Fort Morgan

James Graff
Graff’s Turf Farms, Inc.
Fort Morgan, CO

James Graff is the co-owner of Graff’s Turf Farms, along with long-time production manager and family friend, Marty Thiel. The business is highly automated using the most select turfgrass seeds and the most advanced processes in the turfgrass industry. The farm ships turf to NFL, MLB, MLS and collegiate stadiums and facilities across the nation.

James has served as a Director and as the Treasurer of the Rocky Mountain Regional Turfgrass Association, Director of the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado Foundation, and Chairman of the Turf Producers International/Turf Resource Center Scholarship Committee. He is also a member of the Rocky Mountain Sod Growers Association, Rocky Mountain Golf Course Superintendents Association, Golf Course Superintendents of America, and Colorado Sports Turf Managers Association. James was appointed to serve as Commercial Director on the national board for the Sports Turf Managers Association and has since been elected as the Commercial Vice President.

James, a native of Fort Morgan, is the founder and Executive Director of The School for the Performing Arts.  A classically trained baritone, James performed in several ensembles, choirs, musicals, and madrigals, as well as solo recitals throughout his high school and collegiate education.  James has had principal roles in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Fiddler on the Roof, and The Fantasticks. Additionally, James is lead vocalist on the worship team at The Sanctuary Church of Fort Morgan.

James earned his Bachelor of Arts in vocal music at Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska.  At Hastings, he was assigned to his accompanist, Letty, whom he married.  They have been married for 16 years and have four children, Hannah, Simon, Jacob, and Rachel. James is an avid runner and has completed two marathons.

James and Letty returned to Fort Morgan in 2001 to join the family business and since then have been very active in the arts and public education. James has served on the RE-3 Board of Education and helped spearhead a bond election to build a new middle school facility for the community in 2016.