From the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation:

Don Sutton was awarded the Environmental Stewardship Award by the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation (OTF) at its annual Conference and Show in Columbus on December 8th.

 

Every year, OTF awards a person from the turfgrass industry for promoting best management practices, researching new methods for sustainable turfgrass management, or promoting the industry as a leader in environmental stewardship. 

With over 25 years of service to OPARR, and now Ohio PLANT, Don has worked tirelessly with lobbyists, legislators, regulatory bodies, and turfgrass managers throughout the state to promote responsible regulation of those who manage turfgrass correctly. In addition to his many years of board service, Don has been a practitioner at the highest levels of the turfgrass management industry for nearly half of his career. 

His most recent contribution to environmental stewardship in Ohio was reviving Ohio PLANT into a coalition of allied industry partners involved in the safe and responsible use of pesticides in the state. Not only was he able to reinvigorate the organization, but he doubled down by leading efforts to enact a new pesticide pre-emption law in the Ohio Revised Code which was signed by Governor Mike DeWine in late 2022.  

As a turfgrass manager and a true leader of people, Don has inspired us to carry on through adversity and continue the fight for the good men and women whose livelihoods depend on the safe use of pesticides in Ohio.