(photo by Eric Poston, The Independent)
John DiMascio has helped the R.G. Drage Career Technical Center in Massillon, Ohio launch a new program in sports turf and landscape management. Learning how to maintain the greens and understanding different kinds of turf are a core emphasis of the new course.
John DiMascio, who worked for Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio on and off for 25 years, with his last position as Superintendent of its South Course, was featured by The Independent of Massillon, Ohio as the instructor of a new program in sports turf and landscape management at the R.G. Drage Career Technical Center in Massillon.
DiMascio, who got his master’s degree from Ohio State University in agronomy, told The Independent that he wants students in the course, which began in the fall 0f 2018, to be exposed to a variety of careers in the landscaping field.
To accommodate the new course, The Independent reported, an additional classroom and a greenhouse have been constructed at the school.
Learning how to maintain the greens of a golf course and the different kinds of turf are a core emphasis of the new course, The Independent reported.
DiMascio said he has to remind himself that the students are only juniors and that they have not yet been exposed to many of the areas covered. But some may have helped dad or grandpa with a project at one time and learned a few small aspects.
“Once they gain that confidence, they get going with it,” DiMascio said.
Another area stresses how to maintain lawn equipment such as mowers and trimmers, The Independent reported. Students learn to sharpen the blades, change the oil and perform any maintenance the equipment may need.
“They are taught to check over the mower before they go out, and identify problems before they start,” DiMascio said.
“You get to do a little bit of everything in here,” DiMascio said. He told The Independent that he tries hard to operate his class like a regular shop, so students know what to expect if they go into the field.
“Even with 25 years of experience, I am still technically learning new things or re-learning them,” DiMascio said.
DiMascio said he doesn’t like to lecture, but does give a short one before students begin working on a project, The Independent reported. During the first weeks, he spent time going over safety and how important it is to clean up after a project.
Construction of the greenhouse opens more opportunities for students, as the space is heated and they are able to grow some plants during the winter months, The Independent reported. Students held a mum sale along with a poinsettia sale this school year.
DiMascio said he provided some help with the mum sale, but by the poinsettia sale they were marketing and selling them on their own. “They get business marketing skills, too” he said.
One of the projects DiMascio had the students do was create a makeshift wall, which included wiring a switch, light and outlet, The Independent reported. Students also learned how to sweat and weld pipe using solder. Doing this project is like working on a house, and students are exposed to plumbing, electrical and drainage.
“Sometimes they flip the switch and the light doesn’t work,” DiMascio said. “Then they have to go back in and see what is wrong.”
Another project he had students work on was stripping down pallet wood to build boxes for flowers. The class also teaches pest management, fertilizers, weed killers and how to drive a tow motor ,where students can obtain a tow motor license.
“It is funny at first—the students think they are just going to be mowing grass,” DiMascio said.
This year the class has eight students—three seniors and five juniors, The Independent reported.
Thomas McCune, a junior from Fairless, Ohio, said he signed up because it was new and it gave him an opportunity to learn multiple trades in one class.
“I have learned so much,” McCune said. “It is kind of ridiculous how much I have learned.”
DiMascio has been a great instructor and walks students through projects, he added.
Justin Shafer, a junior from Louisville, Ohio, told The Independent that he enjoys golfing and hopes to get into the golf course management business in the future.
One of the goals DiMascio has is to find his students jobs for the summer, hopefully in the field, The Independent reported.
“These guys really are helping build the program, literally, DiMascio said.
DiMascio said he is hopeful to have more students in his class next year, but he said that all comes down to how well he sells the course and what his current students tell classmates.
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