Operations update:
The start of exciting projects on the Wooster campus and the retirement of one of Operations' longest-standing employees mark just a few of the many things happening with the Operations team lately.
Turfgrass project begins
In late April, we will break ground and begin earth movement on the first phase of the turf grass project to add an athletic field and research plots.
Once completed there will be a new 2-acre athletic pitch on the east side of Gossard Drive; plots north of Williams Road for putting green research, fairway research, and turf plots (Phase 1); and a three-hole golf course that will cover 21 acres on the campus (Phase 2) north of the existing turkey buildings. This new project will be an opportunity to consolidate the turf program, and enable students to work, learn, and conduct research in close proximity. It will also be a space to promote physical health for the campus community.
These new amenities were part of the 2021 CFAES Facilities Master Plan. Phase 1 is funded from previous property sales and we are working on securing funding for Phase 2.
Congrats Roger Hamilton on his retirement!
At the end of April, Roger Hamilton – CFAES Wooster Grounds Manager – will retire from Ohio State with 41 years of dedicated service, totaling nearly five million minutes of work with the grounds department. Roger started working with that group during his summers in high school before becoming a full-time employee.
He reflects on his time with CFAES Wooster below.
“I know there’s a popular song from the Broadway musical, Rent, which asks the question of how best to quantify the number of minutes in a year. So, how does one quantify the number of minutes in a moderately long career? Obviously, one cannot spend that quantity of time doing something they don’t enjoy, and this was certainly true in my case. Whether it was climbing an 80-foot pine tree to carefully remove it piece by piece or shoveling through a snow drift to open a campus sidewalk, I’ve honestly enjoyed it all. Feeling the warmth of the first rays of sun as it rose over arboretum trees on a cool spring day more than offset the chill of removing snow from a closed campus. All things considered; it has been a rewarding journey that doesn’t feel like it’s lasted a second longer than 4.5 million minutes…” Congrats, Roger! Thank you for all your work over the last four decades!