Turf Talk Ep. 5 | Full Throttle with SCAG Mowers: transcript
This automated transcript accompanies the original Turf Talk recording. Names, figures, and speaker identification may contain errors; check important details against the audio. Timestamps refer to the episode, not advertisements.
0:00Speaker A From the fields that feed America to the landscapes that keep it all growing, welcome to Turf Talk.
0:05Speaker B I'm Jennifer the turfette Jones.
0:06Speaker A And I'm Eric, the turf teacher Jones.
0:08Speaker B Together we are the Green Industry Couple. Bringing you real conversations, practical education and first-hand experience.
0:16Speaker A And from the farm and the job site to the classroom and the biggest trade shows in the country.
0:20Speaker B So settle in
0:22Speaker B let's talk turf.
0:23Speaker A Welcome to Turf Talk. Let's get today's conversation. Let's get started. Hey everybody, this is Eric Jones, the Turf Teacher coming to you live here from the Turf Teacher University studios. I'm here with the lovely Turfette, my bride, Jennifer Jones. What's going on, hotshot?
0:39Speaker B Everything under the sun is going on.
0:42Speaker A Well, that's right. It's that time of year, busy, busy, busy,
0:45Speaker B If the world's turning, we're moving.
0:48Speaker A or we're burning. We're
0:50Speaker A ends of the candle. I've never understood that because is there a wick on both ends? I guess it does go all the way through.
0:57Speaker B Well, yeah, if you're burning both ends, it has
1:00Speaker A has to have a wick on each side.
1:01Speaker B Or somebody's holding a fire to your end.
1:03Speaker A Well, that's true. That's true. So anyway, guys, it is fall services time this year. We talked about that last week, and we talked about going to the Skag event at the NHRA Drag Race in Rockingham, North Carolina. And I don't know about you, Jennifer, but I had the. time of my life.
1:24Speaker B There are honestly not enough. adjectives that I could use to describe what I personally felt Saturday at the drag race I have never been to anything like that so I've either lived a very boring life where I've been under a rock which is probably both
1:43Speaker A it was called The Rock, The Rock
1:46Speaker B was under the rock but not the one in Rockingham um yeah
1:49Speaker A We were beside it.
1:50Speaker B we were that was the coolest experience I have ever done. And that's saying a lot because I've done some pretty cool things in my life. And no, I haven't always lived under a rock. I have been able to do some pretty cool things. I have flown in a helicopter over Hawaii, several places in Hawaii.
2:07Speaker A Have you jumped out of a helicopter?
2:08Speaker B No, that is something I have not done. I guess you've done it. You've parachuted out of airplanes. I have not done that. And I'm sure if I were to do that, that may become a new hobby.
2:20Speaker A Well, jumping out of an airplane is probably the closest thing that I could even relate to standing beside those funny cars and those top fuel cars and feeling the vibration as they take off. Like it was.
2:37Speaker B The horsepower that comes from those cars is. remarkable i
2:43Speaker B i there's no i can't just it's like taking a picture it's like going to grand canyon and
2:50Speaker B taking a picture and bringing it home and showing your friends and family this is where i went
2:54Speaker A Yeah, the picture just does not describe the experience of standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon.
3:01Speaker A It just doesn't.
3:01Speaker B it doesn't.
3:02Speaker A You have to be there to see it, to experience it, to feel it, to smell it. Just it's an experience that a picture or no words can describe.
3:12Speaker A You literally have to take your body and stand on the rim of the Grand Canyon to fully get the grasp of what that is.
3:19Speaker B Just like you were saying.
3:20Speaker C You were standing beside the rock at the Rocket Ham
3:22Speaker A yes, there's no video. I mean, I took plenty of video and the video just does not
3:29Speaker A it justice.
3:31Speaker C can't feel it.
3:32Speaker C You can hear
3:33Speaker C it and you can see it on the video, but you did not feel that horsepower. And the funny thing is. We only felt it for a second because those cars
3:42Speaker C were at the end of the quarter mile track in 3.9 seconds.
3:46Speaker A That's the amazing part of this is literally we one second of that power went through our body as it's taking off there and we're at there at the start line and you literally it vibrates clear through your body. It's like, man, if somebody has heart problems, really don't. don't need
4:06Speaker A to be standing
4:07Speaker C don't there need to be
4:07Speaker A and I was I was just amazed at the race teams that stood behind those cars without headphones on they might have had plugs They in
4:20Speaker C had some foam in their ears.
4:21Speaker A they had plugs in their ears but they
4:24Speaker C We had plugs and headsets over our
4:27Speaker C ears and it I was steel.
4:28Speaker A I have hearing loss and I still needed The headphones.
4:33Speaker A I mean, I held on to my headphones like I
4:36Speaker A was for life.
4:36Speaker C We'll get this, guys. You could see the turfette on TV. We got home and it was being replayed on Fox Sports Network, FSN1. And I was like, look, let's see if we can see the turfette. And yes, you could see her pink T-shirt shining there right beside the rock at Rockingham. But anyway, the cars were great. Skag was unbelievable. The hospitality tent. tent that they had and the food that they served and just the kindness from their top people with the company i mean we met randy we met maria we were there with james you know that's now with skag was with riddle farm riddle tractor and farm equipment just the hospitality was so tremendous and the drivers were just absolutely down to earth so welcoming
5:24Speaker C and so appreciative of us being Skag customers and users you know we were the purchasers of the equipment and so we were there with dealers distributors and other end users but they treated us like queens and kings did they not by
5:37Speaker A Yes, I was impressed again by
5:44Speaker C another manufacturer
5:45Speaker A another equipment maker. And the common denominator, what I want to bring up is Skag and Walker, who we both have had their equipment and have
5:58Speaker A their equipment.
5:59Speaker A I was impressed by the faith base that these companies operate on. And that was impressive for
6:08Speaker A I appreciate that. I find that impressive. I don't know how many times I need to say impressive, but I don't It think
6:13Speaker B was impressive.
6:13Speaker A it was. I'm
6:14Speaker C It was impressive.
6:15Speaker A putting exclamation points behind that and emphasizing that that to me and you that's important to us. It's an aspect of business that's very important to us. The foundation that comes from a Christian based company is unlike any other.
6:32Speaker A And these people were very hospitable to us. humble, grateful, just all of the things that you experience from a true Christian, which is the fruits of the spirit. We felt every bit of that Saturday. And I want to say this too. We were there as end users, yes, but we were invited to come and be a part of the Skag family.
7:02Speaker A we were not ticket goers that sat in the stands. We were invited to become part of the Skag family behind the scenes and be a part of them
7:11Speaker A as if, you know, one of us worked for them.
7:14Speaker A And it was so cool of an experience. And I cannot begin to tell you just how much I appreciated Randy, who is the president and CEO of Skag. But Randy Goad is an amazing man. And.
7:33Speaker A He probably would probably cringe if he heard me say, oh, he's an amazing man because he's such a humble man.
7:39Speaker F And, you know, I did not expect that, you know, got to see him a time or two at Equip Expo, but we really got in depth. And do you remember we were talking to him, he teared up. Him and I were talking about losing our fathers both three years ago, and he just praised his father on how he was raised and just the humbleness and to see him, see a man of that. Um, Caliber.
8:04Speaker F Yeah. And, and to
8:06Speaker A get emotional.
8:07Speaker F get emotional, I mean, he is a CEO of a top notch, uh, equipment manufacturing company and he humbled himself and he was walking around cleaning the tables while we were there eating. Did you see that?
8:18Speaker A Yes, he had a servant's heart. And let me tell you. As a business leader, okay, it's not your job just to be the business owner.
8:31Speaker A If you want people to follow you, you've got to get in the foxhole with them.
8:36Speaker A And you have to be the example of what you want your people to be.
8:42Speaker A You can't tell them. You know, it's. the old cliche that I heard a lot growing up as a kid don't do as I do it's don't do as I say do as I do
8:50Speaker A you know because people are not going to do with what you say they're going to do
8:55Speaker A example is what they're learning and
8:58Speaker A Randy has he don't only tells what the example should be he lives it and he proves it every day and watching him at the race Saturday was such a servant's heart, and that's huge for a business leader and a business owner. That's huge. I also saw him encouraging his fellow co-workers, his people, not just his peers, but the people that worked for him and under him, the encouragement that I saw him and how he was constantly giving positive affirmations to every person he talked to. that
9:35Speaker A that that's a big deal it really tells you the character of the man that's standing there and I had the privilege of getting to talk to him as well as you did and he has offered to do an interview with us for our Turf Title podcast and The coolest part is he gave me his personal cell phone number
9:56Speaker A that I can call anytime.
9:57Speaker A I am not going to take advantage of that. I will call him sometime this week and get something set up. But I think it's just amazing that he,
10:05Speaker D He was willing
10:06Speaker D to do that.
10:07Speaker A he is on purpose being approachable by everyone who is willing to approach him.
10:13Speaker D Yes. And, you know, we were talking there and we walked. After we were talking to him in the hospitality tent and we were mentioning faith-based businesses, and he said, come here, I want to show you something. And we walked around Justin Ashley's car and Top Fuel and we walked to the back and on the fan, I call him a fan, I'm not sure what the technical term is, but they had scripture. you know on on the back of the car do you remember what scripture it was offhand
10:41Speaker A It was Acts.
10:42Speaker D it was and it was uh i mean just amazing to see that i think you did take a picture of that and But also, that's when we started talking about, you know, him and myself losing our father three years ago and his was back in July and mine was actually the day after this podcast is released, September 30th, his dad's three year anniversary who dad was a big fan of Skag, multiple turf tigers, V-Rods, Walt Rehans that we purchased in the business Elite Landscape Contract. contractors and as well as the walker moors and we were jennifer we were so lucky to spend time with skag this past weekend and the weekend before with the walker family so
11:25Speaker D it is just amazing that we are getting to see these manufacturing plants and getting to know the owners on that personal level but like you said randy gave us his personal self
11:39Speaker A phone number Maria did as
11:40Speaker A well and that that says a lot I have Bob Walker's number in my cell phone programmed in and so these guys They humbled themselves to do that, but they really care about their customers and their employees.
11:57Speaker C Well, I think there's principles that every business owner needs to set if they haven't already set it. There's principles that guide you in life and guide you in business. And a lot of times that can be synonymous because if you're guiding yourself that way in your business,
12:16Speaker @ you're going to be able to do it.
12:16Speaker C way in your business you obviously should be guiding yourself that way in your personal life
12:20Speaker C Randy set a precedent for this company that he stood there and told you and I both that he wanted to be extraordinary and he wanted to go above and beyond what was expected he's told his teams that if I'm going to do this task I'm not only going to meet this task I'm going to go above and do more beyond
12:42Speaker C what's expected of that task.
12:44Speaker C And that is what he has set as an example for his employees to go above and beyond.
12:51Speaker C And so on the back of the car, which I love the fact it's on Justin Ashley's car,
12:56Speaker C but on the back of the car is AX2035 and he's, you know, he's written it out small enough where people could read it, but it's more blessed to give than to receive. And Randy's all about giving, and I saw that firsthand being a part of Skag. The fact that Randy didn't know me or you until Saturday.
13:17Speaker C He never laid eyes on us. He didn't know our names. He knew nothing about us.
13:21Speaker D Well, we saw him at Quibix, but
13:23Speaker D we just didn't really get
13:26Speaker D conversation.
13:26Speaker C Randy don't know who I am. He did not know who I was until Saturday.
13:31Speaker C And. Another thing that I love about Randy, which I know there are many people out there that work on this principle. it's how he makes people feel is
13:42Speaker C how they remember somebody like Randy. I remember him because he made me feel a certain
13:50Speaker D part of welcome it.
13:50Speaker C and important and, you know, it's almost like you and I felt like we were on the red carpet with him and that, that. goes beyond anything and everything most people expect you just can't you don't we don't make those kind of people anymore
14:09Speaker D No, we don't.
14:10Speaker C people are raised and going back to his dad his dad served in Vietnam I
14:16Speaker D Or was it to Korea?
14:18Speaker C think it was Korea I knew it was one of those Anyway, we're going to have him on and interview him. He'll tell the whole story. But his dad was some of the older generation that doesn't exist anymore.
14:30Speaker D Yeah. Yeah.
14:32Speaker C That breed.
14:34Speaker B that those warriors like i said don't exist in today's military they
14:38Speaker A Maria's dad was the same way her dad was former military so there's a lot we want to talk about with Skag and having the interviews and those are going to be coming up soon but it I was I was impressed to say the least just to say the least yes
14:54Speaker B and big shout out to james bottoms who who got us the tickets there and got us introduced to Randy. So thanks, James. James is a real dear good friend of ours, you know, love him to death and looking forward to having dinner with him and his wife. And his wife was an absolute trip, was she not?
15:11Speaker A Yeah, she was great. I enjoyed. Oh, and that's another cool part of the story. I met someone who is good close friends with James and his wife that ended up being my
15:24Speaker B Your therapist.
15:24Speaker A third cousin. as
15:25Speaker A in which was so crazy that
15:28Speaker A here I am I'm two hours away from home I'm at an NHRA drag race and the lady sitting across from me is actually my third cousin because she was like is your last name Bodford and she's like your last name is Bodford too and I was like why is yours she's like yes and I'm like okay where did you grow up and literally she grew up in Clemens I grew up in Maxwell but my dad grew up in Winston Winston, which is Forsyth County. So Clemens and Winston are all part of Forsyth County and she knows a lot of people in my dad's
16:00Speaker A So pretty dang
16:04Speaker A at a table two hours away from home at the largest drag race company that there is ends up being my third cousin yeah
16:12Speaker B And that's the first time you met her and
16:14Speaker A was the first
16:15Speaker B and she was your third cousin.
16:15Speaker A yeah first time we'd ever met yeah and then the couple that was sitting next to them go
16:20Speaker B Go to church,
16:22Speaker A brother and my mom and dad's church so it was just really cool to make those connections
16:27Speaker A um at Skag um I I could go on and on and we could you
16:32Speaker B And you know what the coolest thing else I I heard not one cuss word was
16:36Speaker A know I didn't either and I didn't see any alcohol yeah
16:39Speaker B that not amazing?
16:40Speaker A it was it was because my dad was telling me when he was growing up they used to go to the drag races there in Farmington all the time and he said he had to quit going because there was so much alcohol around him with the people that he'd go and see it with and he's like it's like I couldn't
16:55Speaker B Just can't do it.
16:56Speaker A subject myself to that and I told my dad I said well you know what explains the fact that you and I weren't around it is because we were with Skag which is a Christian company and Christian people and they just it
17:06Speaker B You weren't going to do
17:07Speaker A yeah it wasn't promoted um
17:09Speaker A it was not not there at the hospitality booth I didn't see anybody partake of it in front of us if they did it was behind the scenes but it was definitely not
17:17Speaker B No, you didn't see it and didn't smell it. so it
17:19Speaker B wasn't there it
17:20Speaker B wasn't there
17:21Speaker A you can't be drinking anyway if you're racing. I
17:24Speaker A mean, you cannot.
17:24Speaker B no the drivers definitely couldn't
17:26Speaker B but I'm sure there were some some crazy
17:28Speaker A The guy's up in the stands that
17:29Speaker A might have
17:29Speaker A been doing it,
17:30Speaker A but nothing
17:31Speaker A around Skag.
17:32Speaker B And, you know...
17:34Speaker C The alcohol part of this conversation, I leave that to every person. That's a personal decision.
17:40Speaker A It is a hundred percent.
17:42Speaker C Not everybody falls prey to that. Not everybody ends up developing a problem with alcohol. But the Bible does talk about that, you know, if it's a problem to you and you can become a falling stone of, what's the word I'm trying to say? Um, you become a stumbling block for your brother, then it's probably best for you to stay away from it.
18:06Speaker A touch it. I don't want to.
18:07Speaker C it's not, it's not, not everybody can handle it and not everybody wants to be around it either. So it's just, I think it's personal.
18:16Speaker A It is a personal choice and I personally choose not to do it since I've been saved and in church. And you made a point to me one day that That you don't want to disappoint your brothers at church and that that that that said it all. I don't want people like Mario or anybody like that seeing me have have a glass of wine or even a beer. I don't want to do it. So I am.
18:42Speaker C What I typically tell people, if you have an opinion and you voice it, then you need to back it up.
18:51Speaker C Don't have an opinion if you're not going to live it.
18:53Speaker A That's true.
18:54Speaker A That's true.
18:55Speaker C not everything is biblical. There's biblical truths and then there's personal opinions.
19:00Speaker C And a lot of times people, they blur the line between what's biblical and what's personal opinion. So the alcohol discussion, I leave that.
19:12Speaker A Leave it out.
19:12Speaker C Well, I leave that to people to interpret for themselves. because if you're born again saved child of God you have the Holy Spirit that lives in you and it's the Holy Spirit's job to teach you or convict you if it's a problem it's not my job to do that I personally leave people to their own their own decisions and what they do I don't judge I don't judge at all but there again going back to the Christian base businesses it was amazing to see the proper functioning of the people that was around and the servant's heart and the humbleness and
19:50Speaker C the approachableness it was there was a lot to be said for that and I appreciate
19:54Speaker A And the one thing that really got me emotional is Randy was talking about he pointed out two young men that were standing there and one guy was an army veteran like myself. And he said he was involved in a major vehicular crash with his mowers and trailer on the back of his truck. Starting a family, young kids at home, mom's not working, he lost all of his means of income during the wreck. Well, he went to his dealer, didn't know what to do. Randy personally heard him. about this story and worked with his dealers and got him two brand new V-Rods the next day so that he could continue mowing.
20:29Speaker B I think that's awesome.
20:30Speaker A And that's awesome. And for the company to do that is just heartwarming. And then you told him that I was a veteran. And so what did I get to do?
20:41Speaker B Well, this is another amazing thing that I think is admirable of Skag Company itself. Because this year was the 250th anniversary of the United States becoming an independent country, he celebrated that by taking all of the Skag racing machines and turning their bodies into colors that were military colors.
21:06Speaker B And anybody that served in the military, whether active or retired, he had them sign the bodies of these cars.
21:13Speaker B And you got to sign every. every one
21:15Speaker B of them which was
21:16Speaker A four cars,
21:16Speaker B so when I told him because he got to talking about the young guy he's talking about that's former military and I looked at Randy and I was like well my husband's not going to tell you this because he's kind of humble in this aspect I said but my husband served 17 years and Randy's like no way and I was like yeah 17 years he's retired and you told him your story about you know you were medically
21:38Speaker B retired because of a heart attack while on duty and he had you go and sign all four vehicles and Randy told us that once the season is out this year for next year when they come with new bodies for the cars those bodies particularly those bodies are going to be hung in the office space for the public to see when they come into
22:01Speaker A all the signatures.
22:02Speaker B Yeah and I think I think that's awesome. So my husband, the turf teacher, Eric Jones, has personally signed all four cars for 2026 season.
22:11Speaker A signed the skag uh funny car and the top fuel as well as the bluebird turf uh funny car and top fuel so it was an amazing day and i'm just so so thankful i didn't want to leave like
22:24Speaker A was either. too
22:24Speaker B I was kind
22:25Speaker B of sad when Randy and Justin and Ashley both asked. I said the name of Maria was like, are y'all going to be back tomorrow? And we're like, no, unfortunately we're not. I'm, I'm on my worship team at church, so I have to be back.
22:37Speaker B So we left immediately and drove back home, but it would have been fun to be able to be there for the final race, but we had an amazing experience. It's an experience I will never forget. I, I, you know, another thing I told you, and I'll say this again while we're live on the podcast is. I'm finally at a point in my life where I feel like I'm really getting to now enjoy my life. And that was cool that I got to be a part of that on Saturday.
23:06Speaker B It just it's it's a reminder of how blessed we really are. You know, I'm grateful that James Bottoms is friends with us and invited us to be a part of this. I was even more grateful.
23:18Speaker A grateful that we got to connect and network with people like Randy and Maria and Justin and some of the other drivers faith who works for Randy's like his right hand assistant and um I'm just looking forward to having Randy on our podcast and letting
23:34Speaker A him talk to you guys because I think he's he will be just as much of an encouragement as he was to me and you I want him to be that
23:43Speaker C that for everybody that
23:45Speaker C he can be.
23:45Speaker A yeah so I'm really excited about that what a great opportunity to
23:50Speaker A do was, that with him
23:50Speaker C you know, and you say that you're finally at a point in your life and I give thanks to the green industry. I mean, that's, that's what's brought us to get to do this stuff.
23:59Speaker A well yeah yeah
24:00Speaker C And, and you talk about. A good group of people. And Maria said this because they had just gotten back from the Equip Expo
24:12Speaker C And she was like, it's amazing to see that the landscapers and the grass cutting guys are exactly the same in France as they are here in the United States. Just good old hardworking, grew up on farm type guys.
24:25Speaker C And so and I've heard that about Australia as well. So every landscaper in the world, we have a connection. action.
24:31Speaker A that I'm looking forward to what God has in store for us over the next few years.
24:37Speaker A I think Randy and I were sitting there having that conversation Saturday about it's amazing how God moves the puzzle pieces when they need to be moved. And then I had a very specific conversation that we'll talk about on Thursday on our podcast about my conversation with Maria. Maria doesn't want to do an interview. at live on the podcast however she'll let me write something down and you know do a
25:01Speaker A little um a little journal piece for her she says she likes to work in stealth mode and I love that I told her I said so you're more into Tom Cruise Mission Impossible she's like yeah that's me yeah
25:11Speaker C She was the translator in Paris.
25:13Speaker A she speaks French so we'll talk more about her on Thursday and share the story there because I think it's important to share that story talk about how important decisions are but
25:25Speaker A back to talking to Randy and just being grateful and and seeing that being played out I think it's important that we take a step back and look at what we have and just learn to be grateful it's
25:40Speaker A amazing how yeah
25:41Speaker C He wakes up and listens to that song Gratitude every single
25:44Speaker C morning as
25:44Speaker C he prepares
25:46Speaker A to your point I have a question that I typically ask most people so when I have Randy on the show I'm going to ask him that question on the show and I know he's going to give me the same answer but I loved his response because he was not ready for this question
26:02Speaker A nor was he used to somebody asking him this question but I looked at him because I know he's a very busy man and I said Randy what's one thing that you you do that drives you and gives you the energy to keep going and he said to me the first thing I do in the morning is I play the song grateful and I stand reminded of everything that I have and what God's given me And he said, that's how he starts his day. And he does that while he's brushing his teeth, getting ready to get a shower, his morning routine. That's what he does. He plays that song every day as a reminder of what God's done for him.
26:41Speaker A And I think it's an amazing thing that we all start our day out that way, just being grateful. You know, God is our father. He's our creator. He made us. He desires a relationship with us. he made us for a relationship that was a whole reason why God created a human being in the first place was to have a relationship with us and Starting your day being thankful and grateful for what God's done for you. You may not live in the Taj Mahal. You may live in a single wide trailer out on a farm somewhere like I did or just, you know, not have the best of best. But you have a roof over your head and you have shoes on your feet and you have a toothbrush to brush your teeth.
27:24Speaker A It's those things that you have to stop and be reminded just even the smallest of things is a blessing. thing
27:30Speaker D didn't have much, but we had it all.
27:31Speaker A yeah yeah and I I
27:33Speaker D Justin Moore.
27:34Speaker A and you know you and I are not millionaires we work hard and we work for everything that we have and um I like to think that we're we're comfortable we're not you know we're not raking in the dough by no means would that be nice yeah absolutely but um we're able to sustain our family and take care of our family and that's what's important and give to the church and so So I just think renewing your mind every morning, I think is a great way to start
28:01Speaker A like Randy did.
28:02Speaker A Just being grateful. I don't know if everybody has different things of what pumps them up and drives them and gives them energy. So that was interesting to hear him say that.
28:11Speaker D Yeah. And, um... You know, we were at Skag and you wanted to talk about where we're taking turf talk next. I mean, where are we going to be next when today?
28:23Speaker A Well, like I said, God opens doors and he closes doors, but luckily for you and I, he has been opening doors for us to be in every place we've been here recently. It's amazing how the doors have opened and not necessarily just by our hand, but it's been done by other people. other people's hand and support some of it's been a little shocking um but next week you and I are going to be in Raleigh North Carolina at
28:49Speaker A the McKinnon Center there by NC State specifically for an event that we go to there and it is the waterpalooza event it's for all of the North Carolina irrigators and
29:02Speaker A I'm looking forward to that
29:04Speaker D That's going to be fun. one of your
29:07Speaker A favorite guest speakers is going to be there chris keaton from that retired from toro Oh, that
29:12Speaker A talked Yeah. about the business he's presenting again dr grady miller with nc state turf grads i can't wait to i
29:17Speaker B I'm looking forward to that.
29:19Speaker A it because we saw him at the water symposium and he kept he kept looking at us and it's like you know he wanted to come over and say hi and stuff but everybody was grabbing these guys as they were coming out of the water symposium so jennifer and i we try to hit every event here locally in north North Carolina we've been working on a contract today with North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association for Green and Growing 27 there in January the third week in January so we're getting ready to to bust wide open not only with that but you know at Equip Expo here in a few weeks as well so
29:53Speaker C Yeah. So if you're going to be at the Quip Expo, expect to see Eric and I. We're going to be hitting up every booth possible. at Quip Expo definitely the walkers definitely Skag those are going to be our two first places we go to because we enjoy being around those people and developing friendships there is important for us because we appreciate everything those people do and we're building our network and building our friendships far
30:22Speaker C above and beyond that so Eric and I are thankful that we get to do what we do and then after quip expo we'll take a little time to celebrate the holidays with our family
30:33Speaker C and then turf teacher season hits again for irrigators in december so we'll be busy taking care
30:40Speaker C of our north carolina irrigator licensure people and making sure they get their license renewed so we'll be busy doing that in december but then come january it is time for us to rally around and start promoting and marketing and doing everything we do for the North Carolina landscape and nursery association NCNLA for the green and growing show which is the largest trade
31:03Speaker A Yeah, that's
31:04Speaker C show in North Carolina for this association and we're excited we get to be a part
31:09Speaker A true. That's true. So like you said, we will chill a little bit after Expo. We do have a seminar right after. Right after Christmas that we're doing Con Ed, but also we're going to have a seminar the weekend before.
31:24Speaker A green and growing we're going to be in raleigh offering continuing education then ashville in february fayetteville in february march in mooresville so it's just boom boom boom and then honey we're going to be picking strawberries before we know it
31:39Speaker C I know that would be April, May and June is our strawberry season,
31:44Speaker C which we're in we're in the middle of planting plants right now. We were shorted. about
31:50Speaker C yeah 3,500 about 5,000 plants because we increased our acreage this year and so just calculations weren't 100% on and so we've got more plants coming to finish out one of the fields and then we're
32:02Speaker A completely done
32:03Speaker A let them to format
32:05Speaker B have right at 50,000 plants planted.
32:06Speaker A yeah I that's super exciting that we've got more plants this year larger acreage and we've got a lot of things in the works for the strawberry patch for next year so I'm truly excited I don't know how you and I do everything that we do I don't but um
32:23Speaker B Goes back to what Randy said. You ask him, how do you not run out of energy? energy and
32:29Speaker B he's like i just he said because i wake up every day so again grateful on
32:34Speaker A he used a term he called himself a warrior I'm just a warrior and you know what and that's what it takes to make it happen you just got to be a warrior
32:41Speaker B well what's my saying always been since i met you
32:43Speaker A I know my dad corrected you one time and I was like bingo dad I thought that was pretty good but you always say I was sleeping I'm dead but my dad said well no you won't because you'll be eternity somewhere it just depends on which end eternity you
32:58Speaker B Yeah. Really? Y'all, y'all are debating my salvation.
33:02Speaker A he's like well no you won't Eric if you're going to heaven you won't be asleep
33:05Speaker B No, it'll be 24 seven.
33:07Speaker A your your body will be non-operational here on earth but your spirit's going to go on
33:15Speaker B I don't know, but you know, we don't get to take naps in heaven.
33:19Speaker A you're not going to need it And
33:21Speaker A going to be in a perfect body.
33:25Speaker A And we can't wrap our heads around that.
33:27Speaker A There's no,
33:28Speaker A we can't. This
33:29Speaker A body is mortal. There's a beginning and an end with this body. But our eternal bodies, there is no beginning and
33:35Speaker B as good looking as you are right now, I can't wait to see your eternal
33:39Speaker A Lord have mercy.
33:41Speaker B Fun stuff here on Turf Talk Podcast.
33:46Speaker A that's important. We have fun.
33:47Speaker B Yeah. So, again, Waterpalooza next week, right
33:53Speaker B after that. uh we'll be headed
33:57Speaker A actually let
33:58Speaker B a weekend between
33:59Speaker B birthday coming up that's
34:01Speaker B right can't
34:01Speaker A yeah i was gonna say we're gonna be a little bit more technical we've got water
34:04Speaker A we got water palooza on the 7th and then my birthday falls on the 15th and then the very next week the week of the 20th we'll be in louisville kentucky
34:13Speaker B and get this this will be the first year that you are not at
34:17Speaker B water palooza or equip expo on your birthday First
34:21Speaker A know. Isn't that crazy?
34:22Speaker A It's almost
34:22Speaker B you like were
34:23Speaker A God opened the week for me to celebrate my birthday this year or
34:26Speaker B talking about that. You're like, I've traveled every year for somewhere on my birthday, either the night before or, yeah,
34:32Speaker A the day of.
34:33Speaker B years ago we
34:34Speaker B were, unless
34:35Speaker A was working. I've always worked on my birthday. I have never had a day off on
34:40Speaker B it was my on,
34:41Speaker B well, even Sunday you're
34:42Speaker B at church,
34:43Speaker A I don't, I've always been working on my birthday. So this
34:46Speaker A year, this year we will actually be in town.
34:50Speaker B do what I you
34:51Speaker A expect? expect? I expect something, sir.
34:55Speaker B Expect foot rub back.
34:57Speaker A rub Hershey's chocolate bars being broken fed
35:00Speaker B to say you're good to me. You really are. There's not much that I have to ask for. And if I do ask for it, it's, it's, it's,
35:08Speaker A it happens
35:10Speaker B can expect it to happen for
35:12Speaker A me so that's what happens when You put God first.
35:19Speaker A Your marriage just falls right where it needs to be. Now, guys, if you're listening, don't get me wrong, I slip up. I'll be the first to admit it because I'm a guy. I'm a dude and I think dudely. So and sometimes, you know, I'm a very smart individual when it comes to turfgrass calculations and landscape architecture, the whole green industry side. But sometimes I act like a dude and to be 53 years old and to be that wild and crazy sometimes. But you know what? I think back. Back to the race car drivers we met. They are on such adrenaline rush. I was on such adrenaline rush in the military. Men, we thrive. on that adrenaline whether it's working in our business putting that first but you know since i've met you and been with you i've put god first and what did i tell sierra the other night what does reading scripture and devotions what do i it's almost like an addiction like
36:21Speaker A you crave more of it
36:23Speaker B Well, okay. There was a little bit of science behind this, and I'll briefly say this. this what you feed your body your body craves and
36:32Speaker B it's the same thing with
36:34Speaker A your mind.
36:34Speaker B spirit and your mind what you feed your mind your mind craves whatever you feed your spirit your spirit craves so if you feed your body a lot of sugar your body's going to begin to crave sugar
36:44Speaker A Or Mr. Pibb.
36:45Speaker B oh yeah or if you're clean eating your body's going to crave clean food
36:49Speaker A Clean eating.
36:50Speaker B it's the same way with our minds and our hearts whatever you feed your mind affects your heart and whatever you affects your heart affects your mouth and
36:59Speaker B that is the circle that that's the operational circle there that happens in your body what you feed your eyes feed your mind It feeds your heart and it comes out of your mouth and the next thing that happens, your feet and your hands follow suit.
37:17Speaker B So it's all
37:18Speaker A Be careful what you're putting in
37:20Speaker B that head of yours.
37:22Speaker A So when you give me a kiss, I just crave more of them.
37:25Speaker B And I'm happy to oblige.
37:27Speaker B But you know what? The biggest, if I could give you anything today in this podcast that you can walk away with, I want to thank Randy Glode for this. It is the verse that's on the back of Justin Ashley's car and it's Acts 20 verse 35. It's more blessed to give than to receive.
37:51Speaker A And we can thank Mr. Randy, who is the president and CEO of Skag, to give us that. example to give us that encouragement and to lead by example and we really appreciate that
38:05Speaker B Yeah, and so much of us in the green industry, we are givers. You know, we give to our clients, we're out there working hard, we're giving to our families, and Randy said it best. He said, look at the fathers on Christmas. They want to see their children's eyes and their wives' eyes just gleam with joy. to you know because you put all this preparation wrapping the presents thinking about what it is that your children and your wife wants and to see them open that's my christmas present what did i do on my birthday i told you i didn't want anything i wanted to spend time with you guys it's not about getting a new wallet time
38:41Speaker A But time is a gift.
38:43Speaker B is a gift yes and that's all i wanted from our kids and that's what i wanted from you was was to go to church You know, the kids came to church, we had lunch and that's, that's all I needed. That is all I needed. And to be around my church family. So awesome, awesome day.
39:00Speaker A So if you're struggling today and you're struggling in your life because we all have struggles and we all have problems that we have to face and deal with. So if you're facing a problem or if you've got a struggle, my encouragement to you today comes from. Randy Glode from Skag Equipment and it's the verse on the back of Justin Ashley's car, Acts 20-35, it is more blessed to give than to receive. So if you're having issues and you're having problems, take a step away and
39:29Speaker A put somebody in front of you that you can do something nice or kind for them. Be kind to others.
39:35Speaker A It's amazing at what you could do just giving somebody a smile. But if you see somebody in need. need and you need and you're in need the best way to get the answer for your need is to answer somebody else's Yeah. need
39:49Speaker B And I want to do something, Jennifer, that Randy did. He gave us his personal cell phone number. And so if anybody's out there that just needs an ear, that just needs somebody to talk to, I want to personally be there for that, for somebody. So my personal cell is 336. 414-9719. So gentlemen, if you are struggling with your marriage, with your business, and you just need somebody to talk to you or pray with you, I would be more than happy to do that because somebody like Randy can do that. to everybody,
40:25Speaker B then I'm going to do that. I want to be there for somebody that is in need. So I am truly blessed to be in this business. I am truly blessed to be a professor, truly blessed to be a father, but more importantly is to be the husband to you and to be a child of Christ. So that's first.
40:46Speaker A First and foremost.
40:48Speaker B Well, what a way to start somebody's day today. So if you're listening, we want you to take the encouragement to heart and apply it and do it for somebody else. That's where it all starts.
41:01Speaker A So shall we close with the prayer for the green industry as
41:05Speaker A they start
41:05Speaker A to. All right. Heavenly Father. Jennifer and I, we come to you with all of our listeners, whether they're on Spotify, they're on Google, YouTube, or any of the platforms that we post this to, we come to you and we want to first and foremost give you thanks, Lord. Thank you for being a part of your creation. You were the first landscape architect. You were the first landscape contractor when you built the Garden of Eden. and we love taking care of you and we go back to genesis when you were talking about when there was no rain you were the first irrigator as well because the land was watered from a mist that up rose from the ground we love hearing those stories we love learning about you creating this wonderful place that we now get to take care of as green industry professionals and lord thank you
41:58Speaker A For the family and the friendships that evolve in this industry, you can't find any industry that cares more about each other than the green industry. We love you. Look after each owner operator and multi-million dollar company that's out there. Watch over their safety. Watch over their finances and watch over. their protection and get them home safely, Lord, because that's why we're doing it. We're doing it to take care of our families and to take care of this beautiful creation that you have made. So we love you. We can't wait to be in church again with you on Wednesday night and Sunday morning. And in Jesus name we pray. Amen.
42:38Speaker A All right, fellow turf talk listeners, thank you so much for joining myself, a.k.a. the turf teacher and my lovely. Lovely bride, Jennifer the Turd Fat. Sweetie, you got anything you want to say before we head out here?
42:52Speaker B Well, I wish you all the best day today and do for others so that somebody will do for you.
42:59Speaker A That's right. All right, guys, this is Eric Jones, better known as a turf teacher. I will see you in the next lecture.
43:03Speaker B And I'm Jennifer Jones, known as the Turfette, and I'll see you at the next event.
43:08Speaker A See you guys.
43:11Speaker B Thanks for joining us today on Turf
43:13Speaker A hope today's conversation gave you something useful and worth sharing.
43:16Speaker B Follow, subscribe, or visit us at turftalkpodcast.com for more episodes and updates. I'm Jennifer the Turfette Jones.
43:24Speaker A And I'm Eric, the Turf Teacher Jones.
43:26Speaker A Together, we are the Green Industry Couple.
43:29Speaker B Until next time,
43:31Speaker A Keep learning and keep growing and keep talking turf.
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