111 | Joel Simmons: The Pioneer of Biological Soil Management

From Leadership on the Links by Tyler Bloom

July 14, 2026 · 52 min · Episode 111

About this episode

Joel Simmons discusses biological soil management and its impact on the turfgrass industry.

Leadership on the Links Summit Join us at the Leadership on the Links Summit on October 12, 2026 at Toftrees Golf Resort in State College, Pennsylvania. This one-day gathering brings together superintendents, directors of agronomy, club executives, and industry leaders for a day focused on personal branding, leadership development, and building high performing teams. Register here: https://bloomgolfpartners.com/our-events/ ------ In this episode of Leadership on the Links, we explore the science and philosophy of biological soil management with Joel Simmons, Founder and President of EarthWorks Natural Organic Products. Joel shares his journey from Penn State county extension agent to co-founding EarthWorks with the late Jerry Brunetti in 1988, pioneering a carbon based approach to soil health that was once dismissed by academics and is now standard practice across the turfgrass industry. Tyler and Joel discuss why soil testing functions like blood work for a golf course, what separates truly engaged superintendents from the rest, and how emerging technology, from autonomous mowers to AI driven agronomic programs, is reshaping the profession. Joel also reflects on his decade…

People in this episode

Host: Tyler Bloom

Guest: Joel Simmons

Topics covered

biological soil management
leadership development
turfgrass industry
superintendent development
soil health
emerging technology

Keywords

soil health
agronomy
superintendents
carbon based approach
autonomous mowers
AI driven programs
leadership
personal branding

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: EarthWorks Natural Organic Products, GCSAA

Books & works: Soil First Academy

Places: State College, Pennsylvania