Growing Together: SEC Grounds Professionals Unite at the 2026 Landscape Conference
This spring, Texas A&M University welcomed grounds and landscape professionals from across the Southeastern Conference to College Station for the 2026 SEC Landscape Conference.
Hosted in partnership with SSC, this event created an environment for professional growth, while also making space for connection, laughter, and shared pride in the work that supports SEC campuses every day.
What makes the conference unique is its focus on peer-to-peer learning, where professionals with years of experience shaping complex campus environments share real experiences, practical lessons, and evolving approaches shaped by their own campuses.
SEC Landscape Conference 2026: More Than a Conference
The SEC Landscape Conference brings together landscape and grounds leaders from across SEC institutions to learn from one another in an open, collaborative setting. This year’s conference combined educational sessions, campus tours, and structured discussions with time to simply connect.
Whether over shared meals, group walks, or informal conversations, attendees built meaningful relationships that extended beyond the agenda and reinforced the sense of community within the SEC landscaping network.
Learning Side by Side
Educational sessions explored a wide range of topics reflecting the evolving nature of campus grounds. Discussions focused on winter preparedness, heat-tolerant plant material, irrigation and exterior water management, tree preservation and relocation, wildlife deterrence strategies, organizational planning, inspections, and sustainability-focused practices.
Presenters from SEC institutions and industry partners shared case studies and insights rooted in real campus experience. These conversations encouraged open dialogue and idea sharing, allowing attendees to learn from both the successes and challenges of other teams.
Tours created space for conversations around design intent, long-term maintenance planning, crew organization, and daily decision making that supports campus safety and beauty.
Standing on Kyle Field at Texas A&M University
One of the most memorable learning moments took place at Kyle Field, where attendees were invited into one of the most iconic venues in college athletics. Standing on the turf, participants heard directly from the Texas A&M team about what it takes to manage a high-traffic stadium that hosts more than 102,000 fans.
Discussions covered turf selection, mowing and fertilization practices, and the detailed operational planning required to maintain performance and safety throughout the season. The team also shared insight into converting the field for baseball and soccer use, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the planning, coordination, and expertise behind a surface seen by millions.
“There is a real sense of community within the SEC landscaping space. We learn from one another, but we also laugh together, enjoy the time together, and genuinely connect. Sharing open time throughout the week gave us the chance to slow down, talk about what is happening on our campuses, exchange ideas, and learn about new trends in our field. That mix of learning and fellowship is what makes gatherings like this so meaningful.”
Shaping the Future of Campus Grounds
After the conference, attendees returned to their campuses with new relationships, practical knowledge, and renewed inspiration drawn from learning alongside peers who share their passion. Conversations from the conference will continue to shape the future of campus grounds for years to come.
Next year, the team will gather at the University of South Carolina to continue growing together. With each gathering, the SEC landscaping community strengthens by learning from one another and continuing to raise the standard for higher education environments.
Thank You to our Conference Sponsors
The 2026 SEC Landscape Conference was made possible through the support of valued sponsors and partners whose contributions enhanced programming, tours, and networking opportunities throughout the week.
Partners included Texas A&M, SSC, Proven Winners, Club Car, SiteOne Landscape Supply, Rain Bird, Weathermatic, Environmental Design Inc., Rainbow Ecoscience, Randy Lee Inspections, and PGMS.