Meet MSU’s new crop of turfgrass experts
Michigan State University’s internationally recognized Turfgrass Management Program is working in collaboration with The Fédération Internationale de Football Association, or FIFA, and the University of Tennessee, to provide the natural grass playing surfaces for the FIFA World Cup 26.
This is the second time MSU has had the opportunity to work with the FIFA World Cup, providing a new generation of students with the chance to make a global impact.
Taking root in East Lansing
Jackie Lyn “Jack” Guevara first came to East Lansing from the Philippines in the fall of 2016 for a study abroad program with the University of the Philippines, Los Baños.
“When my college advisor, Dr. Gina Pangga, found out that I was going to MSU, she said, ‘Take the turfgrass program. Take turf classes— all of them,’” said Guevara. “At first, I didn’t even know what turf was — ‘I guess it’s just grass,’ I was thinking. We don’t really have research programs on turfgrass at home, but I took her advice, and I’m so glad I did.”
Guevara took courses from John “Trey” Rogers III, professor of turfgrass research and director of the MSU Turfgrass Management Program. She found her interest in soil science paired well with turfgrass management and decided to pursue a career in turfgrass research.
However, Guevara knew she needed practical experience, so she approached Rogers to ask for advice on securing an internship. Rogers helped Guevara land a position at the Country Club Philippines. After this experience, Guevara enrolled at MSU as a master’s student in plant, soil and microbial sciences.
When Guevara heard about the FIFA World Cup 26 research coming to MSU, she decided to pursue a doctorate focused on examining sod grown on plastic, eventually collaborating with sod farmers across the country growing the grass for the event.
“Dr. Trey Rogers is the reason I’m where I am today. He’s been there for me from the very beginning,” said Guevara, who is now an assistant professor in MSU’s Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences.
“Dr. Rogers took a chance on a clueless undergrad student that was taking his class on a study abroad. He took a chance on me when I applied for his Ph.D. program because it’s a demanding program, and he’s selective about his students. Having him here for this journey has been very reassuring for me because he has supported my career for eight years.”
“Jackie is a rock star. She provides a lot of great new perspectives and ideas to our team and has been an immense help to our department already as a young faculty member.” - John “Trey” Rogers III, professor of turfgrass research
“Participating in the FIFA project has been surreal. I remember one of our first field days, speaking with representatives from FIFA and them talking about this being the biggest project of their careers,” Guevara said. “For me, it’s the first project of my career, and I’m still learning so much, but seeing those players on the grass we helped grow has been very rewarding.”
Laying the foundation for success
For doctoral student Ryan Bearss, his passion for turfgrass research grew over time.
“I am like a lot of other students in that I wasn’t super sure what I wanted to do with my career,” said Bearss. “I was a music producer, and I had picked up a job at a nursery in metro Detroit, where I was a plant diagnostician. That’s where I ended up picking up my green thumb.
“People came to me with problems on their lawn and, at first, I had no idea how to solve it either, but I liked learning about the different plants to solve problems that help people, and that’s when I found my calling,” Bearss said.
Bearss enrolled in the Institute of Agricultural Technology in the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Through the Turfgrass Management Program for Sports and Commercial Turf Management, he discovered his interest in applied research. He continued his academic career at MSU with a master’s degree in crop and soil sciences.
Bearss is now two years into his doctorate in turfgrass research. He serves as a research assistant for the FIFA World Cup 26 project and is responsible for enhancing sod-on-plastic systems and improving methods for supporting hybrid-grass systems.
“I can’t speak highly enough about the IAT program because it gave me the baseline knowledge to know that was the path I wanted to take and formed the stepping stones that I’ve been able to build upon,” said Bearss. “The things I learned in the IAT program are all things I am using now in graduate school; I’m just able to take it to a deeper level.”
Bearss credits Rogers and the late MSU professor, Joe Vargas, for allowing him to “cut his teeth” as an undergraduate researcher in their programs and, as a graduate student, his experience has expanded with trips to Qatar to visit World Cup host sites and learn about FIFA field management practices.
The research doesn’t stop for Bearss once the final goal is scored in 2026. His sites are set on improving efficiency and expanding the use of sod-on-plastic and modular-grass systems.
“I’m very excited to see the novel ideas that come from this project,” Bearss said. “The World Cup gives us the chance to assess where we are and evolve and advance the research we’re doing to further apply these systems to other leagues — the MLB, NFL, MLS — to ensure that sod-on-plastic, temporary field systems and hybrid systems are a mainstay for years to come.”