Delta Educational Vineyard Takes Shape

Delta High School agriculture teacher Charles Van Riper (from left), Delta FFA students Jennifer Orozco and Victoria Perez, and Clarksburg grapegrower and winery owner Craig Kirchhoff visit the Delta Educational Vineyard. Photo: Ted Rieger

Clarksburg, Calif.—Students at Clarksburg’s Delta High School and Clarksburg Middle School now have the opportunity to get hands-on experience growing grapes as they learn about viticulture and employment opportunities in the region’s leading agricultural industry. Thanks to the support and efforts of local grapegrowers and vintners, industry suppliers and the community, the Delta Educational Vineyard (DEV) will be planted this spring.

Craig Kirchhoff, a Clarksburg grapegrower and co-owner of Kirchhoff Family Wines who also serves on the board of the Clarksburg Wine Growers and Vintners Association (CWGVA), has been leading promotion of the DEV and has worked with the schools and community for nearly three years to get the project under way. “We’ve always recognized the value of the ag program at Delta High School,” said Kirchhoff, whose three children were students at Delta (two are now commercial winemakers). “Here in Clarksburg, our main ag crop is grapes, and a lot of kids don’t realize how many job opportunities are available. We are excited to provide real-world experience to our students and show them the many different ways they can be associated with agriculture and have successful careers in the field.”

The DEV is located on a 1.5-acre site at the Old Sugar Mill property, Clarksburg’s wine tasting and custom-crush wine-production complex located in a former sugar beet-processing facility that has been repurposed and restored. John Beckman, general manager of the Old Sugar Mill and president of Clarksburg Wine Co., facilitated siting of the DEV at the property.

While other vineyard sites were considered, the Sugar Mill site is convenient for the students, as it is located within walking distance (three blocks) of the schools. In addition, Clarksburg Wine Co. has committed to buy the grapes produced at the vineyard at market rates. This money will go to a nonprofit organization established to manage the DEV. The DEV is adjacent to the Old Sugar Mill’s outdoor wedding venue and will enhance wine country ambience for wedding events.

The vineyard site was ripped and leveled in 2017. Students participated in laying out vine rows and marking spots for vine and trellis stakes that are now in place. A kickoff event for the project was held in October 2017 and attended by students, growers and members of the community; it included a presentation by California secretary of agriculture Karen Ross. A planting ceremony is scheduled for April 4. Grapevine nurseries NovaVine of Santa Rosa and Duarte Nursery, based in Hughson, are donating plant material for the project. The planted varieties will be Chenin Blanc, a white variety long associated with Clarksburg, and Petit Verdot, a red variety chosen based on demand by Clarksburg Wine Co. Vines will be planted with 10-foot x 6-foot row spacing with at least two types of trellis systems to expose students to different canopy-management methods.

Strong student ag program Delta High School and Clarksburg Middle School serve several Sacramento River Delta communities including Clarksburg, Courtland and Walnut Grove. Many students at each school are enrolled in agriculture classes (125 of 250 students at Delta High School, and 85 of 210 students at Clarksburg Middle School) and many are involved in the Future Farmers of America (FFA). The ag program involves a wide range of educational and practical experience in production agriculture, raising and selling livestock, floriculture, business management and planning, and community volunteer work and public speaking. The students participate in local and statewide FFA competitions that help develop their technical and presentation skills.

Delta High School agriculture teacher Charles Van Riper is one of two ag instructors at Delta and will teach the DEV students. Van Riper observed, “The vineyard site will provide endless opportunities to help our students, to let them train the vines and touch the soil and provide a very powerful teaching experience.”

Van Riper also explained, “We rely on the community to help out; they provide financial and material donations, professional knowledge and expertise to share with students in the educational process—and opportunities for hands-on learning experiences at community events.”

Taking care of business The Delta Educational Vineyard nonprofit organization was established to organize and manage the project that has received donations from local Rotary clubs, private contributions and materials from industry suppliers. The nonprofit is managed by James and Sally Christie. James Christie was raised locally and has a long career in agribusiness; he still lives on a family farm in nearby Walnut Grove. He attended Delta High School, as have his daughters. His daughter, Lauren, is a senior at Delta this year and an FFA officer. Last year she was one of the top five finalists in the statewide FFA grapevine-judging contest in Fresno, which was won by the Delta High School FFA team.

In FFA’s grapevine-judging contest, students are presented with four vines and tasked with ranking them from best to worst, as a way to test their ability to evaluate vine health and productivity and present their knowledge to the contest judges.

James Christie said, “My wife and I consider Delta FFA and ag programs a major strength of Delta High School. These programs teach many skills beyond production agriculture. This is why we got behind the vineyard project from the start. The project has received tremendous support from the community thus far, and we hope it serves our kids for years to come.”

Kirchhoff also observed, “Donations of funds and materials are important and always welcome, but we also want the industry to be actively involved in sharing knowledge about all aspects of grape production. We envision professionals coming out to talk with students in the DEV about subjects such as soil science, pest management, equipment technology and about the range of operations and opportunities throughout the full wine production and marketing process.”