Willamette Valley Sets Students up for Future in Viticulture
Students from Yamhill Carlton High School Viticulture program / Photo Courtesy of: Ken Wright Cellars
Yamhill-Carlton Vineyards Team Up With High School Program to Pave Way for Successful Career Path in Winemaking
The Willamette Valley is a perfect place for youth to get firsthand experience in the fruitful field of viticulture. Through a program with the Yamhill-Carlton chapter of Future Farmers of America, high school students from Yamhill-Carlton High School are able to harvest grapes by hand in their own vineyard on school property.
This innovative initiative of letting students plant and manage their own vineyard is one-of-a-kind in the nation. This caught the eye of wine writer Rebecca Toy, who wrote an article for Wine Enthusiast about the program.
“In the Willamette Valley, the Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter at Yamhill Carlton High School plants and maintains its own vineyard, practicing everything from pruning and harvesting to testing soil to designing bottle labels.”
Ken Wright Cellars, a Yamhill-Carlton AVA winery, has played a major role in making this happen.
“The group has worked with Ken Wright Cellars since 2014. The winery uses the fruit to produce, typically, around 120 cases of Pinot Noir and rosé a year. Active alumni, many in the industry, manage the sales for fundraising.”
In addition, students can be recommended for a scholarship program and summer internship with Ken Wright Cellars if they excel in the program.
You can read the full article here and can learn more about the Yamhill-Carlton chapter of Future Farmers of America and how to join here.
