Get to Know KYSFMA member: Andrew Berg - Lynn Family Stadium
How did you get into field maintenance?
I started out in sport management and during my internship with a baseball team I worked very closely with the grounds crew. I enjoyed learning about the field maintenance and quickly learned that I wanted to pursue a career in turf management.
What’s a typical day out here look like for you?
Each day looks different depending on weather and what needs to be done at each facility. In a normal week we are typically mowing and painting fields. Once again depending on weather we may be fertilizing, irrigating, aerifying, Top dressing, or resodding aeras of fields.
What part of the job do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy comradery with the crew and being around the teams.
What’s the toughest part about keeping this field in good shape?
Depending on how much the fields are used, managing the wear and tear of the fields can prove difficult. Also the weather can play a major roll in what we can accomplish week to week.
How do you decide what needs to get done on a busy day?
We get together as a group and decide what takes priority at the beginning of the week. After we make a list and we work as a group to accomplish the tasks at hand.
What kind of equipment do you use the most?
Mowers are the equipment we use the most at all facilities but aerifiers, top dressers, spreaders, and blowers are used as well.
Ever had any funny or unexpected things happen while working on the field?
We had many equipment failures throughout the year and 2 of our fields flooded this season.
How do you handle the field after bad weather?
We make sure that we don’t do anything that could have a negative impact on the field and communicate with the teams so that they do not cause unnecessary damage.
What’s something most people don’t realize goes into keeping a field looking good?
I feel most people think all we do is mow the fields but explaining to them all the other things we do to keep the fields looking good is what goes under the radar.
Which tasks take the longest or require the most patience?
Aerification and resodding spots of fields takes the longest. Resodding and maintain aeras until the sod is rooted and blends with the current area can be a difficult process.
How do you work around team practices or games?
We usually have to wait until practice is done to work on the fields so it takes communication and patience.
What’s one thing players or coaches do that makes your job easier? Harder?
Communicating with the teams on what field to use and what areas to stay out of if possible can make our jobs significantly easier. When teams use the same areas and wear out the field makes it more difficult for us to maintain.
Is there anything you wish people understood better about field maintenance?
How much work goes into maintaining fields is one thing I wish people understood more.
What’s your favorite season for field work? Least favorite?
Summer is definitely my favorite because after we transition grass types it seems easier to make a plan. My least favorite is spring due to fluctuating weather and inconsistent growth periods.
If you could upgrade anything about the field or equipment, what would it be?
I would definitely like to have more equipment available or at least have newer equipment for us to use. We currently have some outdated equipment that can cause us issued in our daily work which can lead to us not accomplishing all the tasks that we want to.
