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Japanese Major League Baseball, Fall Instructional League, Arizona Fall League, Little League, Babe Ruth, and Fantasy Camps. A wide range of other community events are held here, as are numerous city-sponsored festivals and concerts and the city baseball leagues as scheduled by the recreation department." Spring training for the Korean and Japanese teams begins in early January. The Padres and Mariners start their spring training in mid- February and it runs through March. Another prime season begins in August, with that stretch running through the season of the Arizona Fall League team, the Peoria Javelinas, who complete play in October or November. The spring/summer gap is Mike Gillispie (left), Agriculture Education Instructor for the Peoria Unified High School filled by all the other activities listed District, and Chris Calcaterra (right), Baseball Supervisor for the City of Peoria Sports above. There are approximately 45 Complex, have developed a win-win student internship program. days of "slow" time between mid- November and early January. community horticultural outreach scaping. This was necessitated by the Calcaterra's typical seasonal crew program." construction of the Peoria High School size ranges from 15 to 20. Of that crew, Engineering and Biotechnology Facility, seven or eight are high school stu- The benefits are mutual. Gillispie providing more and better space for the dents. He says, "Obviously we observe says, "The interns get a taste of the total agricultural education program. all the OSHA rules, standards and 'real world' work environment. They factors, and all other national, state, go through the interview process, and The Peoria Agricultural Education regional and local regulations as they they become part of a crew consisting letterhead shows this tag line, "FFA relate to all employees. There are of long-term employees and other makes a positive difference in the some functions our high school stu- seasonal personnel that are older and lives of students by developing their dents are too young to perform. But more experienced. Chris gives the potential for premier leadership, per- there are many advantages that make students an opportunity to perform sonal growth, and career success up for that. These students are multiple tasks and see what real through agricultural education." trained in working within a crew, sports turf management entails. That's certainly reflected in the meeting quality standards, and pro- They're accountable for their job per- results of the school's program. ducing consistent results. They're formance to their foreman, to Chris dependable, punctual, interested in and to me and our program." In addition, Gillispie has been one learning the job and enthusiastic of the FFA leadership instrumental about working at our facility. And that's just part of the picture. in the development of an BOO-page, CD-ROM-based instructional materi- "Mike does an excellent job of match- The agricultural welding classes al resource guide for the National ing the abilities of the intern to the can build to order on special needs for FFA Council. Such industry leaders demands of the internship position," Calcaterra. They made the hitches to as Scotts, Toro and John Deere have Calcaterra notes. "These kids are good. attach hose racks to the Gator utility provided input and funding for this So good, in fact, I've kept several each vehicles. They're currently working project. Gillispie is one of the trainers year in my pool of part-time seasonal on welding sturdy screens for the for the state of Arizona in the golf and special event employees. They can baseball fields. and turf instructional material. work after school and on weekends, just not more than three days a week during The close connection leads to shar- The Peoria Mike and Chris team's the school year. ing in other areas. Equipment pur- vision is spreading nationwide. chases are coordinated with multiple "The cross training Mike's program use in mind. The school may own one For information on the Peoria provides is an additional benefit," piece of equipment, the sports complex Sports Complex contact Chris Calcaterra continues, "because ours is another and the golf course another, Calcaterra by phone: 623-412-4226 or a multi-use complex and we maintain and all share in their use. email: [email protected]. For the entire grounds, not just the sports information on the agricultural educa- fields. For example, on Arbor Day, we Gillispie's students just finished tion program and the instruction mate- had three of Mike's students here dig- rebuilding the on-site golf facility, with rial resource guide, contact Mike ging holes and demonstrating proper a chipping green, putting green, bunker Gillespie by phone: 623-486-6323 or by tree planting procedures as part of a and surrounding turf, fencing and land- email: [email protected]. STMA • http://www.sportsturfmanager.com July 2001 21.

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