership between MTF and the MSU turfgrass program is critical to our research, teaching and extension missions, helping our turf program become a global leader in turfgrass science and management,” said Wei Zhang, Ph.D., professor and interim chairperson, MSU Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences. “We value this fruitful collaboration, and it demonstrates the relevance and impact of our work to our stakeholders.”

“MTF’s unwavering support for turfgrass research through transformative gifts and annual contributions enables our faculty, staff and students to innovate at a faster pace,” said Brian Horgan, Ph.D., PSM professor and CANR associate dean for faculty affairs and development.

Advancing a shared vision

Support from MTF over the past 50 years has provided transformational opportunities for students, faculty and staff within MSU turfgrass program. Gifts have supported grad student and faculty research initiatives, as well as facility enhancements. MTF annually sponsors the Michigan Turfgrass Conference and supports the MSU Turfgrass Field Day at the Hancock Turfgrass Research Center.

In 2022, MTF made a $1 million gift commitment to launch a campaign at MSU to endow the Joe Vargas Chair in Turfgrass Pathology. Named in honor of Professor Joe Vargas, an internationally recognized researcher whose 56-year career advanced turfgrass quality across six continents, this commitment is strengthening MSU’s place in cutting-edge turfgrass technology and creating opportunities for students.

“Our collaboration with MSU thrives because of our shared vision for the future,” said MTF Executive Director Carey Mitchelson. “In addition to supporting the Vargas Chair and hosting MSU Turfgrass Field Day, the Foundation directly supports student scholarships, funding for MSU Turfgrass graduate students, providing equipment needs at the Hancock Turfgrass Research Facility and annual funding for high-impact faculty research.”

“We take pride in our 50 years of partnership with MSU and look forward to continuing our relationships,” said Mitchelson.

Empowering global impact

For over 70 years, the MSU Turfgrass Management Program has delivered groundbreaking research that benefits both professionals and homeowners, from residential lawns to prestigious golf courses. The research conducted within the Turfgrass Program not only benefits the state of Michigan but also has a global impact.

Because of the program’s reputation for excellence, MSU will play a major role in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In partnership with the University of Tennessee, the MSU Turfgrass Program received its second invitation from FIFA to provide playing surfaces for the 2026 tournament.

Led by Professor John “Trey” Rogers III, Ph.D., MSU’s partnership with FIFA will showcase the program’s prestige on the world stage. MSU’s role in such a major event is possible because the foundation of support stakeholders like MTF have provided the program throughout the years, elevating its reputation and impact.  

“For as long as I have been here at MSU, the support of the MTF has been the one constant in this dynamic world of research and academia,” said Rogers. “It is safe to say the partnership with MTF has long been envied by our peers at other institutions and has been the gold standard across the nation for many years now, one that other programs look to emulate.”

Support from MTF, as well as other stakeholders, has enhanced the work of all the faculty, staff and students in the program, creating opportunities that otherwise would not have been possible. The program’s network of support and widespread acclaim has led to an increase in student enrollment, with 50 students enrolled in the four-year undergraduate program, 40 students in the two-year certificate program and eight graduate students.

Kevin Frank, Ph.D., a professor and Extension turf specialist specializing in turfgrass nutrition programs, said that private support from MTF over the years has significantly benefited faculty members and enhanced the program's reputation. “Without the ongoing support from the MTF, our program would not be where it is today,” said Frank.

“The MTF has been unwavering in its support for the MSU turfgrass program. Annual research grants to faculty support graduate students and research assistants, providing leverage for securing additional research funding. The relationship we have with the MTF is critical to our success. There is not a week that goes by that I don’t communicate members of the MTF board about educational events, research needs or activities at the Hancock Turfgrass Research Center.”

To learn more about the MSU turfgrass management program, visit https://www.canr.msu.edu/turfgrass/