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Olympic News Release

(As Released to the Arkansas Media, 19 July 1996)

Arkansas Participates in the Olympics  

Little Rock. Quail Valley Farms has been selected by the International Olympic Committee to provide presentation quality grasses for the infield at the Olympic Stadium in Atlanta.

While most of us are fast asleep Sunday night, tired out from watching this weekend's opening ceremonies at the Olympics, thirty-six refrigerated trucks carrying large rolls of freshly cut Arkansas sportsturf will be pulling into Olympic Stadium.

Not to interfere with stadium events, 12,500 square yards of turf will be delivered and installed beginning Sunday night at 1:00 a.m. until the first athletic events take place on Tuesday morning. "With so much human traffic, the torch lighting ceremonies will pretty much trash this field, but in a matter of hours, our grass will transform the infield into a world-class athletic playing surface,"said co-owner of Quail Valley Farms, Roger Gravis.

The Olympic Committee wants perfect grass for their big show in Atlanta. But what kind of grass is worthy of such an honor? The winner is Meyer Z-52 Zoysia. This certified pure-breed is able to withstand extreme heat and the expected high-traffic pounding of the hundreds of go-for-broke competing athletes.

Before the caravan of refrigerated trucks roll into Atlanta, and before it ís carefully harvested from the farm, the turf will be mowed twice in different directions, swept, vacuumed, and even colored a dark "international TV camera pleasing" green. Then it will be cut in large rolls with extra dirt to protect the roots and to reduce the number of installation seams. The careful attention to details will result in an immediate backdrop for the summer games.

Roger Gravis' firm was contracted to provide the turf over several national competitors. "The logistics are like planning an event of our own. It ís not every day you see thirty-six refrigerated trucks driving down our farm road." said Gravis.

Gravis continued, "We are very excited to be chosen as the sports turf provider to the Olympics. It ís a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our company."

In the next two weeks, when you see athletes at the Olympic stadium, like javelin hurlers, discus throwers, shot putters, and other track competitions, you can be proud to know that they're playing on Arkansas real estate, Quail Valley grass that is.

Quail Valley Farms is a national sod producer selling grasses from the Gulf States to the Great Lakes. The company cultivates seven varieties of registered and certified grasses ranging from front yard grasses to sports field turf.

The farm is located one mile off Interstate-40, south on Kerr Road. This is the company ís seventeenth year in operation.

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501.975.6281 or 800.666.0007 or FAX 501.975.6286

www.quailvalley.com.

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