I keep getting this
mantra: Unable to resolve geometry opobj/test_groom/OUT_GROOM.
Please ensure the object is included for rendering.
You can turn off vm_renderable if needed.

everything looks fine and can't figure it out … I'm sure I'm doing something obvious….

Either the guidedeform, groombj or groommerge should have its display flag ON, in order to get the hairgen to show at render time.

gee…I knew it was something simple….thanks

No worries, I've been there.