Amador County – Amador County Supervisors heard extensive support for the University of California Cooperative Extension office at its July 26 meeting, including from long-time family farmers, and Master Gardeners.

Tim Jelsch, vice president of the Amador County Master Gardeners said he was shocked to hear the Extension Office might not be funded. Supervisors later ended reconsideration without action, and funding continued.

Jelsch said Amador County has such a popular program, its 77 members includes some from out-of-county. He said “you can’t just walk in and say I want to be a Master Gardener.” There are 17 classes, each four hours long, and a final exam. Amador Master Gardeners have volunteered 4,253 hours this year, and have volunteered for more than 50,000 hours since the group was founded.

Jim Spinetta, regional director of the California Farm Bureau Federation, said his family has been continuously farming in Amador County since 1852. He thanked Supervisors for continuing UCCE funding, and noted that 4-H stands for “Head, Heart, Hands, and Health.”

Gabrielle Dane, a 4-H member said: “We really do not want our 4-H taken away.” Supervisors acknowledged the outpouring. Louis Boitano said he came back from vacation and found 435 e-mails on the subject. “I answered as many as I could,” he said, but by the following week, he realized he “couldn’t answer all of them.”

Supervisor Brian Oneto said he and the other Supervisors do support ag, and know the value of UCCE’s programs, giving great information about agriculture. He also benefited from 4-H and won a blue ribbon for his sunflower at the fair as a kid. Supervisor Richard Forster said he was 9 when he won a blue ribbon for carrots he grew in 4-H.

Dick Martella, president of Amador County Wine Grape Growers Association said “we’re a bunch of small growers here,” but Amador County should look at what it means when people say they are going to “Wine Country,” and should promote the “Amador Wine Brand.”

Martella pointed to the big push in Lodi to promote itself as Wine Country. Lodi has transformed from being “the home of Tokay to the home of zinfandel” and is promoting the “Lodi Brand” of wine. He pointed out the U.C. Extension in Sacramento, San Joaquin district has a lot of top people, and a lot of new things are going on with growing grapes.

He said there are about 3,500 to 4,000 acres grown here, but in Lodi, one operation could have 17,000 acres. He said “It’s not a question about who has the best zinfandel, and who makes the best wine. We do.”

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.