Nelson talks grass to Rotarians
By GREG COLLINS for the News Herald

Dr. Lloyd Nelson with Rotary Club President Dave Castles

Dr. Lloyd Nelson, an employee of the Texas A&M Ag Farm, talked to Kilgore Rotary Club Wednesday about forage grasses and turf grasses for sports fields at the club. Several varieties of the grasses that he developed are grown in Oregon in the valley areas of that state because an abundance of moisture that falls and allows the grasses to grow seed that is transported all over the country for sale.

Nelson showed a graphic that demonstrated how many acres of different types of grasses were planted and how many millions of dollars are made from the different seed. The estimates were in the hundreds of millions of dollars, making it one of the biggest grass growing locations in the United States.

Nelson just recently returned from a trip to Oregon. He said the temperatures were 60 degrees during the day and 40 at night. He also said the weather during the year is wet and moist, but not extremely cold, allowing the grasses to really have a chance to grow.

Many of the grasses grown in Oregon for Dr. Nelson are grasses that farmers use for forage. Also, there are turf grasses for sports fields and some grasses that are used for landscaping. He mentioned one developmental grass for lawns that, if planted here, would need to be mowed every day because it grows so fast. No one was willing to say they would take that grass for their yard.

Nelson has been an employee in Overton at the A&M farm for 32 years, and he said the industry is one that is continuing to prosper. He also said anyone wanting to do what he did would require a Ph.d because of the extensive knowledge required to grow, seed and develop new grasses that can be used all across the country. He did say, however, that someone who follows through with that education plan could start a job at $60,000 per year and escalate their salary quickly.

In other Rotary news, about 20 people from Kilgore who help the Kilgore Rotary Club put out flags were honored at the luncheon Wednesday. These people are non-Rotarians who help put out the nearly 1,300 flags for seven holidays during the year. This program also allows for 13 students to have a free education at Kilgore College and for other charitable activities to occur in our town. The money stays home, so that Kilgore Rotarians can benefit our hometown.

President-elect Sammy York will hold his installation banquet on Tuesday, June 24 at Meadowbrook Country Club, and Steve Brown will be installed as District Governor on Saturday, June 28 at Meadowbrook Country Club. Both take office on July 1.

This Wednesday, the club will have an assembly to look back at the year of David Castles' presidency.

Kilgore Rotary Club meets each Wednesday at noon in the ballroom of the Meadowbrook Country Club. Guests are always welcome.