113 contestants show skill, determination at 22nd Annual Napa County Pruning Contest
NAPA, Calif. — The Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation celebrated its 22nd Annual Napa County Pruning Contest at Beringer’s Gamble Ranch Vineyard on Saturday, Feb. 3.
It was a perfect day as 113 contestants displayed exceptional skill and determination in what is considered the most prestigious competition for Napa Valley’s vineyard professionals. Scoring for the competition is weighted for technique and quality, allowing contestants to demonstrate their dedication to high-quality Napa Valley grape-growing.
During the main event, each of the contestants pruned five vines in the day’s preliminary competition. Those with the highest scores went on to the final round, which produced eight winners: four in the women’s division and four in the men’s division.
An outstanding display of talent this year was provided by first-place winner Ana Mejia from Trefethen Family Vineyards. In 2023 she competed in the women’s division and took third place. She returned this year determined to advance.
“I came [to the 2024 competition] with more confidence and purpose,” said Mejia, who grinned broadly as she walked to the podium. “I wanted to demonstrate that women are also able to compete.”
Women’s Division winners:
First place: Ana Mejia, Trefethen Family Vineyards
Second place: Rubi Reyes Hernandez, Gonzalez Vineyard Management
Third place: Guadalupe Gutierrez, Renteria Vineyard Management
Fourth place: Cristina Arroyo, Renteria Vineyard Management
Men’s Division Winners:
First place: Guadalupe Soriano, Atlas Vineyard Management
Second place: Benjamin Marron, Bettinelli Vineyards
Third place: Julio Alonso, Hardin Vineyard Management
Fourth place: Jesús Sánchez, Renteria Vineyard Management
Adding to this year’s energy was local radio DJ Gabriela Fernandez of MegaMix, who broadcast live from the event grounds. She interviewed Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation leadership, finalists and longtime sponsors such as Antonio Zamora from A&J Vineyard Supply, who said, “As a business that provides the Napa Valley with high-quality vineyard supplies, we see the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation as an asset to the grape-growing community and one that aligns with our values. Sponsoring the Napa County Pruning Contest is a great opportunity to connect with those we support — from farmworkers to grape-growers. If it wasn’t for the dedicated, expert talent tending to the local vineyards, the Napa Valley wouldn’t be what it is today.”
The winners took home a collection of gifts that included cash, pruning tools, Napa Valley wine, gift cards from Silicon Valley Bank and Sunbelt Rentals, and a handmade silver belt buckle from Max Lang Belt and Buckles. A FELCO champion’s jacket was given to the first-place winners. Employers typically match the cash prize winnings, which ranged from $1,550 in cash and gift cards for the first-place winners to $550 for the fourth-place winners. All contestants received a black leather pruning shear holster from FELCO.
Competitors are Napa County farmworkers and full-time employees. All farmworkers who work in Napa County are eligible to compete.
Support for this event was provided by sponsors Nemerever Vineyards, Silicon Valley Bank, Central Valley Ag Supplies, FELCO, Duarte Trees and Vines, Sunbelt Rentals, Ag Health Benefits Alliance, Copper Cane Wines & Provisions, Jaguar Farm Labor Contracting, Brotemarkle Davis & Co, Malloy Imrie & Vasconi Insurance Services, Pearls Farm Labor, Renteria Vineyard Management, Sunridge Nurseries, Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, Jim’s Supply Co., Garton Tractor, Taddei Vineyards, Gonzalez Vineyard Management, Vineyard Industry Products, A&J Vineyard Supply, Green Valley Tractor and our partner in health, OLE Health.
Napa Valley community members who served on the Napa County Pruning Contest Committee included Gustavo Aviña, Brianna Beighle, Pam Bond, Garrett Buckland, Chad Clark, Roberto Juarez, Joe Nasharr, Hayden Schmidter, Kendall Smith, Anulfo Solorio, Macy Stubstad and other wine-industry volunteers who came out to support the event.
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 complimentary 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 23,000 vineyard workers and their families.
For more information, visit their website at Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation
How wonderful to have these critical workers celebrated. As with many things, these workers are unknown to many who have had little information about their critical work. And, I LOVED seeing so many women winning the competition. Thank you NVF for sharing this important and exciting information, and to all those supporting this annual event. These workers deserve to be seen and congratulated.
I echo what Kennedy said in comments. Giving recognition to this folks is important as is helping our community have more connection to the work they do. Thank you!