Programs

 

Pruning Contest

Napa, CA, February 23, 2007

The Napa Valley Grapegrowers held the 6th annual Napa County Pruning Contest in Yountville today, where over 50 farmworkers challenged each other's art, skill, and speed at pruning Napa Valley's famous vines. In the weeks preceding the contest, many vineyard managers held competitions within their own company before sending their top pruners to the county finals. After the contest, contestants, vineyard managers, sponsors and NVG members and staff enjoyed fresh tacos, complements of Hudson Vineyards.

Four winners took home over $1,500 in prizes: 1st Place – Eleazar Ramirez of Swanson Vineyards; 2nd Place – Jorge Santos of Trefethen Vineyards; 3rd Place – Alejandro Gaytan of Beckstoffer Vineyards; and 4th Place went to Rigoberto Cordova of Vino Farms.

The prizes were as follows: $800 plus Felco shears, saw, and loppers for 1st place, $400 plus Felco shears and hand saw for 2nd place, $200 plus shears for 3rd place, and $100 plus shears for 4th place. Additionally, the winners' employees often match their cash prizes. All contestants received a t-shirt from Central Valley Builders Supply and finalists got hats from California Grapevine Nursery.

This year's contest was made possible by the generous contributions of:

• •  Kelly Maher Viticultural Services
  •  Felco
  •  Hudson Vineyards
  •  Harlan Estate
  •  Napa Valley Ag Supply
  •  Central Valley Builders Supply
  •  Lampson Tractor
  •  Rainbow Ag
  •  Pahlmeyer
  •  Walsh Vineyard Management
  •  California Grapevine Nursery
  •  Sunridge Nurseries
  •  The Vintage Bank
  •  Pina Vineyard Management
  •  Premiere Viticultural Services
  •  Snowden Vineyards
  •  A & J Ag Supply
  •  and North Coast Irrigation

Return to "Industry & Our Community"

2007 Winners

From left to right:

2nd place
Jorge Santos of Trefethen

1st place
Eleazar Ramirez of Swanson

3rd place
Alejandro Gaytan of Beckstoffer Vineyards

and 4th place
Rigoberto Cordova of Vino Farms