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Quarterly Update from Beth Vukmanic | Q3 2024

If you were a Member in 2013, you remember Fritz Westover when he was our Technical Program Manager.

Fritz organized grower-focused programming for Tailgates and the Sustainable Ag Expo, kept Earth Day Food & Wine running smoothly from the back of a gator, and headed up a USDA grant-funded project to use soil moisture sensors for vineyard irrigation management.

When we began planning this year‘s Expo, the Outreach Committee reflected on 2023’s highlights. The inaugural Welcome Event with Terry Bates's Light Sabers and Jedi presentation was a HIT. Attendees loved how the conversation set the stage for his keynote at the main event.

We wanted to anchor the 2024 Expo with a dynamic expert. Fritz was a clear choice.

Personally, I credit Fritz with naming the weekly community workouts that I host ”Bethercize”. He was a regular participant during his California years and we still see him on the occasional Zoom workout.

I am glad to work with Fritz again this November. As we say, “Once on the Team, always on the Team.”

 

Pop Quiz

How many CE hours can you earn at the Sustainable Ag Expo?

a) 17 DPR & 27.5 CCA 

b) 7 DPR & 20 CCA

c) 10 DPR & 25 CCA

(Answer at the end)

The Premiere Winegrowing Event of the Year

We’ve been working all year to bring you the latest viticulture and technology at the Sustainable Ag Expo:

100% grower-driven. Get your ticket today. 

Changing Lives Through Education

We are thrilled to publish our second Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship Impact Report.

Scholar Rosa says, "Immigrating here was the spark that ignited the fire in me to be a proud member of the country I call home. This opportunity is a dream come true.” 

In partnership with Must! Charities

NEW SIP Certified Vineyards

This year, 12 new vineyards made the incredible achievement of earning SIP Certified. Thanks to their hard work and dedication, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara counties are now home to an additional 2500 acres of sustainably farmed vineyards.

Congratulations to both new and renewing SIP Certified members! By implementing the program’s rigorous Standards, these environmentally and socially responsible land stewards protect the people and the planet.

P.S. If you’re looking to buy or sell SIP Certified grapes or wine, check out the Classifieds.

This SIP Bears Repeating 

Every sustainable wine business has a unique story. And we want to help them tell it!

Hospitality teams from 8 SIP Certified brands had us out to teach them about their certification and help them write their own Sustainable Story:

If your property is SIP Certified and you want to join these brands in writing your own Sustainable Story, please reach out to whitney@vineyardteam.org.

Education without the Travel

Whether you need to earn DPR/CCA hours or want to expand your vit knowledge, Sustainable Winegrowing On Demand has 30 online courses you can watch on your schedule.

Watch before 11/29/2024!

Made possible by Western SARE

Edutainment to get you Through Harvest

Want to listen to the latest science, research, and marketing for the wine industry?

Simply search for Sustainable Winegrowing on your favorite podcast player and enjoy nearly 250 episodes.

Terry Bates (Cornell University) says, "I am a huge fan of this podcast. I consider myself a production viticulturist so as I am driving from one conference to the next, I love to listen to this podcast. It is a great way to stay up to date on the research and progress that is going on."

Tailgates

While Tailgate season is just kicking off for football fans, it's a wrap for Vineyard Team.

From January through August, 392 growers and ag professionals attended 8 Tailgates across 3 counties to learn and share about topics like biochar, developing a new vineyard site, regenerative agriculture, and more!

We’re already planning a great lineup for 2025 including dry farming, important pollinators, minimizing row passes, grazing, biofungicides, vertebrate pest control, and prescribed burning.

What’s Up Next? 

Sincerely,

Beth Vukmanic

P.S. Pop Quiz answer is: A. 17 DPR & 27.5 CCA 

You read that right. You can earn a whopping 17 DPR and 27.5 CCA hours between in-person and online at the Sustainable Ag Expo. 

All two-day ticket holders have full access to 13 online courses between October 14 and November 29. 

When you attend the November 12 -13 seminars at the Madonna Inn Expo Center in San Luis Obispo, California you not only get a chance to earn more CE hours, but you also have a unique opportunity to speak directly with the experts. 

We hope to see you at the event. 

Please stop by the registration table to say ”hi”!
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