Home Industry News Releases 17th Annual Napa County Pruning Contest Brings Out the Best

17th Annual Napa County Pruning Contest Brings Out the Best

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photo courtesy of Suzanne Becker Bronk

NAPA, CA (February 5, 2018) – The Napa Valley Grapegrowers’ (NVG) and Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation held its 17th Annual Napa County Pruning Contest at Beringer’s Gamble Ranch Vineyard on Saturday, February 3.  With 35% more participants than last year and over 300 people in attendance, this year’s contest generated the most excitement to date.  The prizes offered and the community support were also at an all-time high.  

“This year’s contestants came determined to win. For many, it was their fourth of fifth year competing, so they knew the level of skill and focus needed,” said Rolando Sanchez of Walsh Vineyards Management and a member of the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation’s Education Committee. Sanchez continued, “Every competitor brings years of experience and is considered by their peers and industry leaders to be the best in their profession.”

Each of the 139 contestants pruned five vines in the day’s preliminary competition.  Those with the highest scores went on to the final round, which produced the winners: 4 in the women’s division and 4 in the men’s.   The winners took home more than $950 in cash, armfuls of pruning tools, clothing, gift cards and other prizes.  The crowd favorite award was a handmade silver belt buckle given to the 1st place winners.  Employers typically match the cash prize winnings, so the day was highly rewarding for the top 8 finalists.  All contestants took home 17th Annual Pruning Contest sweatshirts and enjoyed a catered lunch between competition rounds.

2018 was the first year the contest was held on a Saturday, making it easier for family, friends, and colleagues to attend and to cheer on their favorite contestants.

photos courtesy of Suzanne Becker Bronk

All contestants were Napa County residents and full-time employees. All who participated volunteered their time to compete and most were paid by their employers for the day.  Many had successfully competed in internal competitions within their own companies prior to arriving to the countywide contest.

Women’s Division Winners:

1st Place: Fabiola Roja Martinez, Bayview Vineyards – $950 in cash and gifts cards plus a custom trophy belt buckle; gift basket and apparel

2nd Place: Gabriela Solano Castillo, Rudd Oakville Estate – $675 in cash and gifts cards plus gift basket and apparel

3rd Place: Alma Sanchez, Renteria Vineyard Management – $400 in cash and gifts cards plus gift basket and apparel

4th Place: Marlene Quintana, Renteria Vineyard Management – $225 in cash and gifts cards plus gift basket and apparel

Men’s Division Winners:

1st Place: David Aquilar, Edcora Vineyard – $950 in cash and gifts cards plus a custom trophy belt buckle; gift basket and apparel

2nd Place: Ramon Buerostro Hernandez, Walsh Vineyard Management – $675 in cash and gifts cards plus gift basket and apparel

3rd Place: Eliceo Lopez, FARM Napa Valley – $400 in cash and gifts cards plus gift basket and apparel

4th Place: Ruben Rueda, Pimentel Vineyard Management – $225 in cash and gifts cards plus gift basket and apparel

Support for this event was provided by premier sponsors Central Valley Builders and Nemerever Vineyards.

About the Napa Valley Grapegrowers

The Napa Valley Grapegrowers is a non-profit trade organization that has played a vital role in strengthening Napa Valley’s reputation as a world-class viticultural region for 43 years.  Its mission is to preserve and promote Napa Valley’s world-class vineyards. NVG represents 726 Napa County grapegrowers and associated businesses. 

For more information, visit our website Napa Valley Grapegrowers

Follow Napa Valley Grapegrowers on Facebook and Instagram

About the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation

Founded by the Napa Valley Grapegrowers in 2011, the mission of the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation is to support and promote Napa Valley’s vineyard workers through education and professional development. The Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation is the only one of its kind in the United States, providing educational opportunities, advanced training programs, leadership and management classes, English literacy programs, and much more. To date, the Farmworker Foundation has offered education and professional development opportunities to more than 14,500 vineyard workers and their families.

For more information, visit our website at  Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation

Follow the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation on Facebook and Instagram

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