Paul Kuhna
Head Groundskeeper - Lansing Lugnuts (Oakland Athletics High A Affiliate)
Representing:  Sports or Institutional Turf

Home town: Grosse Pointe, Michigan

How did you get interested in turf?

  “My parents had season tickets to the Detroit Tigers, so I went to about 20 or 30 games a season growing up.  So I really just like being at the ballpark a lot, being around the field, running the bases after games, when I was a little kid I thought that was awesome.  

What made you decide to attend Michigan State University?

  “Michigan State has a great turf program, but I would have gone there for anything.  My dad went there, uncles went there, I grew up a Spartan fan my whole life.  I grew up going to games there, baseball, football, basketball.  There was no other school I was looking to go to.

How did you end up with the Lansing Lugnuts?  

  “I started an internship with the Detroit Tigers my junior year. I actually had to miss a semester of college, because the internship went from March all the way through November, so I had to take an extra semester to do that.  That helped me be able to start here with the Lugnuts the following spring as the Assistant Greenskeeper in 2017.  I really like being in Lansing, so when the Head Groundskeeper job opened up, I applied and was excited to get the job and be able to come back here!  

What are your thoughts on being a board member with the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation?

“I’m really excited to be a part of it.  While attending Michigan State I learned about the foundation, but to be a part of it, I’m really excited.  I’m excited to learn from some great colleagues in all parts of the industry.