Brentsville District High School opens Turf Research Center

The future of turfgrass management education took another step forward at Brentsville District High School as students, staff, community members, industry partners, and local leaders gathered to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the new Turf Research Center.

The center expands opportunities for career-connected learning through a research lab, classroom space, outdoor learning areas, and a shop for turf equipment maintenance training. Partnerships with universities, including Virginia Tech and Penn State, will also provide students with access to college-level research experiences. 

"In PWCS, our goal is to prepare students for life after high school, but that does not mean preparing every student for the same path. The trades, turf management, and technical careers matter, [and] our students deserve the chance to see those possibilities while they are in high school,” said Amanda Burke, principal of Brentsville District High.

During the ceremony, Superintendent Dr. LaTanya D. McDade highlighted the partnerships and vision that made the new center possible, including the support of Brentsville District teacher and director of the Brentsville Turf Toro Grounds Academy Dr. Andrew Miller, PWCS Career and Technical Education staff, and The Toro Company. 

"Your collective efforts demonstrate what happens when schools, businesses, and communities unite around a shared belief: that our students deserve opportunities that are as extraordinary as their potential," said Dr. McDade. "We are not simply preparing the next generation of turfgrass professionals, we are developing researchers, engineers, environmental stewards, entrepreneurs, and innovators. This is education without boundaries, and it is exactly what we envision through our PWCS Elevate 2030 Strategic Plan.”

As the first high school turf research center of its kind in the world, the facility provides students with a unique environment to conduct research, work alongside college professors and industry experts, and gain hands-on experience maintaining professional equipment, managing irrigation systems, and studying golf course and athletic field management. 

School Board Chairman At-Large Dr. Babur B. Lateef reflected on the impact of the program and the vision that has guided its growth. 

"When most people look at a field, they see grass. But here at Brentsville [District], our students see possibilities. They see science, innovation, discovery, and a profession where their ideas and expertise can make a difference,” said Dr. Lateef. 

Dr. Lateef also highlighted the program’s national recognition, including the Sports Field Managers Association National Field of the Year recognition and the award-winning Tiger Turf Talk podcast, as well as the confidence, initiative, and leadership students have developed through the program.

Erica Tredinnick, School Board member representing the Brentsville District, shared her personal connection to the program and the impact it had on her son.

“As a parent, it has been incredibly meaningful to watch him find confidence, direction, purpose, and passion through this program. That is the impact [the Turfgrass Management] program has had on so many students and their futures,” said Tredinnick.

Dr. Miller also thanked PWCS leaders, School Board members, and community and industry partners who helped bring the center to life.

“Thank you to all the industry partners who traveled here today and to everyone who helped make this possible,” he said. 

The center also demonstrates the division’s commitment to environmental stewardship. Designed to achieve LEED Platinum status, the facility incorporates solar panels and a rainwater collection system that captures, filters, and reuses water, creating daily opportunities for students to engage with sustainability in action.

With the opening of the Turf Research Center, Brentsville District students will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in agricultural education while gaining the skills, experiences, and industry connections needed to thrive in college, careers, and beyond.