Kevin Hansen, a senior at Iowa State University studying horticulture, was selected for the 2013 Toro Super Bowl SportsTurfTraining Program in New Orleans. Over the course of a week, he helped prepare and maintain the practice fields and game field for Super Bowl XLVII, learning valuable skills from experienced turf managers. Highlights included conducting media interviews to promote the program, painting logos by hand, meeting legendary turf manager George Toma, and watching the big game from the sidelines after completing the perfect field. Hansen concluded the experience reinforced that one makes their own opportunities through goal-setting and applying for valuable programs like this one.

1. By: Kevin Hansen
Iowa State University
Department of Horticulture, Senior
February, 2013

2.  Toro 2013 Super Bowl SportsTurfTraining Program
 Application form fromToro
 Resume
 500 word essay
 Reference letter

3.  Amazed by the amount of press interest
 4T.V. station interviews
 6 newspaper interviews
 Developed great interview skills

4.  Held in New Orleans, Louisiana
 7 days in New Orleans
 All expenses were covered by theToro
Company
 The crew consisted of 25 people

5. DailyTasks
• Dragging was an
everyday task
• We had a bristle drag
and a metal drag
• One day we dragged
the entire field by
hand 3 times

6. DailyTasks
• Many tasks were not
turf related
• Must be flexible in
this industry
• We did a lot of stage
moving and press
day set up

7. DailyTasks
• Many of my tasks
were helping out
more experienced
workers
• Here I am keeping
the paint hose out of
the fresh paint
• Sometimes you don’t
always get the most
glamorous job

8. DailyTasks
• This was my favorite
part of the
experience
• We spent a whole
day repainting all the
logos
• Each logo was
painted by using
boarders so paint
didn’t drift
• Boarders also help to
keep straight edges

12. Practice Fields
• There were two practice
fields we had to
maintain
• One at a local college ,
Tulane University, and
the other at the Saints
practice facility
• A lot of our time was
spent preparing these
fields for practice
• This picture is atTulane
University’s synthetic
baseball field where we
put a football field in
the out field

13. Game Day
• It was overwhelming
with amount of
activity going on
leading up to game
day and on game day
• We were on the
sideline and got to
watch up close and
personal
• It was an amazing
feeling seeing so
many people enjoy
what we worked so
hard to be perfect for
game day

14. Working with legends
• I got to spend a lot of
time with George
Toma
• He has worked every
Super Bowl
• He is one of the
Founders of STMA
• Truly amazing
getting to meet
someone with his
background; known
to be the Father of
the Super Bowl

15. The Crew
• I had the opportunity
to work with turf
managers from all
over the world, as well
as all of the other
professionals that
work with the Super
Bowl to bring the
game to millions of
football fans across
the country
• All sorts of MLB and
NFL superintendents
• It was one of the best
networking
opportunities ever

19. Conclusion
• You make your own
future
• I never thought I
would be chosen for
this opportunity, but
I’m glad I applied
• Networking is key in
this field
• Set goals and strive
to achieve them