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Turf Grass Misconceptions: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt Your Lawn
Artificial turf has gained significant popularity due to its low maintenance, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendliness. But even with its growing use in landscaping, sports fields, and playgrounds, misconceptions about turf grass still confuse many property owners and professionals alike. Whether you're a homeowner, landscape architect, or facility manager, understanding the truth about turf — especially how to maintain it properly with the right infill — is the key to long-term performance and curb appeal. Let’s break down the biggest myths and show you how to keep your turf in top shape with premium infill from Erna Sands in Mason, TX. ❌ Misconception #1: Turf Grass is Completely Maintenance-Free The truth: Turf requires less maintenance than natural grass, but not no maintenance. Just like any outdoor surface, artificial turf collects dirt, dust, debris, and even bacteria. Over time, this can lead to matting, odor buildup, or poor drainage. ✅ Solution:
❌ Misconception #2: All Infill Materials Are the Same The truth: The type and quality of infill you use can make or break your turf system. Poor-quality or poorly sized infill can:
❌ Misconception #3: Infill Color Doesn’t Matter The truth: Infill color can affect aesthetics, heat retention, and even UV reflection. Erna Sands gives you the ability to customize your infill color — whether you’re going for a natural look, a school color theme, or a company-branded installation. Our custom-colored infill options:
❌ Misconception #4: Turf Doesn’t Need Professional Products The truth: Even though turf is durable, it performs best when installed and maintained with professional-grade products — especially when it comes to infill. At Erna Sands, we don’t just sell infill — we engineer it. Our infill:
🛠️ Why Proper Infill Maintenance Matters Over time, infill can shift, settle, or break down — especially in high-traffic areas. If neglected, it may lead to:
✅ Erna Sands Turf Infill — The Right Choice for Lasting Turf Performance Choosing the right infill is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when it comes to turf. At Erna Sands, we offer: 🔹 Premium turf infill, screened and sized for all applications 🔹 Multiple sizes to meet project specs and performance goals 🔹 Custom-colored infill to match your brand or design vision 🔹 Consistent quality, delivered locally from Mason, TX Whether you're building a playground, backyard putting green, or athletic field — we’re here to help your turf perform its best. 📞 Let’s Talk Turf Have questions about the right infill for your project? 📍 Erna Sands – Mason, TX 📞 325.216.4189 📧 [email protected] 🌐 www.ernasands.com We’re here to help you build better turf systems — from the ground up. Call us today to request a sample or place your order. Let's get your turf looking and performing better than ever. Coffee, Cold Calls, and Custom River Rocks: A Sales Survival Guide
If you’ve ever chugged three cups of coffee before 10 a.m., mentally rehearsed a sales pitch in the shower, or scheduled 15 discovery calls only to have 12 of them ghost you — congrats, you’re living the sales life. Welcome to the grind. But this isn’t a sob story. This is a survival guide — forged in caffeine, cold calls, and yes... custom river rocks. ☕ Step 1: Fuel the Grind (Coffee Is a Personality Type) Let’s face it — no sales day starts without a cup of liquid ambition. Whether it’s a triple espresso or yesterday’s leftover drip from the office kitchen, caffeine is the foundation of charisma, resilience, and slightly unhinged optimism.
📞 Step 2: Cold Calls, Hot Takes Cold calling is like speed dating with people who hate you. You’ll meet:
💼 Step 3: The CRM Black Hole You update your CRM more than your family group chat. Remember that guy from the plumbing company who said “circle back in 2 weeks”? Yeah, he changed numbers. And jobs. And possibly his name. But you keep going — because you’re not just managing leads. You’re managing momentum. You’re a pipeline poet. 🪨 Step 4: Sell Something Real — Like Rocks When you’re hustling day in and day out, the product matters. It’s not just about quotas — it’s about believing in what you sell. That’s why we keep it grounded. Literally. At ERNA Sands, we sell:
🧠 Step 5: Find the Grit (Literally and Metaphorically) Sales is hard. Some days, you crush it. Others, you wonder why you didn’t just open a taco truck. But you’re not just a “sales guy.” You’re a solution-finder. A conversation-starter. A grit-powered growth engine. At ERNA Sands, we don’t just sell grit — we live it. 💬 Step 6: Laugh Through the Chaos If you can’t laugh at the chaos, you’ll cry in your CRM. So yeah, maybe your boss wants 150% quota this month. Maybe your client “just needs to talk to their team” for the 11th time. And maybe your coffee’s cold and your pipeline’s colder. But you're still here. Making it happen. One call, one pitch, one rock at a time. 👊 Final Word: Get Gritty. Sell Boldly. At ERNA Sands, we get the grind. We know what it’s like to build something from nothing — and we supply the materials that help others do the same. Whether you’re building landscapes, construction sites, or your career, we’ve got the rocks and sand to support your hustle. 📣 Ready to bring some real grit into your next project? Contact ERNA Sands for wholesale pricing, delivery options, and custom orders. 📧 admin@ernasands.com 📞 325-216-4189 🌐 www.ernasands.com Because sometimes, the smartest thing a sales guy can do… is sell the rocks everyone else overlooks. How Entrepreneurship Is Reimagining Agriculture in Rural Mason, Texas
In the rolling hills of Mason, Texas, a quiet revolution is taking root. What was once a sleepy ranching town is now blossoming into a vibrant hub of agricultural innovation and entrepreneurship. From smart farming tools to locally made food products with national reach, Mason’s rural roots are fueling a new kind of prosperity—one that will take center stage at the upcoming Greater Mason Co. Venture Fest on October 2nd. The Future of Rural Starts Here Mason has long been a place where hard work and heritage go hand in hand. But over the past few years, something new has been growing: a spirit of innovation powered by small-town entrepreneurs, agri-tech adopters, and visionary community leaders. This October, that spirit comes to life at the Greater Mason Co. Venture Fest, a one-day celebration of rural entrepreneurship, innovation, and community resilience. 🎉 SAVE THE DATE: 📍 Greater Mason Co. Venture Fest 📅 October 2, 2025 📍 Downtown Mason Square & Innovation Hub 🕙 10AM – 6PM Expect local vendors, youth pitch competitions, hands-on innovation demos, and keynote speakers driving the future of rural Texas. How Mason Farmers Are Thinking Like Startups What makes Mason stand out isn’t just its rich agricultural history—it’s the way locals are blending tradition with transformation. Farmers like Jake and Emily Ramirez are using solar irrigation, drone mapping, and data-driven soil health tools to optimize every acre of their ranch—while maintaining the values passed down through generations. “Innovation doesn’t mean abandoning the old ways,” says Jake. “It means building on them.” Other entrepreneurs are bringing value-added agriculture to the forefront. Whether it's artisan goat cheese, pasture-raised beef or pork, or Texas wine, Mason producers are creating rural brands with global reach. Venture Fest: A Catalyst for New Ideas The Greater Mason Co. Venture Fest isn’t just a festival—it’s a launchpad for local ideas. Organizers have designed the event to spotlight:
“This isn’t just about celebration,” says Katie Milton Jordan, organizer of the 2025 Greater Mason Co. Venture Fest. “It’s about inspiration and activation. We're planting the seeds for the next decade of growth.” Empowering the Next Generation The energy in Mason isn’t only coming from established ranchers—it's bursting out of local schools and youth programs. FFA chapters, 4-H clubs, and school ag-tech teams are participating in the Venture Fest through pitch sessions, hands-on exhibits, and innovation showcases. These young visionaries are presenting ideas like:
Big Lessons from a Small Town Mason is fast becoming a model for rural resilience. Through smart agriculture, entrepreneurial grit, and community-first innovation, this Texas town is redefining what’s possible for small places with big dreams. As the Venture Fest approaches, the message is clear: You don’t have to leave rural America to build something amazing—you can build it right here. Call to Action Join us on October 2nd in Mason, Texas, for the Greater Mason Co. Venture Fest—where tradition meets transformation and small-town dreams turn into big-impact ventures. Whether you're a farmer, maker, dreamer, or investor—there’s a place for you in Mason’s future. 📞 Want to learn more or get involved? Reach out to the team behind the Greater Mason Co. Venture Fest. 📧 Email: [email protected] 📍 Venture Fest Info: Registration Form  How to Recruit More Women into Manufacturing and Male-Dominated Fields Despite decades of progress, many technical and industrial fields — like manufacturing, construction, and engineering — remain heavily male-dominated. Yet as the manufacturing sector evolves with automation, advanced technologies, and new business models, the demand for diverse talent has never been greater. Women bring crucial skills, perspectives, and leadership styles that modern manufacturing needs. The challenge is not about capability — it’s about access, visibility, and opportunity. In this post, we’ll explore why recruiting more women into manufacturing is essential, the challenges they face, and actionable strategies companies can use to foster gender diversity and build a more inclusive workforce. The Gender Gap in Manufacturing: Why It Still Exists Women currently make up nearly 47% of the overall workforce, yet they represent only about 29% of the manufacturing labor force. That gap grows even wider in roles such as mechanical engineering, welding, machining, or plant operations — where female representation can dip below 10%. So why is this the case? Some of the most common barriers include:
Why Gender Diversity Is Good for Business More than just a moral imperative, increasing gender diversity is a competitive advantage. According to a McKinsey report:
Strategies to Recruit and Retain More Women in Manufacturing Here are five actionable strategies companies can use to increase gender diversity in traditionally male-dominated fields: 1. Change the Narrative- Start by shifting the perception of what manufacturing is today. This isn’t your grandfather’s factory job. Today’s manufacturing roles are high-tech, clean, safe, and often driven by automation, robotics, data, and precision engineering. Marketing materials, job descriptions, and career outreach programs should reflect this modern reality — and include women in imagery, testimonials, and messaging. 2. Create Female-Friendly Job Descriptions- Unconscious bias can creep into job postings. Research shows that certain words and phrases ("aggressive," "dominant," "competitive") can discourage female applicants. Instead:
In addition, show clear career pathways. Map out how entry-level roles can lead to leadership positions and ensure women have access to the training and development needed to grow. 4. Build Flexibility Into the Workplace- Flexible scheduling, hybrid roles, part-time options, and robust parental leave policies are no longer “nice to have” — they’re expectations. Companies that offer flexibility are more attractive to not just women, but all modern workers, especially Gen Z and Millennials. 5. Partner with Schools and STEM Programs- The pipeline starts early. Partner with local schools, technical colleges, and STEM nonprofits to expose young women to manufacturing careers. Host “Women in Industry” days, sponsor scholarships, or offer internships targeted to female students. The earlier the exposure, the better the long-term impact. Real-Life Spotlight: Jessica J. When Jessica joined ERNA Sands as an Executive Assistant in 2023, she was one of two women in the office. But that didn’t stop her from quickly rising through the ranks. Today, she is a multi-functional operations lead and is passionate about mentoring other women in the field. “I want young girls to know that they belong here,” she says. “Manufacturing is about creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork, and women excel at all of those. Together, we can redefine what a manufacturing workforce looks like, and who it includes.” The Future Is Inclusive — Let’s Build It Together If manufacturing wants to stay competitive, it needs to be diverse. That means building workplaces where everyone — regardless of gender — has the opportunity to thrive. At ERNA Sands, we’re proud to be part of that change. 📢 We're hiring across a range of manufacturing, and operations roles — and we welcome women to apply. Whether you’re experienced in the field or just starting your career journey, there’s a place for you here. Join Us: 🔗ERNA SANDS JOB APPLICATION Interested in learning more about opportunities for women in manufacturing? Contact us at [email protected]. Flooding in Mason County: A Challenge for Business — and an Unexpected Opportunity How Local Businesses Are Navigating Washed-Out Roads, Surging Demand, and Community Recovery
Mason County recently experienced historic flooding that closed highways, disrupted logistics, and left residents and businesses scrambling. While the damage has been severe — cutting off access and flooding homes — the community’s resilience and the resulting surge in demand for construction and repair materials have created both challenges and unexpected opportunities for local businesses. The Bad: Infrastructure Woes and Supply Chain Disruptions The immediate effects of the flooding were devastating:
The Good: Surging Demand for Repair Materials and Local ServicesOnce the waters began to recede, the recovery process kicked off — and that’s where some businesses found opportunity.
“People were calling from everywhere asking, ‘Can you deliver materials?’” said a delivery driver for a Mason County aggregate supplier. “The challenge was getting there. But the phone never stopped ringing.” What Local Businesses Can Do Right Now To thrive in this recovery phase — and prepare for future weather events — local businesses should consider the following steps: 1. Partner with Other Local Businesses- Collaborate with nearby operators to share logistics resources, coordinate deliveries, and refer customers. A local contractor might team up with a gravel yard for bundled service packages. 2. Communicate Proactively- Use social media, signage, and email newsletters to let customers know:
3. Plan for Resilience- Invest in infrastructure, insurance, and flood-proofing measures to protect your own operations and stock in the future. 4. Support Community Initiatives- Donate materials or time to community clean-up events or infrastructure repair efforts. This builds goodwill and trust while also increasing visibility. Looking Ahead: A New Normal? As extreme weather becomes more frequent, Mason County — like many rural communities — will need to rethink infrastructure and emergency planning. But this storm also revealed something else: local businesses are more than economic engines — they’re critical partners in recovery. By staying flexible, collaborative, and responsive, Mason County businesses can turn even a flood into a moment of resilience and growth. CTA: If your business needs road materials, emergency delivery, or help planning flood resilience, our team is here to help. 📞 Call us at (325)216-4189 or 📧 email us at [email protected] to get started. |
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ERNA Sands 224 Evans Lane Mason, Texas 76856 325-216-4189 Answering Service 325-265-4224 Office Direct |