RESEARCH

The son of two schoolteachers raised near Athens, Georgia, Adam Russell is a graduate of the University of Georgia’s School of Landscape Architecture. He has served the turfgrass industry since 2010, and is currently the Vice President of MVP Genetics, a turfgrass development and licensing division of Salem, OR-based Pratum Cooperative. His work focuses on helping sod producers, distribution seed companies, major turf universities, and industry organizations improve turfgrass genetics.

He is Past President of the A-LIST (Alliance for Low-Input Sustainable Turf); Trustee, Board Member, and Past Future Leader Fellow of TPI (Turfgrass Producers International); Georgia SFMA Chapter’s current Commercial Chair, and former board member of ASA (Atlantic Seed Association) and ITODA (International Turf & Ornamental Distributors Association).

He resides in Cumming, Georgia with his wife, Sarah, and their 3 children.

Born in South Dakota before his family moved to Oregon, Duane Klundt has deep roots in agriculture. Growing up in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, he was familiar with turf from an early age. With over 40 years in the turfgrass industry, he has done a little bit of everything from seed processing, warehousing, product development, and sales. Some of his mentors include innovators like Bill Rose and Dr. Bill Meyer, as well as many others whose passion for the industry helped guide him along the way.

He has had the pleasure of working with some of the best genetics ever offered in the turfgrass industry and continues to do so in both product development and sales for Mountain View Seeds and MVP Genetics.

He has been a past president of the Oregon Seed Association and Pacific Seed Association, served as chairman of the American Seed Trade Association Seed Division and NTEP, and has also been a long-time board member of Turf Producers International, Atlantic Seed Association, and the Oregon Seed Council Service Advisory Committee. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of A-List as Vice President.

His biggest asset, though, is his family: his wife of 39 years, Dana, and his son. These, along with his faith, are a big part of his drive and loyalty to the people around him.

Will Schnell grew up on a fourth-generation farm in central Missouri, where he spent his early years working on the farm, growing row crops, managing pasture and hay ground, and playing sports. He graduated from Central Missouri State University, where his skills with turf on athletic fields won him a couple of national awards for the football surface.

After graduating, he spent 6 years as the head turf manager in the Eastern League with the Harrisburg Senators, affiliated with the Montreal Expos, and the Norwich Navigators, the Double-A team of the New York Yankees. At Norwich, he worked with the first SubAir system in baseball.

His first steps toward the major leagues came as the assistant turf manager for the Cleveland Browns, working at both the practice facility in Berea, Ohio and the game field at the old Memorial Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. From there, he chose to go west to become the head assistant for the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he learned to grow Bermuda grass on a PAT System-designed field with a 100 percent sand base.

In 2000, he was afforded the “Grand Daddy” of opportunities: the head job at the Rose Bowl Stadium, where he finished his career as a turf manager. His working knowledge of football, soccer, and concerts helped him in growing turf, but his ability to work with organizations like the NCAA, NFL, MLS, and FIFA molded his work ethic and people skills.

In 2021, after retiring from facility management and farming, he started consulting for MVP Genetics. His faith has kept him grounded, and he gives all glory to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He loves to share his life experiences with any who ask and is never afraid to get his hands dirty. His lifelong commitment to turf both above and below the surface makes him welcome wherever he goes, and this is what makes him truly genuine.