Get to Know KYSFMA Member: Travis Feltner - Quicksand LLC/Lawrence Co High School

• How did you get into field maintenance?
  During my college years I had a summer job at the local park for our little league system just cutting grass, lining fields, etc to get fields ready for daily use and I fell in love with taking care of the fields.  I just completed my 27th year as a high school baseball coach- anyone that is a coach knows one of your many hats to wear is also head grounds keeper.  Several years ago I formed a relationship with Dr David Ditsch who took care of all of our fertilization, weed control, overseeding, etc.  David developed a tremendous business in eastern Ky and of which I have had the opportunity to get involved with over the last few years.  We currently service around 50 fields all over our region.  It has been a tremendous opportunity for me post retirement.  
  

• What’s a typical day out here look like for you?
  It really just depends on the time of the year and what task I have slated for completion.   Fortunately I am no retired after 27 years in education, so my schedule has been much less hectic this past fall.  The first year I started my business I was assistant principal, athletic director, head baseball coach, assistant basketball coach and opening my business- so it was a challenge to manage my days and hours.  Moving forward getting daily tasks done on my own field hopefully will not be as difficult as the last few years.  Game day prep for our field would be prepping the skinned area- (nail drag, mat drag, irrigate, finish drag) prep mound and plate areas/ paint foul lines.  Typically I prefer to mow the day before a game if schedule allows.  
  

  What part of the job do you enjoy the most?
  I truly do love it all.  I love being outside.  One of the most satisfying things has to be after mowing the field just reflecting back on good clean healthy turf cut with professional equipment.  Also in my business when we have gotten a new field under contract that had been neglected and nursing it back to a healthy turf is pretty amazing.  
  

• What’s the toughest part about keeping this field in good shape?
  100% the weather in KY.  We truly get all 4 seasons and the weather can wreak havoc on a field, or your schedule/plans for projects.  We have a Bermuda field and I overseed with HGT bluegrass- so trying to manage both types of turf during the different seasons can certainly be a challenge.  
  

• How do you decide what needs to get done on a busy day?
  Just have to prioritize and certainly at the mercy of the weather.  During my season I will plan each week out well in advance based on the forecast- to know when I will be able to cut, when we might need to tarp, etc.  I also plan out my week with my other fields and the different maintenance task that are scheduled to be completed- early spring fertilization, pre emergent applications, etc.  So keeping a written calendar and staying on schedule is vital
  

• What kind of equipment do you use the most?
  At our baseball field hands down John Deere 3235C fairway mower as well as our John Deere 1200A for INF dragging.  I also put a lot of hours on my Kubota tractor and Agspray sprayer as well as fertilize spreader.   
  

• Ever had any funny or unexpected things happen while working on the field?
  
  This past summer I had back lapped the reels on my mower. The next day I go out to cut the field.  And I kept noticing the mowing pattern was way off.  Must have gotten down off the mower a dozen times trying to troubleshoot what was going on.  As soon as I finished cutting the entire field it hit me, I left the back set of reels in backlap mode so they were spinning backwards the entire time.  I wasn’t very happy with myself at the time but I can have a good laugh about it now. 
  

• How do you handle the field after bad weather?
  We are fortunate to have a field tarp so we can keep our field decently playable most weeks during the spring season.  Obviously after heavy rains there’s definitely going to be some work sponging water up in areas, raking/dragging applying drying agents, etc.  
  

• What’s something most people don’t realize goes into keeping a field looking good?
  Like many have stated already- the amount of time and work that must be done year around, most people do not realize what that takes.  I think people appreciate if you have a great field and something for the community to take pride in, but they don’t realize the time that it requires
  

• Which tasks take the longest or require the most patience?
  Keeping our skinned areas around the field edged during Bermuda growing season.  I have tried every method that is possible and there just is not a quick easy solution.  It takes time and some hard work and it’s important to stay on top of it- especially during the summer months
  

• How do you work around team practices or games?
  Since I am the coach as well- that is never been a problem.  With my fields in my business- I have a contact for each school/field, either and AD or a coach, and I always reach out at least a week in advance to build my schedule around their schedule.  
  

• What’s one thing players or coaches do that makes your job easier? Harder?
  Overseeded baseball fields- the warm up areas usually down the foul lines, a lot of teams stay in one area and wear it down, INF corners on the turf can be problematic as well as area in front of pitching mound.  Soccer fields- trying to keep healthy turf in front of goal boxes I have found if teams would utilize other areas of the field for practice helps a lot.  
  

• Is there anything you wish people understood better about field maintenance?
  Just that you never should stop learning.  I have learned so much through the years just by trial and error.  And having a work relationship with a guy like Dr Ditsch for me has been amazing in just the things I’ve learned through his experience and expertise.  
  

• What’s your favorite season for field work? Least favorite?
  Favorite season is for sure the spring when everything starts coming back to life after a hard cold winter.  Least favorite for sure winter months- getting field prepped for February baseball practice is not fun.  

• If you could upgrade anything about the field or equipment, what would it be?

             I am always looking for new equipment and better methods to complete task.  This upcoming year we plan to add synthetic turf maintenance into the services we offer, so I plan to invest in new equipment for that.  

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