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Be in it to win it

March 7, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Olivia Dixon

Be in it to win it: Entries for the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards 2024, the industry’s most recognisable and longest standing awards for student greenkeepers, are now open. One of the key prizes awaiting the winner of the awards is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study at one of the world’s most innovative […]

50 years of excellence

March 7, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Fiona Sare

50 years of excellence: Irish Farm & Garden Machinery (IFGM) celebrates 50 years of business this year. The company, one of Europe’s leading independent distributors of outdoor power equipment, remains family owned and run, now managed by second generation Paul Butterly (Managing Director), and brother Kieran (Technical Director). Although retired, Mum (and co-founder) Eileen, continues […]

Be in it to win it

March 7, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Olivia Dixon

50 years of excellence

March 7, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Fiona Sare

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Be in it to win it

March 7, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Olivia Dixon

Be in it to win it: Entries for the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards 2024, the industry’s most recognisable and longest standing awards for student greenkeepers, are now open.

One of the key prizes awaiting the winner of the awards is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study at one of the world’s most innovative universities.

Be in it to win it

There are extraordinary benefits to attending the online course at The University of Massachusetts Winter School for Turf Managers, says Toro and Reesink Turfcare who between them cover the costs of all the prizes.

“We always knew the prizes for this award needed to carry weight and this one has a century-long legacy behind it,” explains Alastair Rowell, managing director, Reesink Turfcare. “By sending the winner on this course we are investing in the promise they demonstrated in the awards process.

“The nine-week course brings significant benefit to the winner and the club they work at. They will learn to convey concepts that are essential to producing and maintaining high performance turf, with an emphasis on enivironmetal stewardship, input reduction, efficiency and fiscal responsibility.”

It’s easy to see how this is one of the biggest prizes available in the industry: the course fees alone amount to almost $3000 including tuition and all course materials; an all-exenses paid trip to America to visit the Toro headquarters, research and development facilities and manufacturing plant, plus a one-week work placement at a golf club at home or abroad.

James Gaskell, winner of the 2022 award who has recently completed the course, says: “It is a great learning tool to advance your knowledge and it always stands out on a CV. It has been the most insightful and enjoyable learning experience.”

If that wasn’t enough to convince student greenkeepers to enter the awards, there are plenty more! The awards provide the opportunity to meet and compete with the best student greenkeepers in the country and network with influential industry leaders. Participants can increase skills and knowledge to enhance professional development and build lasting relationships in the greenkeeping community, too.

As Alastair concludes: “That’s just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the investment we make in these student greenkeepers. There are also international trips for the young award winner too, plus prizes for the runners up and those who endorse the winners’ applications. It’s an investment worth making in the futures and potential these young people demonstrate.”

The finals for the 2024 event will be held at Oulton Hall in Leeds. Apply online at bigga.org.uk/education. All appplications need to be endorsed by your college tutor/assessor or employer. Closing date for entries is Friday 12 April 2024.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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50 years of excellence

March 7, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Fiona Sare

50 years of excellence: Irish Farm & Garden Machinery (IFGM) celebrates 50 years of business this year. The company, one of Europe’s leading independent distributors of outdoor power equipment, remains family owned and run, now managed by second generation Paul Butterly (Managing Director), and brother Kieran (Technical Director). Although retired, Mum (and co-founder) Eileen, continues to pop into the Dublin office around three days a week – just to ensure that the business continues to operate smoothly.

“We’re thrilled to have reached this milestone” says Paul. “This is a tough industry and the fact that we’re here in 2024, bigger and stronger than ever, is simply amazing”.

50 years of excellence

Asked how IFGM has successfully navigated multiple recessions, turbulent trading conditions and technologically driven changes in consumer demand over the past 50 years, Paul says: “We’ve always focused on keeping the company very nimble and this gives us a lot of flexibility to adapt to changing market conditions. We’ve been careful in the rate of our expansion, gradually building the business over time, only working with the very best brands in the industry. No matter what is happening in the economy, people will always buy quality product that offers the best value-for-money.”

In 2006, the business purchased U.K distributor Claymore Grass Machinery, now known as FGM Claymore, an acquisition that greatly extended the reach of the company. In 2022, the business was awarded U.K distribution rights for ECHO which, following the appointment in Ireland a few years earlier, made IFGM the third largest ECHO distributor in Europe.

The team at IFGM celebrated the anniversary during a special event held on the 28 February in Athlone. Dealers from all over the country, alongside special guests from Briggs & Stratton and Yamabiko, joined the Butterly family to celebrate this important anniversary.

Paul gave a special presentation that covered the history of the company, sharing anecdotes alongside the major milestones that made up the IFGM story. There were congratulatory video messages from garden machinery suppliers in New Zealand, Japan, and Italy, alongside special in-person presentations from Briggs & Stratton and Yamabiko.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Be in it to win it

50 years of excellence

Be in it to win it

50 years of excellence

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Be in it to win it

Be in it to win it: Entries for the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards 2024, the industry’s most recognisable and longest standing awards for student greenkeepers, are now open.

50 years of excellence

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