Changing Out the Sod Shouldn't Be This Hard?

I know in Utah we do this differently.  Maybe there is a logical reason for removing the sod from a yard using a machete and a shovel.  For some reason they are changing out all the grass and have torn out many of the old trees and flowers to be replaced hopefully before the new president and his wife arrive in 6 months.  What hard work this is.  And they are pulling out the weeds from it because they're taking it to a chapel in Panuco where the grass has died.