Wisconsin Turfgrass Association

What Wisconsin Turfgrass Association does

The Wisconsin Turfgrass Association is a membership-based professional association headquartered at 2502 S. Pleasant View Rd, Verona, Wisconsin. It serves turfgrass management professionals across the state — including golf course superintendents, sports field managers, lawn care operators, and grounds maintenance personnel — by funding and supporting turfgrass research and education programs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, hosting in-person professional events such as the annual Summer Field Day at the O.J. Noer Research & Education Facility and the Golf Outing Fundraiser, and operating as a community-of-practice hub for the Wisconsin turfgrass industry. The association does not sell technology products or services; its underlying platform is its community, academic partnerships, and event programming.

The association's business model rests on three revenue streams: recurring individual membership fees, recurring corporate sponsorships, and transactional event registration revenue. Pricing for both memberships and sponsorships is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with annual billing cadence. Go-to-market is community-led: the wisturf.org website functions as the primary digital presence, supported by professional events and the Wild Apricot membership management platform that handles member communications, renewals, and event registration. Distribution is direct and regional, with no evidence of geographic expansion ambitions beyond Wisconsin.

The organization is an independent, privately held association (not publicly traded and not venture-backed) with no disclosed parent company, subsidiaries, or M&A activity. Operational status is active, with 2026 events on the calendar. Contact is via [email protected] and 608-845-6536. No headcount, revenue, membership count, or financial figures are disclosed in the available source material, which limits the depth of any quantitative analysis.

Name

Wisconsin Turfgrass Association

Legal name

Wisconsin Turfgrass Association

Website

https://wisconsinturfgrassassociation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wisconsin Turfgrass Association is a Wisconsin-based membership association supporting turfgrass management professionals through funding for UW-Madison research, annual field-day and golf-outing events, and a statewide professional community. It serves golf course superintendents, sports field managers, and lawn care operators via recurring memberships and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Trade Association Services

NAICS

Landscaping Services (561730), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Landscape, Turf & Groundskeeping Trades (EDAOAOAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Athletic Field & Golf Course Groundskeeping (IMAIAIAH), Turf Management (Sports Fields, Golf Courses) (BPABADAC)

Keywords

• Professional turfgrass association
• Turfgrass research funding
• Golf course management
• Sports field management
• Industry membership services

Headquarters

HQ city

Verona

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees supporting association operations and programs for turfgrass professionals
2. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships providing funding for turfgrass research and education programs
3. Event Revenue: Registration fees from events such as Summer Field Day and Golf Outing Fundraiser

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Wisconsin Turfgrass Association is a nonprofit professional membership organization that funds and supports turfgrass research and education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, builds a statewide community of turfgrass management professionals, and delivers member services including the annual Summer Field Day at the O.J. Noer Research & Education Facility and the Golf Outing Fundraiser. It generates revenue through individual memberships, corporate sponsorships, and event registration fees rather than selling commercial products.

Product overview

Wisconsin Turfgrass Association is a professional membership organization that supports turfgrass research, education, and community building within the Wisconsin turfgrass management industry. The association does not offer commercial products or technology services; instead, it provides member services including educational programs, research funding, professional networking events, and sponsorship opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual Membership Annual membership for turfgrass management professionals in Wisconsin (golf course superintendents, sports field managers, lawn care operators, grounds maintenance personnel) providing access to UW-Madison research, continuing education, and professional networking events. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.
• Corporate Sponsorship Annual sponsorship program for companies supporting the association's turfgrass research and education mission, providing visibility and engagement with Wisconsin turfgrass professionals. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.
• Summer Field Day Annual professional event held at the O.J. Noer Research & Education Facility providing hands-on demonstrations, research updates, and networking for Wisconsin turfgrass management professionals.
• Golf Outing Fundraiser Annual fundraising event at Wausau Country Club supporting the association's research and education programs, with member and sponsor participation.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• University of Wisconsin-MadisoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Wisconsin Turfgrass Association supports turfgrass research and education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The association funds programs in turfgrass management and allied disciplines that enhance understanding and general knowledge of turfgrass science and maintenance. This partnership provides members access to cutting-edge research and academic resources.
• O.J. Noer Research & Education FacilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe O.J. Noer Research & Education Facility serves as the venue for the association's annual Summer Field Day event. This facility supports turfgrass research and education activities, providing hands-on demonstration opportunities for association members.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA): GCSAA is the national membership organization for golf course superintendents and turfgrass professionals. It directly mirrors WTA's mission of education, research funding, and community building, but operates at national scale and is the dominant incumbent in the same professional category WTA serves regionally.
• Sports Field Management Association (SFMA): SFMA is the national membership body for sports field managers, a core member persona of WTA. Both organizations provide education, certification support, and industry advocacy for turfgrass professionals, with SFMA serving as the broader national counterpart to WTA's Wisconsin-focused sports field community.

Direct peers

• Ohio Turfgrass Foundation: Ohio Turfgrass Foundation is a state-level turfgrass membership organization supporting research at Ohio State University, professional events, and education programs. It is structurally identical to WTA in purpose, funding model, and target member base.
• Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council: Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council is a state-level membership association funding turfgrass research and education (Penn State). It shares WTA's mission, recurring revenue model, and member personas, and is a well-established example of the state association model WTA operates within.
• Minnesota Turfgrass Association: Minnesota Turfgrass Association is a neighboring state-level turfgrass membership organization with a similar university research partnership model (UMN). It is directly comparable to WTA in mission, revenue mix (memberships, sponsorships, events), and target member personas (superintendents, sports field managers, lawn care operators).
• Michigan Turfgrass Foundation: Michigan Turfgrass Foundation is a state-level turfgrass association with a similar model of membership dues, sponsorships, and university-linked research support (MSU). It is the closest geographic and structural peer to WTA, serving an adjacent Midwest turfgrass professional community with the same value proposition.
• Illinois Turfgrass Foundation: Illinois Turfgrass Foundation operates as a statewide membership association funding turfgrass research (University of Illinois) and education. Its mission, member segments, and revenue model closely parallel WTA's, making it a strong direct peer in the regional association landscape.
• Iowa Turfgrass Institute: Iowa Turfgrass Institute is another Midwest state-level turfgrass association supporting research, education, and professional development for turfgrass managers. It mirrors WTA's structure and member base within an adjacent state, making it a directly comparable peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wtaturf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wisconsin Turfgrass Association