Inaugural Deep South Turf Expo set for October

The Deep South Turf Expo (DSTE) will make its debut Oct. 13-15 in Biloxi, Miss. The new turf conference and trade exhibition is a collaboration of the Alabama Turfgrass Association, Mississippi Turfgrass Association, Alabama Golf Course Superintendents Association, Gulf Coast Golf Course Superintendents Association and the Louisiana-Mississippi Golf Course Superintendents Association.

The organizations announced in a news release that the event’s ultimate focus is on providing service to their members.

“With a regional turf conference we can bring in the top educators to provide the highest quality educational program for all turf managers,” says Tricia Roberts, executive director of DSTE.” Additionally, the DSTE will offer networking opportunities that will span over a four-state region — not one state and/or organization. Members can reunite with college buddies, share success stories with peers outside their ‘competition zone’ and make new friends and business contacts.”

Stephen Miles, CGCS

The board of directors for DSTE were hand-picked by the founding organizations. Stephen Miles, CGCS, was elected the first president of DSTE, and he is a fitting choice as a superintendent of The Preserve Golf Course in Biloxi and former Presidents of both the Louisiana/Mississippi GCSA and the Mississippi Turfgrass Association.

The DSTE conference will be hosted at the Beau Rivage, and the tradeshow will be held at the Mississippi Coast Convention Center. Educational sessions and networking events for all segment of the industry will be held. The Preserve Golf Club in Vancleave, Miss., will host the event’s golf tournament on Oct. 13.

“This will be an excellent opportunity for education, socializing and networking, and I am honored to be working with so many influential industry leaders in our area,” Miles says.