The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) and FFA have agreed to provide a competitive event for high school agricultural education students emphasizing turfgrass science skills.
The 2025 National Turfgrass Science Invitational will be held February 3-5 at the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in San Diego.
The FFA sanctions the 2025 National Turfgrass Science Invitational and is open exclusively to FFA members. Registration is now open at gcsaaconference.com/gcsaa-turfgrass-science.
GCSAA members may be contacted by FFA students wanting to visit their courses to prepare for the invitational, and GCSAA encourages its members to welcome the students if possible.
In addition to the competition, participants can access professional development opportunities at the conference and trade show.
During the event, competitors will engage in individual and team activities on turfgrass identification, playing surface set-up, equipment operation, and best management practices.
They will also travel to a San Diego-area golf course for practicums, which test the competitors’ hands-on and observational skills.
The event will alternate between the GCSAA and Sports Field Management Association (SFMA) conferences as part of the agreement. GCSAA will next host it in 2027.