If It’s Growin’, They Are Mowin’ at Zion ... - PC\|MAC



If It’s Growin’, They Are Mowin’ at Zion Chapel High School | |

|[pic]The highest level of responsibility each Turf Crew member works toward is the privilege of operating the reel mower. Mike |

|Johnson mows immediately after a Friday night football game to “heal” the turf. |

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|by Kennedy Sanders |

|In the winter of 2010, Zion Chapel High School introduced a whole new meaning to school pride. They established the Zion Chapel "Turf|

|Crew." The Turf Crew is a group of students who are responsible for turf and landscape management, as well as overall appearance of |

|the school campus. The crew’s motto is, "If it’s growin’, we’re mowin’." |

|The program was developed through the Agri Science Program and the Zion Chapel FFA chapter. It has been a win-win situation for the |

|students and school as a whole. The Turf Crew has attracted a wide variety of students from grades 9-12. It has also greatly enhanced|

|the appearance of the campus as well as the seven athletic fields. By installing the program, it reduces the school’s expenses due to|

|the hard work of the crew members. |

|"The Turf Crew has been an excellent addition to our campus and is a dedicated and committed crew who works during their own time |

|after ball games to make sure everything is like it should be. I wish we could have had this program ten years ago because everyone |

|notices their hard work," Zion Principal Bob Hartwell said. |

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|[pic]Members of the Zion Chapel turf crew observe as fertilizer is being spread on the athletic fields by Pike Farmers Co-op. |

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|According to Scott Hendricks, Agri Science teacher, "There have been many positives to come out of this program. First and foremost, |

|it has involved students in our school who are not a part of the athletic program, band, etc. It gives them a sense of belonging and |

|pride in their school. Secondly, the skills they are learning are preparing them for the work force. It takes a lot to run this |

|program, and we are blessed to have the support of our school, local farmers and local businesses." |

|The school purchased a ten-foot reel mower to properly cut the athletic fields, local businesses have donated sand and a top dresser |

|for "sanding" the fields, and local farmers have donated an aerator and tractors when needed. They rely heavily on Pike Farmers Co-op|

|for not only the seed, fertilizer and herbicides we need, but their advice as well. |

|Recently, the Turf Crew was recognized at half-time during a home football game for their services and was later published in local |

|newspapers. As a reward for the members’ dedication and hard work, all members receive an identification card giving them free access|

|to games and a free meal from the concession stand. It also allowed coaches to be able to focus on practice and games rather than |

|field preparation. |

|"The Turf Crew has taken a lot of pressure off of all the coaches at our school. In the past, we had to keep the grass cut, |

|constantly adjust the irrigation system, etc. Now we can focus on practice and play on a beautiful field! This crew is definitely an |

|asset to our school," Mike Waters, head football coach at Zion Chapel, said. |

|[pic]All Turf Crew members start off with a five-gallon bucket and work up to higher levels of responsibility. Senior Courtney Napper|

|is all smiles as she works with a positive attitude. |

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|Zion Chapel is most proud of its new program because it prepares students by teaching skills and traits that will help lead to |

|success. These skills include responsibility, accountability, attention to detail, problem-solving, leadership, ability to promote |

|themselves and dependability — all of which build character. |

|The Turf Crew is managed by the "Teamwork" concept. Each Turf Crew member starts by picking up trash in a five-gallon bucket. As they|

|demonstrate the listed character traits, they are promoted to leaf blowers, then a push mower, string trimmer, zero turn mower and, |

|ultimately, the reel mower. Members must demonstrate a positive attitude, willingness to work and a desire to learn the safe |

|operation of the tool at the next level. During this process, students are also learning irrigation, soil nutrition, soil aeration, |

|winter overseeding and top dressing. |

|While students are diligently working toward higher goals, they are learning the proper use of outdoor power equipment and how to |

|maintain it. In addition, they learn the good habits of recordkeeping like oil changing dates and amounts of herbicides and |

|fertilizers applied to the fields. |

|On Friday nights at the home football games, the crew divides into a home and visitor team with new captains (leadership skills) each|

|week. They completely clean and dispose of all garbage within 30 minutes…what normally took band parents a few hours. In addition, |

|one member cuts the field with the reel mower as soon as the football teams clear the field to "heal" the divots caused from players’|

|cleats. |

|Zion Chapel is very proud of its new-found program and its manicured campus. The crew has received many praises, but Dr. McPherson’s |

|(superintendent of Coffee County Schools) words say it all. "I think the Turf Crew is an outstanding program; congratulations to the |

|students who have decided to be a part of this exciting program. The Turf Crew is a wonderful example of student involvement, both at|

|the school level and to the community. It helps instill a sense of school pride in the students." |

|If you would like more information on how to start a Turf Crew at your school, contact Scott Hendricks at hendrickss@ |

|coffeecounty.k12.al.us. |

|Kennedy Sanders is Zion Chapel FFA Reporter. |

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