Enough grass to cover 3,000 football fields
| 30 Aug 2016 | 08:43
Four generations: The good folks at Pine Island Turf celebrated their 50th anniversary on Saturday, Aug. 28, with a barbecue on their main farm off County Route 1 in Pine Island. Pictured from left to right are Kelsey Lain Gurda, vice president; her son, Brayden Charles Gurda; Charles "Chip" Lain Jr.; president and owner since 1995; and Charles "Charlie" Lain, who founded the business in 1966.
PINE ISLAND — In 1966, Charles "Charlie" Lain started Pine Island Turf with 15 acres. He and his wife Shari cultivated sod, soybean and barley.
Last Saturday, he and his family celebrated 50 years of doing business with staff and customers.
Today, the company farms 800 acres: 500 for pine turf sod; 250 of soybeans; and 50 for malting barley.
"Since 1966," Kelsey Lain Gurda, company vice president, said in an email exchange with The Warwick Advertiser, "we have sold enough sod to cover 3,000 football fields or 45,000 average home lawns.
"We are proud to be a family-run farm," she added, "and hope to continue for another 50+ years."