Wagner Receives 2006 Florida Sod Growers Cooperative Award of Merit


Belle Glade, Florida—The 2006 Florida Sod Growers Cooperative’s Award of Merit was presented to Tobey Wagner, founder and president of Sod Solutions, Inc. at the organization’s twelfth annual Field Day, held on April 28th at King Ranch’s Double D Farm in Belle Glade. The award is given annually to an individual who has made significant contributions to the Florida sod industry and to the Florida Sod Growers Cooperative.

In making the presentation, King Ranch general manager Paul Grose noted that in addition to introducing a number of turf varieties that have become staples of the Florida market, Sod Solutions has contributed significantly to the growth of the Cooperative through the unique joint agreements for the release of CelebrationTM Bermudagrass and SapphireTM St. Augustine in the state.

In the early 1990’s, Wagner began work on redefining how proprietary turfgrasses were developed, licensed and released, concentrating his efforts on a business model that supported growers not only with production issues but also with marketing. Sod Solutions has since become an international leader in the development and release of warm season turfgrasses, which include Palmetto® St. Augustine, Sapphire™ St. Augustine, EMPIRE® Zoysia and Celebration™ Bermudagrass.

In 2002, Wagner approached the FSGC with a unique joint release agreement introducing Celebration Bermudagrass to the state. Through this agreement, the variety was licensed only to FSGC members, and a portion of the royalties from the sale of the turfgrass returned to the organization. Of that return, half is dedicated to marketing activities for the variety, with the balance being used for FSGC efforts on behalf of the industry. A similar agreement was signed in 2005 for the release of Sapphire St. Augustine.

“Since those agreements have been in force,” Grose said, “more than $154,000 in royalties has been returned to the Cooperative since 2002, enabling the organization to grow and expand its efforts on behalf of its grower members and the industry as a whole.”

The Florida Sod Growers Cooperative was established in 1989 and serves as the statewide association for sod producers. It represents member farms producing nearly 70,000 acres of quality turf varieties for home, commercial and sports turf use. The Award of Merit has been presented by the Cooperative since 1994. Past recipients include Ed Davis, Elmer Kirkland, Walter Pursley and Clive Morris.

Sod Solutions, Inc. was founded in 1994. The company, owned and operated by Wagner, focuses on the development and release of improved warm season turfgrasses. Sod Solutions is headquartered in Mt. Pleasant, SC and works with approximately 200 licensed farms in the U.S., Australia, and Brazil.

Wagner also owns and operates VersaScapes, LLC, a sister company that focuses on improved ornamental grass-like plants. Visit sodsolutions.com and versascapes.com for more information.