Identify the threats bur oak blight and two-lined chestnut borer have on native bur oaks in the Midwest and discuss the strategies involved to maintain healthy bur oaks. 

Speaker Jay Goughnour, Arborjet|Ecologel - Upper Midwest Regional Technical Manager

Jay started at Arborjet in the winter of 2020. Growing up on a farm in central Iowa, Jay spent a majority of his time outdoors. In that time, he found a passion for turf in the golf industry, which eventually led to him working at SiteOne Landscape supply. Through his work experiences, Jay was able to broaden his expertise to tree care, irrigation, and landscape lighting.

As an Upper Midwest Regional Technical Manager, Jay’s responsibility is to expand sales, provide technical support and share plant health care solutions with customers. With over 25 years in the green industry, Jay has held positions such as golf course superintendent, green industry sales management, and even owned a golf course. In 2008, Jay purchased his hometown golf course and operated it for four years. After the floods of 2008, he represented the National Golf Course Owners Association on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. to explain to lawmakers how golf’s exclusion from disaster-related tax relief was unfairly burdensome to golf course operators. Jay has also previously held the seat of President for the Iowa Golf Course Superintendents Association and is currently serving on the Iowa Turfgrass Institute board of directors representing the Iowa Professional Lawn Care Association. When not spending time his wife and children, you can find Jay anywhere outdoors enjoying hunting, fishing, golfing, and cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones.