Pruning Contest 2009
SKIES CLEAR FOR ANNUAL NAPA PRUNING CONTEST
Winners Take Home Over $1,300 plus prizes
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» "Usibelli worker Gallegos wins pruning contest"
Napa Valley Register (2/13/2009)
» "Training to be a cut above the rest"
St. Helena Star (2/20/2009)
(2/20/2009)
The Napa Valley Grapegrowers held the 8th annual Napa County Pruning Contest in Yountville today, where 59 farmworkers challenged each other’s art, skill, and speed at pruning Napa Valley vineyards. After the contest, everyone enjoyed fresh tacos complements of Hudson Vineyards. Four winners took home over $1,300 in cash winnings, an armful of tools, clothing, and other prizes. The winners were: 1st Place – Juan Gallegos from Usibelli Vineyards, 2nd Place – Paulino Velasquez Herenandez from Hall Wines, 3rd Place – Jesus Vega from Flora Springs Winery; and 4th Place went to Jose Sandrez from Servin Lopez Vineyard Management.
The prizes were as follows: 1st Place - $600 plus custom trophy buckle, pruning shears, holster, and Target gift card; 2nd Place - $400 plus shears, hand saw and a $50 Safeway gift card; 3rd Place - $200 plus shears and a $50 Safeway gift card; and $100 plus shears and a $50 Safeway gift card for 4th place. Additionally, the NVG encourages winners’ employees to match their cash prizes. All contestants received a sunhat from Pruning Contest premier sponsor, Central Valley Builders Supply.
Contest Committee Chair Mary Maher noted that “This Pruning Contest was one of the all-time great days in the Napa Valley. We let the world know how important farmworkers are to the quality reputation of Napa Valley vineyards!”
This year’s contest is made possible by the generous contributions of Central Valley Builders Supply, A&J Vineyard Supply, California Grapevine Nursery, California Grower Foundation, CropCare Associates, Gripple Incorporated, Harlan Estate, Hudson Vineyards, Jimmy Vasser Chevrolet, Michael Wolf Vineyard Services, Napa Valley Ag Supply, North Coast Irrigation, Pahlmeyer Vineyards, Premiere Viticultural Services, Pina Vineyard Management, Rainbow Ag Services, Renteria Vineyard Management, Sunridge Nurseries, Swanson Vineyards & Winery, Umpqua Bank, Vine Hill Ranch, Vineyard Industry Products, and Walsh Vineyard Management.
Premier Sponsor
Read about the 2008 Pruning Contest
Read about the 2007 Pruning Contest
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2009 Winners
photo courtesy of the St. Helena Star
1st place
Juan Gallegos
of Usibelli Vineyards
2nd place
Paulino Velasquez Herenandez
of Hall Wines
3rd place
Jesus Vega
of Flora Springs Winery
and 4th place
Jose Sandrez
of Servin Lopez Vyd Mgmt.
Thank you to our sponsors:
A&J Vineyard Supply
California Grapevine Nursery
California Grower Foundation
Central Valley Builders Supply
Crop Care Associates Inc
Gripple Inc
Harlan Estate
Hudson Vineyards
Jimmy Vasser Chevrolet
Michael Wolf Vineyard Services
Napa Valley Ag Supply
North Coast Irrigation
Pahlmeyer Vineyards
Pina Vineyard Management LLC
Premiere Viticultural Services
Rainbow Ag Services
Renteria Vineyard Management
Sunridge Nurseries
Swanson Vineyards and Winery
Umpqua Bank
Vine Hill Ranch
Vineyard Industry Products
Walsh Vineyard Management